~ ~ The title of this opinion is only one of the many totally hilarious lines from this classic comedy, “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” (1975), from the wacky team of comedians who changed the face of comedy forever back in the 1970’s.
It relates the legend of King Arthur ... Read review
The second best comedy ever made,Monty Python and the Holy Grailmust give precedence only ... more
to the same team's masterpiece,The Life of Brian(1979). Even though most of this film's set-pieces are now indelibly inscribed in every Python fan's psyche, as if...
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The second best comedy ever made,Monty Python and the Holy Grailmust give precedence only ... more
to the same team's masterpiece,The Life of Brian(1979). Even though most of this film's set-pieces are now indelibly inscribed in every Python fan's psyche, as if...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his Knights of the Round Table (John Cleese, Eric Idle, ... more
Terry Jones and Michael Palin) on the trail of the elusive Holy Grail, encountering many nasty and long-winded characters (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin) on the way. Who can forget the quest for a shrubbery to placate the fearsome Knights who say 'Ni', the fearless and limbless, Black Knight, the mysterious wizard Tim and the horrific White Rabbit, with the big pointy teeth.
Introduction (Monty Python And The Holy Grail) Introduction (Part 2) (Monty Python And The ... more
Holy Grail) Arrival At Castle Constitutional Peasants Witch Burning Logician Camelot Camelot Song Arthur And God Classic (Silbury Hill) French Castle Announcement (Monty Python And The Holy Grail) Apology (Monty Python And The Holy Grail) Story So Far Brave Sir Robin The Knights Who Say "Ni" Classic (Silbury Hill) (Part 2) Marylin Monroe Sir Lancelot & Swamp Tim The Enchanter Drama Critic Hand Grenade Of Antioch Announcement (Monty Python And The Holy Grail) (Part 2) End Of Quest Arthur's Song Documentary - Terry Jones And Michael Palin Run Away Song
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Production Year: 2004 - Comedy - Director: John Hay - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jimi Mistry, Kate Miles, Dougray Scott
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Carol Cleveland, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones
...the madcap comedians from the Monty Python team can. When you think of Monty Python films, the one that springs most readily to most people’s minds is the “Life of Brian” (1979), which retells the Gospel story of Jesus in its own very unique fashion. But it was this first movie that finally made enough money for the Python team to give them the independence to truly explore the limits of their unique comedy talent.
It was ... ...winning new converts to the Monty Python style of comedy among young people who weren’t even born when it was shot.
I rented it out on video last week, and watched it along with my eleven-year-old daughter, who had never seen any of the Monty python comedies before. She was spell bound for the whole film, and even a week later is still talking about it, and quoting some of the lines.
That such an old film, and made on such a tiny ... more
~ ~ The title of this opinion is only one of the many totally hilarious lines from this classic comedy, “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” (1975), from the wacky team of comedians who changed the face of comedy forever back in the 1970’s. It relates the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, but in a fashion that only the madcap comedians from the Monty Python team can. When you think of Monty Python films, the one that springs most readily to most people’s minds is the “Life of Brian” (1979), which retells the Gospel story of Jesus in its own very unique fashion. But it was this first movie that finally made enough money for the Python team to give them the independence to truly explore the limits of their unique comedy talent. It was made on a shoestring budget of only £229,000, which in today’s film world wouldn’t even pay for the outside catering staff, and in certain respects the lack of funding shows. But even today, nearly 30 years after its cinema release, this movie is still extremely popular, and is winning new converts to the Monty Python style of comedy among young people who weren’t even born when it was shot. I rented it out on video last week, and watched it along with my eleven-year-old daughter, who had never seen any of the Monty python comedies before. She was spell bound for the whole film, and even a week later is still talking about it, and quoting some of the lines. That such an old film, and made on such a tiny budget, can still captivate and enthral a young audience, speaks volumes for the timeless comedy that is Monty Python.
~ ~ The plot is simplicity itself, and is simply a vehicle to allow the team to weave their magic spell over the audience. It’s 932AD, and King Arthur (Graham Chapman) is riding around his Kingdom trying to drum up the support of Knights to join him on his quest to find the Holy Grail. (the cup that Christ supposedly used at the Last Supper) Well, perhaps “riding” is the wrong description, as the lack of money didn’t actually allow for the use of real horses, or to teach the actors to ride. So all the Knights are followed around by their servants, who clap two halves of a coconut together to produce the sound effects of horses’ hooves. The film is really a series of comedy sketches, patched together to make up a whole movie, and at points interspersed with the animated cartoon interludes for which the Monty Python TV series was famous. I had seen the movie before on many occasions, but despite knowing what was coming next, still found myself laughing out loud. The scene where King Arthur confronts the ‘Black Knight’, (played by John Cleese) is a classic example. He systematically lops of all of his limbs, starting with his arms, until he is only an armless/legless torso. The Black Knight is not daunted by this small setback however, and as Arthur departs the scene, is still full of fight, shouting out, “Come back here, yellow bellied cowards. I’ll bite your legs off!” In another scene Arthur asks directions of a peasant, who appears to be an early advocate of Socialist principles. On hearing that Arthur is a King, he asks who gave him his authority, and upon hearing the legend of “Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake”, comes out with the following. “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony! You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you! If I went around saying I was Emperor just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!”
~ ~ Perhaps one of the funniest sketches is where Arthur and the Knights are attempting to gain entry to a castle held by French soldiers. The Frenchies don’t have a lot of time for the English, however, and proceed to ‘taunt’ the Knights. Some of the dialogue is simply priceless, made even more so by the pseudo French accent of the actors.
“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”
“I fart in your general direction.”
“ Now go away, smelly type English persons, or I will taunt you a second time.”
At this point the Knights attack the castle, and are bombarded by all manner of livestock and game by the French soldiers. They immediately sound the retreat, with the command, “Run away. Run away!!” The line I used as the title for this opinion is uttered by John Cleese, who is the “Keeper of the Bridge of Death”, over which the Knights must pass. When asked what awaits them on the other side, he states in a broad Scots accent, “Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.” Yet another scene which will have you in tears of laughter is the “killer rabbit” sketch, when the Knights are mauled and decapitated by a homicidal bunny!
~ ~ If the film lacks anything it is the fact that it has a weak ending. But to reveal this would be to ruin the film for you entirely, so to find out what it is you’ll have to watch for yourself. This weak ending was apparently a result of disagreement between the team on how the movie should actually finish, and the original ending had them discovering the grail in the gift department of Harrods store in London! It was shot almost entirely on location in the Scottish Highlands, and the weather was so wet and miserable that it prompted Graham Chapman to actually give up the demon drink shortly thereafter. His well publicised problem with alcohol caused problems during the shooting of the movie however, and he was seemingly so piss*d during the shooting of the “Bridge of Death” scene that his place had to be taken by one of the assistant directors.
~ ~ If this is a movie that you haven’t watched yet then do yourself a big favour and do so at the earliest possible opportunity. The film itself may be old, but the comedy it contains is totally timeless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ FOOTNOTES
I haven’t included the names of the actors after each character in this review, as the Python team all play many different parts in the movie.
The movie is also available in a two disc DVD edition, but as I watched the video, I don’t have any details on this other than the price.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
First released in 1975
CO –DIRECTORS Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman
MAIN CAST LIST Graham Chapman, John Cleese Eric Idle Terry Gilliam Terry Jones Michael Palin Connie Booth
Amazon Price Video £8.99 DVD £15.99 (two disc set)
Advantages: John Cleese Disadvantages: Not everybody 'gets' this kind of humour but maybe that's not a disadvantage!
...Most people know the Monty Python style and whether you like it or not, you have to admit that it's real comedy genius. With a cast of actors like this the film couldn't fail to be hilarious: Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gillium, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, ..plus Connie Booth and others. Michael Pallin is Sir Galahad the pure who goes to Castle Anthrax for shelter. There are 150 yound blondes and redheads cloistered here. Sir Galahad ... ...but his is rescued by Sir Lancelot the brave. Palin's facial expressions are hilarious. It doesn't take long before King Arthur has his trusty band of knights: Sir Belvedere, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Galahad the Pure, Sir Robin the not quite so pure and not very brave either The Knights of the Round Table actually carry around a round table. They meet God who tells them to search for the Grail. This film is the story of their quest. Their battle ...
janharper 30.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python And The Holy Grail (DVD)
Advantages: Hilarity Disadvantages: Vulgarity (wait, is that a con?)
...about this (and indeed any) Monty Python movie that one hardly knows where to begin. Nothing is left out of the mix--history, religion, politics, personal relationships, prejudices, intellectual prowess (and lack thereof). The title, of course, comes from an early scene in with Arthur approaches a castle, inexplicably occupied by French k-nigits, who claim to already have a grail.
I did a paper once for symbolic logic which I was told ten years ... ...something so unconventional as this Monty Python movie in the references (I couldn't see why that wouldn't be much more common, and indeed, hope it is today--I use Life of Brian in homilies, so why not this film in logic).
The particular logical incident (or rather, illogical incident) involves the trial of a woman accused of being a witch. Through 'logic' it is demonstrated that she would be a witch if she could float, for then she would be made ...
frkurt 29.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python And The Holy Grail (DVD)
Advantages: Everything other than the ending Disadvantages: The ending
Well, what can I say? Pure genius. If you haven't seen this film, you're sure to have seen it's influence. One major example is the Peperami adverts ("come here a finish me off") - pure Black Knight.
The basic plot...
(
you mean there's a plot?
-yes of course there's a plot!
nobody ever told me about there being a plot
-get on with it
--yes! get on with it!!
)
As I was saying, the basic plot of the film revolves around one King Arthur searching ... ...by God himself (who gets a bit miffed when people start bowing and scraping before him). And then he goes off to find the grail.
Along the way, Arthur and his Knights get into many scrapes. Some of these include.
Being taunted by the French ("your mother smelled of elderberries")
Having a cow thrown at them by the French
Getting holed up at Castle Anthrax with a truck load of nymphomaniac nurses. ("a spanking! a spanking!")
Ruining a wedding ...
thedeadparrot 24.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python And The Holy Grail (DVD)
After recently reviewing Monty Python's The Life of Brian, I thought id give a review on their other great classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Released in 1975 and weighing in with a running time of 98 minutes this film fits in perfectly with their weird and wacky off the wall humour which they have made a success of ever since their television show; Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail follows the path of King Arthur ... ...genius. Each of the main Monty Python characters plays a number of different roles and each are so distinguishable from the rest that you will very easily forget that it is only one person. As with all the Monty Python films, it is the same cast of characters as is used in every film with the main ones being John Cleese (who plays, among others, Sir Lancelot), Eric Idle (Sir Robin), Michael Palin (Sir Galahad), Terry Gilliam (Patsy), Terry Jones ...
mynameisrui 14.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python And The Holy Grail (DVD)
Advantages: it's really funny Disadvantages: it can get quite confusing
Monty Python, how do you come up with such funny comedy's.
Even though your film making is dead, you can still make people laugh with your hilarous HOLY GRAIL.
Monty Python just has to be the funnest team in history.With their three major films, Monty Pyphon and the holy grail, the meaning of life and the life of Brian every one knows their just the best. Now if you haven't seen the film yet what the hell are you doing reading this? Go get the ... ...about a night who seeks people to be in his army when he has quite a lot of people god comes from the heavens to tell them their quest. Their quest is to find THE HOLY GRAIL.On their way the meat dangers,like the night's who say ni and the man eating rabbit.The film is not what it seems you may not get what I mean when I say this but if I tell you it will give the whole story line away.
If you really won't to know what it is e-mail me.My e-mail ...
zslipknot 12.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monty Python And The Holy Grail (DVD)
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Advantages: Hilarious, great extras, funny everytime you watch it Disadvantages: Nothing!
I have loved MontyPython since seeing MontyPython's flying circus years ago, so when I saw this collector's edition dvd box set of 'MontyPython and the HolyGrail' for sale in HMV I couldn't resist buying it. (and I love it even more now that Michael Palin was an honorary graduate at my graduation and I stood about five feet away from him! He also did his Knights of Ni impression)
The collector's edition dvd set comes in a cardboard casing which opens up to reveal the extra goodies you get in the box set and two dvd discs.
The Collectors Edition Box Set comes with some really nice extras in it. Along with two dvds you get:
* Four postcards with scenes from the movie
* A screenplay book so you can read along with the film if you really wanted to! The book has 92 pages in it and it also has black and white pictures from ...
Advantages: It's dead funny Disadvantages: Some extra features are dodgy
MontyPython and The HolyGrail
2 Disc Special Edition DVD
Price £17.99
Now then, there’s a train of thought among some people that out of the two proper films the Python team made ‘The Life of Brian’ is better than ‘The HolyGrail’. I disagree. Having owned ‘The HolyGrail’ on a worn out old VHS copy for years I saw this DVD and just had to buy it. For those who don’t know (where have you been for the last 20 years) THG (as I will refer to it from now on to save time) is set in medieval time and follows the escapades of King Arthur as he searches for the aforementioned holy relic. Encountering along the way such classic characters as the Black Knight, The Knights who say ‘NI’, the Frenchman with the outrageous accent, Tim the Enchanter and of course the killer rabbit ...
on screen is an unpaid actor and the final siege of the castle is carried out by 200 Stirling University students, sure to be some of the first people to purchase this excellent DVD. Maybe you were unaware that the God cartoon figure that confronts our intrepid Knights mid-movie is based on the famous cricketer,’W-G Grace’.
Maybe you would be intrigued to know that anything that didn’t quite work on location was re-shot on Hampstead Heath, just ten minutes from Terry Gillian’s London home.
Yet more pointless clutter litters the second disc with an assortment of trailers, mostly in Japanese. “Python Artefacts”, which is more silliness or the shortened ‘Lego’ version of the HolyGrail for the kids.
A real time Michael Palin little piece about the use of coconuts is by far the worse extra here ...
The complete Python troupe is cast in this parody of the legend of the Holy Grail. The Knights of the Round Table battle dismembering foes and killer rabbits on their perilous quest.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
04/03/2002
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
CDR 14164
Barcode
5035822416437
Production Designer
Roy Smith
Cinematographer
Terry Bedford
Editor
John Hackney
Screenwriter
Terry Jones, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Michael Palin
Animation
Terry Gilliam
Featured
John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
One Feature Commentary By Directors Terry Jones And Terry Gilliam, One Feature Commentary By Michael And John Cleese And Eric Idle, A Killer Rabbit Feature, Shakespearian Subtitles, Full On Screen Screenplay, Trailers, Three Mindless Singalongs, Documentary Entitled The Quest For The Holy Grail Locations, How To Use Your Coconuts Feature, Monty Python And The Holy Grail In Japanese With Not Quite English Subtitles, A Classic Scene From The Film Animated In Lego, An On Location Documentary From The 1970s
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Dolby Digital Stereo English Dolby Digital Mono German Italian
Professional reviews
Review
"...A marvelously particular kind of lunatic endeavor....The gags are nonstop..." (New York Times, p.34, 28/04/1975)
DVD Description
This classic Monty Python comedy, directed by Pythons Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, is a hilarious send-up of the grim circumstances of the Middle Ages as told through the story of King Arthur and framed by a modern-day murder investigation. When the mythical king of the Britons leads his knights on a quest for the Holy Grail, they face a wide array of horrors, including a persistent Black Knight, a three-headed giant, a cadre of shrubbery-challenged knights, the perilous Castle Anthrax, a killer rabbit, a house of virgins, and a handful of rude Frenchmen. In addition to the set pieces, the film also includes the same kind of surreal animation that Gilliam contributed to the television series. Throughout the irreverent adventures, the Python crew eschews realism in favor of anachronistic social satire, a recipe it later returned to in the 1979 biblical farce MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN. Melding the ridiculous with the sublime, the film quickly inspired a cult following, generated a host of quotes, and even inspired a computer game 20 years after its release. The numerous songs and hysterical vignettes are sidesplittingly unforgettable.
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