Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) dir. Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones – Review by Daniel Fagan
Wi nøt trei ạ høliday in Sweden this yër?
It would be impossible to list the most famous scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, that endeavour could only end with a scene-by-scene recounting of the whole film. There’s the hijacked opening credits, the constitutional peasants, the witch weighing, the Knights who say ‘Ni’, the perilous castle, Tim the Enchanter, and the French castle. I could keep going. Hidden among these scenes, or rather loosely plotted skits, are some of the most ingenious jokes of the Python’s career, so many that you are bound to miss some the first time. Luckily, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is infinitely rewatchable. There are innumerable and endlessly hilarious moments comprising this charming and frankly absurdist (even for Python, Monty) monument of English comedy. So, grab your coconuts and your servant, and keep your favourite colour in mind. Read along with me in search of the Holy Grail where you will see castle Camelot (from many angles) and the boldly brave knights of King Arthur’s Court who are not the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp.
Leading the knights is the ever-wonderful Graham Chapman as King Arthur himself, who enters the film gracefully riding his invisible steed (a necessity brought upon the production by its meagre budget) over a misty mound. Trailing close behind is his loyal servant Patsy (Terry Gilliam) who provides the sounds of the horse’s gallop with the most famous coconut in the history of cinema. The tone is immediately set. Holy Grail marks the first of Chapman’s two leading roles in a Python film, the second being 1979’s Life of Brian. But for my money Holy Grail is where Chapman really rises into his own among the troupe.
Through a series of adventures Arthur assembles the knights of his court and they set off to Camelot, though they abruptly turn and leave (for it is a silly place) and Arthur is tasked by God himself, to find the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to the brave and not-quite-so-brave knights a ‘Famous Historian’ is killed by a rogue knight in a ride by slashing setting off a police investigation which threatens to hamper their quest.
Holy Grail is the Pythons at their best. Every moment, every line, every shot, every joke and every joke without a proper punchline is expertly composed and perfectly fine-tuned to an imperfect degree. This was caused by the production’s infamous low budget which was largely financed by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Elton John. Clearly a low budget doesn’t constrain the Python’s comedy, or, perhaps is constrains it in the perfect way that suits their style and the tone of their works. The troupe famously did very little improvisation and according to several of the cast, there is none in the finished cut of Holy Grail. An additional problem the production ran into was the use of castles in Scotland. Weeks had been spent selecting castles to shoot at when, according to Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, the Department for the Environment of Scotland told the group they couldn’t use any of them, claiming their comedy was “Inconsistent with the dignity of the fabric of the building.”, a laughable claim about a place where disembowelments and the worst medieval tortures your mind can conjure occurred. The production eventually settled on filming one castle, Castle Doune, from multiple angles and its many rooms for different scenes. This is the kind of creativity that a low-budget production forces and Holy Grail is all the better for it.
One thing a review of a Python movie cannot be complete without is mention of Terry Gilliam’s always stellar and slightly off-kilter animations. Holy Grail has some of his best. They also make for one of the best jokes in the movie (I am endlessly glad he survived that fatal heart attack.) I believe I should give each of the members of the troupe their own chance in the limelight, this is an ensemble movie after all. I’ve already written of Chapman as Arthur but neglected to mention the regalness he brings to his straight-man role is perfect. Eric Idle is a stand-out as Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot and the frightfully well-educated peasant. John Cleese is, typically, erratic as Tim the Enchanter or the mocking French guard. Terry Jones is hilarious as Sir Bedevere, constantly lifting his helmet’s visor and presiding over a witch trial. And never to be forgotten (my favourite Python) Michael Palin, who plays the most roles in the film and is brilliant as all of them will always hold a special place for me as the Leader of the Knights Who Say Ni (or the Knights who up until very recently say Ni.) But like all of their movies the Pythons play many different roles and they’re all excellent. No matter what you like, there’s something here for everyone.
Run away, run away, keep running until you reach the Holy Grail, a copy of the film that is, and watch it for the first time, the first time after reading this review, the fifty seventh time and, if you are particularly old or sickly, perhaps the last time.
SIGNED RICHARD M. NIXON
I’ve been informed my fellow reviewer, to the dismay of Python fans everywhere, believes the best of their films to be The Meaning of Life. Rather than Mason Horsley he should be known as Sillius Soddus as it is well known the best of the Python’s films is The Holy Grail.
Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life (1983) dir. Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones – Review by Mason Horsley
There are countless mysteries in the world that to this day, still remain unsolved. Where’s Hitler’s gold? What caused the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle? Who was Jack The Ripper? There are more far-reaching questions about the universe, like what is really on the other end of a black hole? What would we see at the edge of the universe? Is there really a divine creator? Are we alone? Is the Earth the only inhabited planet in existence? Is the end coming? But perhaps the most important question of all: Why are we here? What is our purpose as humans? What is the meaning of life?
My father made sure to raise me on some proper comedy, ‘Blackadder’ ‘Little Britain’ and ‘Monty Python’, a group with such a wide range of witty (‘The Argument Clinic’ and ‘The Cheese Shop’ sketches) to downright obnoxious humor (‘Mr Creosote’, ‘Biggus Dickus’). Whenever I needed a good chuckle, I could chuck on the Black Knight scene from ‘The Holy Grail’ or the ‘Self Defense Against Fresh Fruit’ sketch and always come out cackling. To me, it was some perfect, unmatchable blend between smart and stupid. I could never put my finger on their exact style, but I bloody loved it.
In ‘The Meaning Of Life’, the Monty Python boys poke fun at the different philosophies and scenes we come across as we get closer to the grave. In a similar style to the original TV series, the film doesn’t follow a linear plot, but shows comedy sketches related to each stage of life, childbirth, middle age, education, conflict and death. It’s by far, their most fouth-wall-breaking performance in their entire career. For example, the film begins with a 15-minute short film, which later attacks the main film, has segments entitled “The Middle Of The Film” and “The End Of The Film”, and, after an anti-Semitic joke, John Cleese exclaims he didn’t realise he hired a racist.
The whole Python crew is here, John Cleese, Micheal Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle, each performing as a multitude of characters such as Mr Creosote, the overweight, vomiting diner and Humphrey Williams, the overly-specific sex education teacher. Terry Gilliam, the resident animator of the group, deals up some classic and naughty illustrated scenes, but unfortunately doesn’t match the same level as in ‘The Holy Grail’. Nonetheless, this is Monty Python at, what I believe to be, their absolute best. The songs are as mischievous as ever, with ‘Every Sperm Is Sacred’ being my go-to Python song, with ‘The Galaxy Song’ being the cleanest, but the most charming, as Eric Idle guides you through the universe like Ms Frizzle drives the Magic Schoolbus. Of course, the Python boys don’t forget to do their obligatory jab at religion, discussing how the historical reasons for the use of condoms seem so bizarre hundreds of years later.
My fellow reviewer will try to tell you Monty Python and The Holy Grail is the best film the group has made, but just a few hours ago, he made the disturbing confession that his favourite Python is Michael Palin, rather than John Cleese. Rest assured, as soon as I heard this, I contacted the police and Daniel was sentenced to gladiatorial combat on the spot for the count of blasphemy. The Tert is arranging a $100,000 donation to the Cleese estate for emotional damages and I personally apologise to Mr Cleese.
Mason’s Top 3 Reasons To See ‘Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life’
- A brilliant introduction to the group’s comedy stylings. Non-linear, fourth-wall breaking and surprising as hell
- A nice feel-good film if you’re down in the dumps and feel like the world hasn’t given you a fair chance
- Quite possibly the best piece of work to come out from Monty Python and a true sequel to the TV series