Sometimes in life, it is necessary to take the grimness and sadness out of the picture by investing your time in Monty Python’s extreme, sublime silliness. No company has ever created such an absurd look at the Middle Ages. This pack of innovated geniuses could make a three-headed giant, the plague, virgins, coconuts, witches, shrubbery, bumbling knights, a rogue rabbit, King Arthur, a Black Knight, God, and an indifferent, scary castle seem perfectly normal.
Most of us will be given tasks to muddle through as we age to get that new job, a promotion, or prove our worth and value. Some will never be able to finish, and others will move heaven and earth or perhaps just break the fourth wall to see it through. The gift is always in the doing. It is the journey that matters. King Arthur, leader of the Britons, profoundly understands and knows this as well as the difference between a European and African swallow. What follows is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud romp of pure escapism and fantasy. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL began as a lark in 1975 and ended up being one of moviegoers’ most beloved and quoted films of all time. It was just what I needed to get me out of the everyday doldrums and remember laughter is indeed the best medicine.
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. It was in honor of the entire MP troupe who began inventing a unique, zany style on their FLYING CIRCUS weekly television show. Six writers pooled their energy together, which included Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Sir Michael Palin. They all performed in the film as well. Their budget was minuscule, and corners were cut at every turn. The galloping horse sounds became coconuts in order to save money. Nothing was left by the end of filming, so to do the final scene of MPATHG, they used students from a local Scottish College and most of their crew members to complete the film. The directors expected chaos, and that’s what they got. It was perfect.
I can’t imagine working on this set with all the improvisation swirling around. At one point, John Cleese bit down on a sword just to stifle his giggles and not ruin a take. I can’t stop thinking about Tim the Enchanter. He was named Tim because Cleese could not remember the correct line, and it stayed in the final cut.
Some of my favorite lines were:
- Bring out your dead.
- I’m getting better.
- I’m not dead yet.
- Call it a draw.
- Spank me.
- Cut down a tree with a herring.
- Massive…tracks of land.
- Ni Ni Ni Ni Ni.
- Every scene is a laugh a minute.
MP worked as well as it did because of the natural camaraderie between the cast members. There has to be a massive amount of trust and brilliant talent to pull all the seemingly disconnected scenes to their conclusion while being thoroughly entertaining.
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL is a cult classic masterpiece. Its comedic schticks still work today. The six writers and lead performers were all in a higher sphere. We are never too old to act silly and belly laugh through tough moments. The quest was never completed, but that did not matter or take away from the magnificence of their work. This is my take-away from watching… life is short. Sometimes all we can do is laugh and let go. Ni.
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL is available on Netflix.Â
