Category Archives: Monty Python

The Unofficial World Cup Anthem

I meant to get this posted a few days ago, and I didn’t, and now England has already lost to Italy. Which only makes it more appropriate, I suppose.
The first time I ever heard this song was on the set of Life of Brian in Tunisia. Eric Idle had apparently recorded it in John Goldstone’s hotel room, and brought it down on the set for all of us to hear. Of course, it ended up as the closing number for Brian, and has gone on to become the unofficial anthem of losing football fans, comedy lovers, and funerals everywhere. This version includes a new verse to coincide with the World Cup and is, I should point out, available on itunes. It’s a great way to help you get over a World Cup loss. Just saying.

Pythons for Sale!

Not many people have as much Monty Python memorabilia as I do. Perhaps the only other person (outside of the Pythons themselves) is my friend Hans, who has been collecting for a long, long time. Longtime fans may remember his terrific Python web site, the Daily Llama.

Hans spent 30 years collecting Python memorabilia, including books, videos & DVDs, records & singles, posters, lobby cards, rare photos & press kits, video games, board games, stuffed toys, gag gifts, action figures, collectible cards, t-shirts, ties, watches, hats, costumes, mugs, magnets, postcards, stamps, buttons, keychains, etc. etc. At one point during that period, he even found time to have dinner with me.

cleese_dinner_2004_06_17I’m not sure who that tall English gentleman is, however.

Well, all good things come to an end, and Hans has decided to auction off his vast treasure trove of 1500 highly-desired Python items. A collection like this doesn’t come along every day, and now’s your chance to own a piece of it–hard-to-find items, autographed bits, and–well, look for yourself. But give yourself plenty of time. My brain is hurting and I haven’t even scratched the surface.

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Coconuts and Pythons…

I just realized that this is a rather significant week for me as a Monty Python fan.

It was 39 years ago, on June 8, 1975, that I drove to Carnegie Theatre, accompanied by my pal Steve Wolf, for the Chicago premiere of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

It was also the first–but hardly the last time–that I would be up close and personal with a Python.

Graham Chapman and Terry Jones were appearing in person at the theatre, so there was no way I would miss it. We were there several hours early, and were rather close to the front of the line. The theatre was giving out free coconuts to the first few hundred people in line, and we didn’t want to miss out. I also wanted to make sure I would be as close to Graham Chapman and Terry Jones as possible.

When they opened the theatre, we grabbed our coconuts and rushed to the front row. Perfect seats for seeing the two Pythons up close (although not necessarily the best seats for watching the movie, as we soon found out).

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The theatre manager came out and introduced Graham and Terry, who came out to riotous cheers and applause, talked to us a bit, and then took a few questions. I came forward and presented the two of them with a pair of carved coconuts to commemorate their Chicago visit (which, although I never asked, I’m sure were immediately deposited in the dumpster behind the theatre).

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It didn’t matter. Steve snapped a picture of me with the two of them, and I was delighted (though in retrospect, I’d have foregone the knotted handkerchief I was wearing). Nevertheless, it would be, as they say, the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Brazil from Gilliam to Palin…

When Michael Palin shot Terry Gilliam’s “Brazil,” he had never been to South America–not that “Brazil” had anything to do with South America, mind you. But many years later, after he had been poking around just about every other corner of the world, Michael decided to visit for himself and make it the focus of his most recent travel series. It originally aired on BBC One in late 2012 and, surprisingly, hasn’t been officially presented in America yet. But that’s about to change. The four-part series is set to debut in Chicago–and probably a lot of other places–on Monday June 9. Brazil is going to be much in the public eye because of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, so this is a chance to experience the world’s fifth-largest country. The attached video was apparently shot at a book festival appearance. Enjoy.

Gilliam Live from London!

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…And I don’t mean Monty Python Live. At least not yet. That’s not until next month. But coming up soon, on June 17, Terry Gilliam’s production of Benvenutto Cellini is being broadcast live to theatres from London in stunning HD. Lots of his fans don’t know that Terry (and Terry Jones as well, not to mention Eric Idle’s Not the Messiah) are in the opera business, and this is a great way to experience a new side of one of your favorite Pythons. Here’s the official description:

Monty Python legend Terry Gilliam unleashes his inexhaustible imagination on Berlioz’s dazzling opera Benvenuto Cellini. Following on from his award-winning production of The Damnation of Faust, Gilliam now takes on this extraordinary tale of the infamous 16th-century goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini.

 With its stunning visual and musical set pieces, Berlioz’s opera is based on the sculptor’s autobiography and tells a story of thwarted love, elopement, intrigue, disguise and mistaken identity. Featuring some of Berlioz’s most vibrant and tender music, the production will be conducted by ENO’s Music Director Edward Gardner. Michael Spyres sings the title role, with stunning soprano Corinne Winters playing Cellini’s lover and distinguished bass Willard White playing Pope Clement VII.

Interested yet? For more information–and to find a theatre near you where it’s being presented–look here.

Nine years ago this week–on June 5, 2005–Monty Python’s Spamalot won the Tony Award for Best Musical (as well as awards for Mike Nichols and Sara Ramirez for Best Director and Best Actress, respectively). Since that time, it has played, literally, around the world many times over, and has shown no signs of ending. This is a mini-documentary about the rehearsals for the original London show, which includes a few familiar faces in addition to the cast (which is impressive enough, and includes Tim Curry recreating his original role of King Arthur). Yes, I know Graham Chapman was originally King Arthur, but Tim Curry is a much better singer. Take my word for it. And enjoy.

That’s a Wrap!

…It was forty years ago this week that Monty Python finished principal photography on MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. The final day of filming was May 31, 1974, when they shot the Constitutional Peasants scene. Eric Idle had already left the location. They only had enough film left for one master shot, with no re-takes. Here’s how it turned out.

Summoning up fire without flint or tinder…

Continuing our 40th anniversary celebration of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It was four decades ago, on May 29, 1974, that Tim the Enchanter’s encounter with King Arthur’s k-niggets was filmed. It was a particularly harrowing experience for John Cleese, who had to deal with malfunctioning fireworks while standing on a rocky crag in the wind for much longer than he had expected. It was made worse by windy conditions that caught his cloak and tried to pitch him over the edge. Fortunately, the enchantments prevailed. Enjoy.

Sir Robin Singalong…

It was forty years ago this week, on May 28, 1974, that the scenes with Sir Robin and his band of minstrels were filmed for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Go ahead, sing along.

The End

Forty years ago this week, May 25, 1974, Monty Python filmed the final battle scene for MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. They hired a surprisingly small number of Scottish University students for four pounds per day, and placed the camera to make them look like multitudes.