Graham Chapman Movies

Created in 1969 as the British Broadcasting Corporation's answer to America's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (one of its guiding forces was BBC executive and former Laugh-In writer Barry Took), Monty Python's Flying Circus was both the title of the series and the name of the comedy troupe appearing in the show. (The name was chosen precisely because it didn't mean anything!) The cast -- Cambridge and Oxford graduates all -- included John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. A sixth Python, American-born Terry Gilliam, provided the series' zany, non sequitur animated sequences and occasionally appeared on camera. Most of the female roles were handled by Connie Booth (Cleese's then-wife) and Carol Cleveland. Virtually indescribable to anyone who hasn't seen it, the series (which opened each week to the tune of John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March") was a wild, irreverent collection of open-ended comedy sketches, sometimes tenuously tied in with a single theme. The individual sketches were usually connected only by the sonorous announcement, "And now for something completely different," which also served as the title for the group's first theatrical feature film. Favorite Python targets included dull BBC talk shows and documentaries, idiotic legal restrictions, bean-counting bureaucrats, incomprehensible foreigners, and venerated British traditions. For some curious reason, all of the Pythonites enjoyed dressing up in women's clothing, usually portraying frumpy, strident-voiced suburban housewives. Among the series' more famous bits were "The Pet Shop," "The Lumberjack Song," "The Spanish Inquisition," "Department of Silly Walks," "The World's Deadliest Joke," "Hell's Grannies," "The Annual Twit of the Year Awards," and a lengthy science fiction movie parody in which evil aliens (who looked like French pastries) transformed all British subjects into Scotsmen, the better to win the annual Wimbledon tennis match (a premise which, in context, makes perfect sense). Though the 45-episode series enjoyed an enormous following in England, it didn't arrive in America until 1974, when the package was picked up by PBS (ABC had evinced interest in the property, but insisted upon cutting all the "naughty bits" and arbitrarily inserting commercials). In addition to making stars out of virtually all its cast members, Monty Python's Flying Circus has spawned several comedy record albums, movie spin-offs, and many solo projects like Fawlty Towers. In 1999, the series, long available on videocassette, was picked up for yet another go-round by the Arts and Entertainment cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An increasingly spectacular series of intermissions punctuates this final episode of season one of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Hopkins the Maitre D' is the specialty du jour at a vegetarian restaurant. The filmed audience of the Women's Institute approves of the "Me, doctor, she, nurse, he, Mr. Burtenshaw" routine. "Historical Impressions" features Cardinal Richelieu's celebrated imitation of Petula Clark and Napoleon's rendition of the R-101 Disaster. Trevor gets his wish when he asks for more Police Fairy Stories. Mr. Attila the Hun turns himself over to the authorities. And a hippie and a naked woman emerge from within the abdomen of Dr. Larch. All this, and "The Albatross Sketch" too. Originally broadcast January 18, 1970, "Intermission" features the talents of David Ballantyne and Carol Cleveland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this episode, Frank the Plumber is invited to appear in a BBC sketch. A bank robber finds himself in a lingerie shop. The host of "It's a Tree" interviews a Chippendale writing desk who does celebrity impersonations. The Vocational Guidance Counselor tries to help Mr. Anchovy and solicits funds from the viewers. The first man to jump the English Channel attempts to eat Chichester Cathedral. The tunnel project from Godalming to Java is forgotten in favor of "pet conversions." A gorilla applies for the post of town hall librarian. And a bedroom farce is cancelled for lack of interest. With Barry Cryer and Ian Davidson in the supporting cast, "Untitled" was originally telecast December 28, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this episode, six chapters of "The Naked Ant" are telescoped into a battle between a polar bear and a railroad engineer. An executive board meeting is periodically interrupted by the sight of men falling from the roof of a tall building. The answer to this mystery is provided by an economist, a university professor, and a pro cricket player. Mr. Hilter, Mr. Bimmler, and Ron Viventroff attempt to revive the Bocialist party from the balcony of a boarding house in Minehead. A police sergeant won't listen to a burglary report unless it is delivered in a squeaky voice. "Vox Pops" spotlights the finals of the 127th Upper-Class Twit of the Year Contest. And the Right Honorable Lambert Warbeck suffers disaster during a broadcast of the Wood Party. Featuring Connie Booth and The Sixteen-Ton Weight, "The Naked Ant" originally aired January 11, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Arthur Figgis makes a return appearance to discuss the German composer Johann Gambolputty de von
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gumberaber-shonedanker-kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm. Inspector Praline and Superintendent Parrot investigate the Whizzo Quality Chocolate Company, exclusive manufacturers of Crunchy Frog. "The Dull Life of a City Stockbroker" is followed by an American Indian's negative reaction to the news that Cicely Coutneidge will not be appearing this evening. Young Lochinvar breaks up another wedding. And heads roll in the offices of 20th Century Vole. Ian Davidson makes an appearance on this November 30, 1969, episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is the one with the Dead Parrot. Also, Private Watkins' request to be sent home from WWII is dismissed as "silly and badly written" by the Colonel, who demands a new sketch. A bride and groom are advised to say "dog kennel" instead of "mattress" to the sensitive Mr. Lambert. The Colonel ends this sketch as well, and is none too keen about Frank the hermit either. Finally, a news report on "Full Frontal Nudity" turns into a shocking exposé on Hell's Grannies (not to mention a nasty gang of Kept Left Signs). This classic Monty Python's Flying Circus installment was first broadcast December 14, 1969, and featured Katya Wyeth, Rita Davis and Carol Cleveland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In one of several sketches in this early Python episode, two Frenchmen with berets discuss the commercial feasibility of flying sheep. The host of "And Now for Something Completely Different" interviews Arthur Frampton, the man with three buttocks. A performance by Arthur Ewing and His 23 Musical Mice is followed by a lively marriage counseling session (cowboy regalia optional). A wrestling match is staged to determine God's existence. And "The World Around Us" offers a hard-hitting expose of The Mouse Problem. "Sex and Violence" originally aired in England on October 12, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After a guitar rendition of "Jerusalem" at the Cardiff Rooms in Libya, an art critic joins Marge and Janet in lunching on a few masterpieces. A bather performs a striptease, much to the dismay of the Colonel. A Sergeant-Major demonstrates the proper self-defense techniques when dealing with an assailant armed with fruit. A tobacconist and a bookseller are enmeshed in international intrigue when the former asks for a copy of "An Illustrated History of False Teeth." And Arthur Lemming of the British Dental Association makes a surprise appearance. Carol Cleveland, Dick Vosburgh, and Katya Wyeth are featured on "Owl-Stretching Time," which first aired October 26, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The sketch comedy series At Last the 1948 Show was the first big break for rising young British comedians and friends Marty Feldman (Igor in Young Frankenstein), Tim Brooke-Taylor, and future Monty Python's Flying Circus writer/performers John Cleese and Graham Chapman. Prior to the show, they had worked at local comedy clubs and had written and acted in The Frost Report. The show was executive produced by David Frost and aired on the ITV network for two runs of six and then seven episodes in 1967. Described by Brooke-Taylor as a combination of the cutting edge satirical stage revue Beyond the Fringe and British music hall, the show's sketches work within conventional structures and strive for a high degree of professionalism in both writing and performance. The most popular and well-known sketch is "The Four Yorkshiremen," later adapted by Monty Python, where a group of middle-aged businessmen brag about their ridiculously awful childhoods. The sketches are connected by short bits starring Aimi Macdonald, who plays a carelessly vain and occasionally cruel showgirl. Eric Idle made several appearances in bit parts. The Python troupe would essentially be formed from the creative minds behind At Last the 1948 Show and a popular children's sketch comedy series from the same period, Do Not Adjust Your Set. ~ All Movie Guide