Michael Palin Movies

This 1979 episode of Saturday Night Live is guest-hosted by Michael Palin and features the Doobie Brothers as the musical guest. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

A mockumentary of a Beatles-like singing group called the Rutles, The Rutles is a collaboration between Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle and Saturday Night Live filmmaker Gary Weis. The members of the "pre-Fab Four" are Nasty, Barry, Stig, and Dirk. There really isn't any plot, just a series of vignettes, unctuously narrated by Idle, which mercilessly skewer the Beatles mythology. Under the guidance of agent Leggy Mountbatten (before he tragically takes a teaching post in Australia), the Rutles rise to the top with such hit songs as "Please Please Let Me Hold Your Hand" and "I Am the Waitress." Mention is made of the Rutles' film successes: "A Hard Day's Rut," "Ouch!," "Tragical History Tour," "Yellow Submarine Sandwich," and "Let It Rot." We also see such career highlights as Nasty's declaration that the Rutles are more popular than God (he meant "Rod," as in Rod Stewart), the rumor that Dirk is dead (whereupon Stiggy starts his own rumor that he is dead), and Nasty's unfortunate liaison with a Yoko Ono counterpart (depicted as a Neo-Nazi dominatrix). The Rutles gains an added veneer of verisimilitude through the participation of such rock stars as Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, and Ron Wood, as well as George Harrison himself, who shows up as a BBC commentator. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

From its opening multi-language titles (that sure looks like Swedish) to the closing arrest of the entire Dark Ages cast by modern-day bobbies, Monty Python and the Holy Grail helped to define "irreverence" and became an instant cult classic. This time the Pythonites savage the legend of King Arthur, juxtaposing some excellently selected exterior locations with an unending stream of anachronistic one-liners, non sequiturs, and slapstick set pieces. The Knights of the Round Table set off in search of the Holy Grail on foot, as their lackeys make clippety-clop sounds with coconut shells. A plague-ridden community, ringing with the cry of "bring out your dead," offers its hale and hearty citizens to the body piles. A wedding of convenience is attacked by Arthur's minions while the pasty-faced groom continually attempts to burst into song. The good guys are nearly thwarted by the dreaded, tree-shaped "Knights Who Say Ni!" A feisty enemy warrior, bloodily shorn of his arms and legs in the thick of battle, threatens to bite off his opponent's kneecap. A French military officer shouts such taunts as "I fart in your general direction" and "I wave my private parts at your aunties." Rabbits are a particular obsession of the writers this time around, ranging from the huge Trojan Rabbit to the "killer bunny" that decapitates one of the knights. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin collaborated on the script and assumed most of the onscreen roles, while Gilliam and Jones served as co-directors. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this episode, England is held in thrall by Mr. Neutron, the deadliest man in the world. As Mr. Neutron enjoys the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Entrail, the Federal Egg Answering Room (F.E.A.R) tries to ascertain Neutron's whereabouts. The only man capable of saving humanity is Teddy Salad, who is somewhere in the Yukon, breeding rabbits. Captain Carpenter discovers that Teddy is posing as a sled dog, and lures him away with a pretty bone. The naked Supreme Commander declares all-out war on Neutron by bombing the wrong cities. By the time Neutron is finished, the only city left standing is Ruislip in the Gobi Desert, and Neutron's sweetheart Mrs. S.C.U.M. has been elected the most beautiful woman in the world by default. One of the few Monty Python's Flying Circus programs to feature a single sustained sketch, "Mr. Neutron" first aired November 28, 1974. In addition to the supporting appearances of Carol Cleveland, Bob E. Raymond, and Sloopy the Dog, the show was to have featured the song stylings of Neil Innes, but time unfortunately ran out. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this episode, Hamlet visits a psychiatrist and confesses that he's always wanted to be a private detective. The Melancholy Dane's sexual hang-ups are dissected by two bogus shrinks, at which point Dr. Bruce Genuine saves the day. The comfy chair used by the host of "Nationwide" is identified as having been stolen from Mrs. Edgeworth. A bride's father shares a bed with his daughter and her husband for the purpose of building a model ship. In "Boxing Tonight," the fight ends when the champ loses his head and arms, just as he'd done in the past six bouts. Mrs. Gorilla, Mrs. Non-Gorilla, and Mrs. Non-Smoker try to watch a soap opera, but end up spouting Shakespeare instead. And a visit to Polonius' House leads to an on-the-spot report from the Queen Victoria Handicap, with eight Queen Victorias in competition. First broadcast November 21, 1974, "Hamlet" features Carol Cleveland, Connie Booth, Jimmy Hill, Bob E. Raymond, and K.Joseph. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this episode, Chris Quinn enters a department store and demands to buy an ant named Marcus. When Chris goes home, his mum informs him that Michael Ellis -- for whom he has been repeatedly mistaken -- has been looking for him. On his own, Chris attends a poetry reading, in which Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats dedicate their poems to ants not named Marcus. His next stop is Toupee Hall, where a faulty flame-thrower left over from the first sketch wreaks havoc. Just before entering the End of the Show Department, Chris is informed that Michael Ellis Week is over, and Chris Quinn Week has begun. Featuring Carol Cleveland and John Hughman, "Michael Ellis" is made up of unused material from the theatrical feature Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The episode first aired November 7, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Sometime between seasons two and three of Monty Python's Flying Circus, the series' cast appeared in a 50-minute special that aired exclusively on German television. Popularly known as "Monty Python in Deutschland," this filmed special consisted almost entirely of new material, save for a sketch in which "Colin 'Bomber' Harris'" wrestles with himself. Other bits included a running gag involving an Olympic torch runner, an interview with a Frenchman who had been to the toilet only once in five years (a fact confirmed by such celebrities as Richard Nixon and the Pope), an all-cow version of The Merchant of Venice, and a "traditionally" violent bill of fare at a Bavarian restaurant. According to the late Graham Chapman, the special aired opposite an English-German football match, leaving the Pythonites with an audience comprised entirely of critics. Even so, "Monty Python in Deutschland" was successful enough to warrant a sequel in 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Neither Lady Mountbank nor Reg the Miller were expecting the Spanish Inquisition. In fact, in the words of Cardinal Ximenez, " Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" -- nor do they expect to be tortured with a dishwashing rack or the dreaded Comfy Chair. Meanwhile, Reg answers a door and welcomes in a joke salesman, only to suffer mightily for failing to provide a punch line. A huge tax is levied on "thingy," prompting Mr. Gumby to request more sketches on taxation. Twentieth Century Vole unveils its latest epic, "Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights." And a judge performs charades while sentencing a man to burn at the stake -- and he didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition, either. This landmark episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus featured Carol Cleveland and Marjorie Wilde in the supporting cast, and was first broadcast September 22, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Using archeological evidence, the titular Mr. Norris attempts to prove that the residents of Hounslow may have emigrated from Surbiton. The hosts of the kiddie show "How to Do It" demonstrate how to cure every disease known to man, and incidentally how to play the flute. "Farming Club" presents the life of Tchaikovsky, using a huge model of the composer's body. The star of Chekhov's The Seagull loses enough weight to appear in a miniature production of The Great Escape. Two men perform the traditional Fish-Slapping Dance, followed by the evacuation of the Titanic, with the crew adopting a variety of costumes -- Indians, spacemen, Flemish Merchants -- to qualify for entering the lifeboats. Two Famous People show up just in time for the closing credits, while Julia Breck also makes a fleeting appearance. "Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular" first aired October 26, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Several cineastes report from the set of Scott of the Antarctic, where inebriated director James McRettin holds court over actors who can't remember their lines and who stand on flimsy boxes. After numerous setbacks, the film's title is changed to Scott of the Sahara. At long last, the opening Monty Python credits are shown, followed by Eric Praline's attempt to secure a license for his pet fish. A soccer match is held between the Bournemouth Gynecologists and the Watford Long John Silver Impersonators. And in answer to numerous requests, perennial guest star Carol Cleveland appears topless. "Scott of the Antarctic" originally aired December 2, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Yes, this is the episode which features the rousing production number "The Spam Song," performed by a chorus of Vikings. But wait, there's more. A Hungarian tourist, armed with such helpful English phrases as "My hovercraft is full of eels" and "Drop your panties, Sir William, I cannot wait until lunchtime" pays a visit to a London tobacconist. The publisher of the tourist's highly unreliable English-Hungarian phrasebook is put on trial, with testimony provided by a topless girl. Karl Marx, Che Guevara, and Mao Tse-Tung are quizzed on their football knowledge. Production on a WWI film is held up until all the unnecessary actors are removed. Two art critics discuss important matters with figures from famous paintings. A clergyman is interred in the Royal Hospital for Overacting. And D.P. Gumby arranges flowers. An episode with everything but the kitchen sink, "Spam" was originally broadcast December 16, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The School Prize Awards are interrupted by two men, both claiming to be the Bishop of East Anglia. The director of the 30-second version of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the 10-second version of Rear Window is interviewed. The president of the Board of Trade is tossed in a lake, while Dame Irene Stoat is skewered by a samurai sword during a poetry recitation. The Book of the Month Club delivers a free dead Indian and the M-4 Motorway. TV host Timmy Williams cheerily goads Nigel Watt into suicide. A marriage-license registrar sets his cap for three male clients. And election night results are posted for the Silly Party, the Slightly Silly Party, the Very Silly Party, and the Sensible Party, as candidates Jethroe Q. Walrustitty and Tarquin Fintimlinbinwhinbimlimbus-stop F'Tang-F'Tang-Ole-Biscuit Barrel await the final returns. Originally telecast November 3, 1970, "School Prizes" features Rita Davies and Ian Davidson in the supporting cast. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi