"Where did you find the coconuts?" "We found them in Mercia." "In Mercia? But coconuts are tropical!" "The swallow may fly south for the winter and north for the summer. And yet these are not strangers to our land." "Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?"
I think this movie, more than anything, is an excellent example of how constraints can yield better results. Because of its small budget, they had to come up with very creative solutions to make the movie work, and the result is a hilariously absurd comedy unlike any other made before or since.
I'm coming out of left field here but I have been reading about Transformers lore, and it is unreasonably deep; I can't think of many toy-lines that have their own creation myth! I believe this happened for similar reasons, because of constraints. You see Transformers was not a planned toy-line, it was cobbled together from various unrelated "transforming robot" toys that Hasbro bought up in the early eighties. When it came to producing the comics and the first animated movie in 1987 (which incidentally Eric Idle played a supporting role in) the writers were presented with this mish-mash of unrelated toys that they had to somehow craft a universe around. I believe it was this challenge that spawned the rich and complex lore we have today, and that continues to grow. If there is no simple solution, the only solution is a creative solution.
The fact that Terry Jones is now unable to speak due to dementia is so incredibly heartbreaking. Of all the people to be struck by that fate, losing the voice of a comic genius like Jones seems so cosmically cruel.
It has to be the most cruel form of dementia for a person like Jones with his work as author, comedian, actor, director, screenwriter, poet, and medieval historian (to name a few). As a result of primary progressive aphasia, he has lost language completely. It is not clear if he can even think in words. He spends ,uch of his time walking the countryside, often with Michael Palin. I have to say that his form of frontotemporal dementia scares me more than almost anything. Luckily he has friends and family that cares about him, but what a nightmare.
The great thing about the coconuts substituting for horses is that in German the movie is called "Die Ritter der Kokosnuss" ("The Knights of the Coconut").
It surely did and might be the reason I personally never really got into "Holy Grail", before watching it in english. Meanwhile they did a great Job on Life of Brian, despite also taking some liberties there. @@Superschokokeks
Shh. Didn't you get the memo? We are no longer the Knights who say "Ni!" - we are noooow the Knights who say Ecky-ecky-ecky-ecky-pikang-zoom-boing-mmbl-mmbl
Having never been around for film intermissions, I never got the intermission gag from this film- it had to be explained to me. Once I realised that everyone would be getting up to go to the snack bar/toilets etc during it, it became the funniest part of the film for me imagining how close everyone got to the doors before the action came thundering back and made everyone scramble back to their seats!
I honestly love intermissions. They make absolutely no sense and they’re only there to make you feel more pompous. If I ever made a film I’d definitely put in an intermission 😂
The last movie I saw with an intermission was "Empire Strikes Back" when it first came out. I remember the houses lights starting to come up and a curtain starting to close just as Yoda and Ben watch Luke leaving Dagobah and Yoda response to Ben's comment that Luke is their last hope with his line... "No, there is another". To tell you the truth them braking for intermission on that line made it SO much more dramatic than any other time I ever saw the movie without the intermission.
@@SNSWoTClan Was that your first viewin? I ask because obviously it would be more dramatic then, that's the first time you hear it. If it wasn't your first then this all makes sense.
@@worrywirt ever watch ben hurr the original one ( theres a carrage sceen that lasts like 20 minutes The whole movie is like 4 hours. With a half hour intermission.
Fun fact: the guy in the middle of a shave wasn't an actor, he was just a normal civilian doing his thing until he saw the crowd and checked out the commotion.
At Doune Castle there were a lot of people just visiting who were talked into being extras in the film, being paid very little or not at all. There was a guy called Mark Zycon - erroneously referred to as Zack Matalon by Palin and Jones in the Quest for the Holy Grail Locations documentary(2000) - who just turned up on the set, insisting he should be in the film. He's the guy clapping along to the Knights of the Round Table song whilst hanging from a wall. Later on he's killed twice in five seconds by Launcelot on the stairs when the latter enters Swamp Castle; first falling over some barrels at the bottom, and then in a less dramatic fashion at the door. Fortunately, Terry Gilliam had no problem remembering Zycon's name in the audio commentary. Gilliam is also the only Python to acknowledge the shaving man's presence in the commentary. When I first read your comment, I assumed you meant the guy was just a normal person happening to have a shave - on a film set - who then ran out to check out the commotion, not removing the shaving foam in the process, thus becoming an involuntary film actor. I'm pretty sure that's not what happened. It's not how I interpret Gilliam, anyway.
"In the frozen land of Nador, they were forced to eat Robin’s minstrels…and there was much rejoicing." My favorite line from the movie, and it's simply narration over some of Gilliam's animation.
man, it teaches us how to infiltrate a castle, how to find a witch, how to beat a bridge keeper, how to deal with cheeky Frenchmen, what does it not teach us??
I always thought the coconut riding was deliberate and not because the budget. In Germany the movie is actually called "Monty Python and the Knight of Coconut"
It was both deliberate and not. The scene was written by Palin and Jones(but mostly Palin), appearing as the first scene even in the first draft of the movie in early 1973, having been written as a strange visualisation of a radio tradition of using coconuts for horses. In the planning stage of the movie, however, there was an idea to use real horses, which I guess would mean re-writing the scene quite significantly, or cut it, but in the end it was found to be too expensive and time-consuming to deal with real horses - for one it would mean teaching the Pythons to ride them - so the original idea stuck.
XoRMiAS I think it was a joke because the film was obviously low budget and on top of that movies do add in sound effects and in this comedy you get to actually SEE the sound effects being used and that in itself is funny.
One interesting thing that I noticed you left out. The Pythons originally had Neil Innes record music for the movie, but since the budget was so cheap, it sounded kind of pathetic for lack of a better word. So they went to some music library place to find music to use for there film. And they soon REALIZED that the music they chose was important because it allowed the film to be more like the epics that they were mocking. Having stuff like the visuals and soundtrack juxtaposed against their brand of humor only made the film much funnier.
+Barney Os. You're wrong about Neil Innes's music. It didn't sound "pathetic", but it did sound authentically medieval, which sounds pretty weird to modern ears. It fitted with Gilliam's gritty set decoration, but in terms of comedy the conventional "dramatic" music was the better choice.
Because he only had about a dozen players, the music was deemed as 'too thin' and 'jokey'. I seem to remember those being Innes' words in Almost the Truth.
To me Holy Grail is the perfect comedy film and Monty Python is the perfect comedy group, it's amazing what got away with back in the day and the humor still works perfectly. Amazing films and amazing show.
Actually the castle they used for most of the filming is Dune Castle. The castle surrounded by water is Castle Stalker, which was only used as Castle of Aaaargh at the end of the film. BTW, if you visit Dune Castle the audio guide is narrated by Terry Jones and after every bit about the history and whatnot you can also choose to hear a bit about the filming that was done in each part. highly recommended!
Turned down by the other castles because those castles didn't want to mess up their history. To me this shows the problem with over idolizing history. Some people become so obsessed with history that it smothers making new history.
I agree that the time wasting jokes in the movie are great. The Holy Hand Grenade scene is my favorite scene in the, even if it probably lasted longer than it should’ve, but of course you wouldn’t get any scene like that from any other movie.
I like them because they are a celebration of abundance. Material filmed where every little thing serves a necessary purpose becomes boringly predictable. Red herrings contain essential nutrients not found in standard TV dinner.
Alexis Harper and did you notice that the mock Gregorian Chant that they're doing when they did the presentation of the Holy hand grenade was the same one as the Monks chant in the scenes of "The Witch" and the animation prior to, "The tale of Sir Galahad"??
Yes. Sadly i remember seeing him on TV a number of years ago, and realising from his speech that he had definite problems. Such a shame for an intelligent and eloquent man. I actually met him once on a train in England, and i rather gushed my admiration for him, and the Pythons in general. He was a really nice, and unassuming person.
Yeah... if you follow Michael Palins Social media pages, he gives update on Terry's condition. He also visits him all of the time and posts pics of them together
I've always loved the way Holy Grail looks. The combination of scenery and lighting, as well as the occasional smoke machine, ultimately makes the film genuinely atmospheric, which only serves to highlight the ridiculousness of the performances. One of the greatest and most underrated uses of juxtaposition in film.
I never actually realized that the running scene was the same shot repeated. I honestly just thought he was really, really slowly approaching. I feel like I completely misunderstood the joke.
the subtitles aren't Swedish at all. A direct translation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail would be: "Monty Python och den heliga graal". "Wik", "Ik" and such aren't Swedish words, they're gibberish. And you are quite correct, "ø" is found in Norwegian and Danish but not in Swedish. It's mostly just English with a few nonsensical variations. You might be aware of this already, but I wasn't sure so I wanted to let you know, just in case
Yeah just like the Mel Brooks films all have the same title apart from the last word. Det våras för .... after the movie Det våras för Hitler (It's Springtime for Hitler) .
Python did this quite a lot, including the German's attempt at a joke from one of their sketchs, "Wenn ist das Nunstruck git und Slotermeyer? Ja!.... Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput" ...its just nonsense
I think he means the bit about "thou shalt count to three". It is a waste of time as in the joke drags on. He is NOT saying its a waste of time as in it not beeing good.
He means it's a "waste of time" when you consider the typical rules of film making. He is not saying it's bad, just comparing it to what is considered the proper way
I was sure you were wrong, but you're right. The screenplay dating 20th March 1974 doesn't include that line. The "he hasn't got shit all over him" line, which Idle, on the audio commentary for the DVD, claims was ad-libbed on the day, *was* included, so he would appear to be lying/misremembering. "What an eccentric performance!" was not in the screenplay, appearing to have been ad-libbed. Carol Cleveland's "Oh, shit!" as well. "There are some who call me...Tim?" *was* in the script. John did *not* forget his line. It *was* in the script! (People keep on insisting otherwise, annoyingly, but none of the Pythons, as far as I know.)
A friend & I went to see "... HOLY GRAIL" at the Egyptian Theater a few years ago with Terry Jones present. His son was there & ended up answering many of the questions during the q & a. Some time later we heard about Terry's dementia & realized why one of the wittiest & smartest people who ever lived needed help answering questions about a masterpiece that he helped create. Beside his Monty Python work I would highly recommend seeking out some of his other tv work like THE CRUSADES & THE BARBARIANS to remind you what an intelligent & witty man this was.
I watched some of his history documentaries as a kid and loved them. Only much later I was lucky to discover Monty Python and was surprised to see Terry J. in the sketches. Much love to the UK for such brilliant comedy as Monty Python, Blackadder, Father Ted and so many others. Greetings from El Salvador.
Terry died today. He was one of my heroes, showing you can be great, be kind, and have a ton of heart all at the same time. This really is an amazingly good look at film making. Your video will live on for many years, it's so well done. Thank you for making me feel.,... better.
My dad made me watch this movie w him when i was young so it’s a really nostalgic movie for me. I remember when i told him “such an old movie it must be really bad” but wow i was so wrong, i also watched the life of brian w him. I’m so glad my dad introduced me to these amazing movies :D
this ended up being almost more of a little known-trivia vid than an analysis haha but I'm not mad at all. Great research man, one of my favorite films of all time. Pythons rule
2:25 THE BRIDGE OF DEATH WAS THE FIRST SCENE SHOT OF THE FILM! (Near Glencoe; 30th April and a bit on 1st May 1974.) Then they moved out west to Castle Stalker to shoot Castle Aaargh! (2nd May) Then on 3rd-6th May they did the Cave of Caerbannog, the Old Man From Scene 24 and the Holy Hand Grenade. These scenes were filmed near Killin on Loch Tay. (On 4th May, whilst working on the Killer Rabbit, they were listening to the radio: Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-0 in the Cup Final.) On 7th May they moved on to Doune Castle where they spent the next 3 weeks or so, and did most of the scenes in the film. 31st May is Palin's last day on the film. Before leaving Scotland, the remaining Pythons[Chapman and the directors] film the army attacking near Stirling. In June, with a very small crew due to lack of money, they shoot the Black Knight in Epping Forest. Lancelot running towards camera, being arrested and Arthur with Patsy arriving on hill - the very first shot - are shot on Hampstead Heath. From reading Michael Palin's diary I could get even more detailed, but even I can get bored...
What I learned: 1. How to know if someone is a witch 2. African and European Swallows 3. The Brutality of rabbits 4. You don’t vote for kings 5. How to be a king 6. Insults
I think you left out the single most important thing we learned from the Holy Grail: We now know the earth to be banana shaped. Indeed, this one simple fact has stymied the flat earth crowd to no end. Of course, the second most important fact deals with the relationship between Sheep's Bladders and earthquakes.
When it comes to "time jokes", it remind me of the scene in the movie Spaceballs by Mel Brooks, where the Darth Vader charachter ask what happend to then and gets the answer from his friend: "Just missed it!" Darth Vader: "When?" Friend: "Just now!" Darth Vader: "When will then be now?" Friend: "Soon!"
Holy grail is my favorite comedy movie, simply because of its comedic simplicity. It has no need for entirely complex jokes or entirely complex plots, and nearly all of its scenes are hilarious whether it be because of a weight ratio argument, political joke, cutout/model joke, or a flesh wound, this movie in it’s entirety is a perfect example of a true comedy movie.
I can still remember being taken to this when I was 13 yrs old, I had already watched some of the TV show and their first movie which was a sort of best of the TV show, but I liked what I seen, but I had to go with my uncle as it was PG and you had to be a certain age, but it was the most hilarious thing I'd ever watched and because of the laughter ,I missed scenes because of it, but it didn't matter as we came back a few times as it was so great and I've watched it now more times than I can count, but it's still fresh and I can still laugh and enjoy it like the first viewing , and that's the product of great film making and story! I wish we still had that in today's world but ,there's still the classics!
Pretty much every day since 1975 someone in my family will quote something from this movie. We all have different tastes, but everyone loves this film.
My favorite movie scene and line are both in this film. Scene: the ‘how did you get to become king?’ scene. Line: ‘are you suggesting coconuts migrate?’
I remember the first time I saw this, (78), down to the minute. It was 9 hours after I had my appendix removed. I laughed so hard I was was holding the incision out of fear it would break open. On a side note, I know some sources claim nothing was ad-libbed but it's wrong. The most well known is probably ad-libbed. Probably the most well known is John Cleese when he played the enchanter. On a side note,
"There are some who call me...Tim?" was included in the final script dating 20th of March 1974, over a month before the filming began. "What an eccentric performance!" wasn't in the script. Carol Cleveland's "Oh, shit!" wasn't in the script. Nor was Idle's "More witches!" John Cleese, on the DVD commentary: "I think Graham and I wrote this Tim the Enchanter. And it's funny how certain names have certain connotations, and when we were trying to think what he should be called, we came up with Tim - which was *not* a reference to Tim Brooke-Taylor - but I think was something to do with the fact the word 'timid' and 'timorous' and all those words indicating a lack of immense amount of bravery." Idle claims that he ad-libbed the "He hasn't got shit all over him" line, but the script disagrees.
In the BBC Film Night feature on the production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, transmitted in December 1974, Terry Jones points out that in Python they always stick fairly closely to the script when shooting. Michael Palin, however, says: "It's very scripted. And then we get together. And just about ten minutes before a take the script is slightly rewritten. About five minutes before the take it's fairly radically rewritten. So in fact to the very last minute there usually come little extra bits that creep in."
So it was scripted, by and large, but sometimes the script got changed at the last minute. But they very rarely, if ever, improvised in front of the cameras.
We had the movie recorded on a VHS. During so many years and watchings, I was continually mad about SOMEONE recording over the end of the movie with some other crap. Until I saw it on tv, and it also ended with the police.
My personal favourite quote and illustration of the Python's creativeness is when the knights are approaching Camelot and we just the end of the conversation between King Arthur and Sir Bedervere. It's this... Sir Bed: "And that my liege is how we know the world to be banana-shaped" King: "This new learning amazes me Sr Bedervere. Explain to me again how a sheep's bladder may be used to prevent earthquakes" He's about to explain when someone shouts: "Look, Camelot!" and they roll into the main scene. I love the fact that we only catch the end of what sounds like a fascinating conversation!
I really enjoyed your look at The Holy Grail. Loads of interest thoughts and observations. I'm a Monty Python fan and I've watched lots of documentaries about them, however its always great to find another well made and insightful one. Also, 'hats of to you' for actually taking the time to thank the members of Monty Python at the end of your film. So many film makers don't do that and I really think they should.
This was a wonderful video, the language structured so you don't have to have previous knowledge of film making to understand and appreciate it. Well done you! I didn't know Terry Jones is struggling with his health. How horrible for him, for all of them, and for MP fans. I wish him well.
I love the little details that you might not spot the first time. Here’s two I found: In the bridge scene while their on the rocks crossing over there one of the characters say “hey look it’s the guy from 24” quietly. A fun fact is that that is a reused character from scene 24. I was really surprised on how many 4th wall breaks that was put into this film for being released in 1975. Before the witch scene, or right before the people have the witch, he is releasing a shallow holding a coconut. This is a reference to the conversation at the first castle, which happened minutes before, which is one of the details you really gotta pay attention to when hearing lines, or seeing in the background.
No movie has ever made me laugh out loud like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I was In High school at the time this movie came out. My younger brother is 11 years younger than me, so he was too young to enjoy or understand the comedy then, because he was only 6 or 7 years old. I finally introduced him to it in the 1980s when he was about 14 or so. I thought I might have killed him when he was laughing so hard he couldn’t breath, turned red and rolled out of his chair to the floor. Anything that really cracked him up made him go limp like that since he was a baby. Him and I always claim this movie as the funniest comedy ever made and still is. There are few things that make me laugh out loud. I am a comedy writer, so I am familiar with how to set up a gag to pay off. Usually the best comedy is when the punchline is completely unexpected. Most comedy movies I see can’t make me laugh out loud because they use the same formulas that have been around since Vaudeville, so I find the comedy extremely predictable, so I’m rarely caught off guard, which would make me spontaneously let out a boisterous laugh. There was not much predictable in The Holy Grail. Monty Python is complete silliness and most every gag is so out-there, that it is always a surprise. The first time watching the movie, I was sore from laughing by the time King Arthur defeated the Black Knight..... well, he never really defeated him, they decided to call it a draw.... the Black Knight did anyway. Monty Python’s humor made me look at comedy in a whole different way. I can credit a lot of my best material as being inspired by their brilliant comedy. MP has made several movies and they are all funny as hell, but The Holy Grail is their masterpiece, I my opinion. Even after 40 years after first seeing this movie, it can still make me laugh at many scenes and I still find new things I didn’t notice before every time I watch it. It’s amazing. I don’t understand why most women do not get this brilliant comedy. MP has always had a predominately male fan base, with a few women or girls that find it funny. Luckily, my wife loves this movie and she finds something new to laugh at every time she watches it again.
I was really enjoying this comment until you said women dont like it? Bull! I love this movie, and my mom used to watch it with my dad before I was born.
@@royfearn4345 I just turned 60 years old, so I think I’ve met plenty of women. You may have that in reverse. I don’t think you’ve met many women outside of your own small click to have a large enough sampling to judge from. In that case, you don’t need to meet more women, since polls have been taken and it always comes out that more men get Monty Python humor and on average, and women don’t. There are exceptions, like my wife, who loves Monty Python, but she is an exception, not the norm. You can also find small groups of women who enjoy the prog/rock Canadian band Rush too, but it’s a well known fact that every Rush concert is a sausage fest of air-drumming males. Just because some woman tells you she likes Rush, maybe to impress you if you’ve told her you’re big fan of the group, doesn’t mean shit. Go to her house or apartment and see how many of their albums she owns? Here again, my wife is an exception.... one of the very few women in the fucking world who actually owned every one of their albums before I knew her (at least all of the albums out at that time). Any Rush fan knows that’s instant marrying material there. If she likes Rush and finds Monty Python funny, you find the first jewelry store and get that engagement ring. Just because you know a small group of women who like something is hardly an example of the population of women in the world. You find me a midnight theater showing of Monty Python And The Holy Grail that has an audience that is predominantly female and I’ll change my stance and admit defeat. This is a safe bet, since I know that’s impossible. You just haven’t met very many women if actually going to try and tell me that there are equally, or even more ridiculous,more women that like Monty Python than men. It’s not even close. It’s a 20% to 80% in favor of men at best, but I would bet it’s closer to a 10% women to 90% men equation and every man who loves in the real world knows this. Hell, even Family Guy made fun of that fact in an episode because it’s well known.
15:22 - The castle surrounded by water is Castle Stalker, not Doune. Most of the other scenes were filmed at Doune, with a couple of brief scenes at Kidwelly and Bodiam.
I was in the 10th or 11th grade when this came out. Me and my friends must have saw it at least four times at the theatre. Funniest shit we had ever seen.
Came here in the search of likeminded opinions on Brazil, now I can’t stop with your content! Amazing in-depth analyses of these artworks. Thanks for teaching, thanks for sharing!
Watching the Holy Grail when it was first release, was the sole time in my life when I've laughed so hard that the pain of it forced me to the floor...and in a cinema, a proper big old style formal one with red velvet curtain. Plus I was too young to understand the content of many of the jokes. Watery tarts, moistened bints, and autonomous collectives were all to be properly enjoyed in future viewings. I've heard it said, I think by Michael Palin, that Terry Gilliam is superb at visual storytelling, but loves chaos, whereas Terry Jones was excellent at gathering masses of details and information in his head and creating order out of it. So the film benefited hugely from both their approaches.
Correction: Doune Castle (pronounced "doon" or "dune") is actually *not* the castle in the lake. It's a castle near Stirling surrounded by fields and countryside and is under the care of Historic Scotland. This is the same castle where they filmed the French Knights and the Torjan Rabbit, which were filmed on the grounds surrounding Doune. You can pay to go and visit there and you can take an audio guide narrated by Terry Jones with you as you look around.
Most of my favourite comedy skits and characters from python are with Terry Jones and Michael Palin, something I've only just realised. There's just something so completely on the mark, but also good natured and light-hearted about them when they got together. Just wonderful, I'm so grateful to have witnessed it...!
I discovered you through Kubrick's 2001, now Holy Grail? I know this is going to be good! you are top drawer material, much respect. Some day when I have a little extra cash I'm going to support your work.
What a great commentary on a great film. You're sadness at Jones' dementia and the humility you show is heartwarming. Luckily Terry made some wonderful documentaries. Thanks for yuor work.
Two strange things. I live around the corner for the museum of the moving image and I've never heard it referenced in anything I've ever watched and you posted this on my birthday. Glad I found this channel. Really enjoy your work.
This has such artistic English product energy, like the budget is whatever your parents are willing to let you use and no one’s taking the presentations seriously so your group just decides to have a fun time
A weil-rounded and thought out video. You also get a trememndous sense of your own joy, love and appreciation of Python, which, I think, is why I watched it all the way through
The castle Surrounded by water is called Castle Stalker and was only used for the end of the movie from afar. Doune Castle is the castle in most of the movie. The French castle, the Beacon grail Castle, the wedding castle, all Doune. They had to make a few floors for that movie inside I think, they weren't there when I visited. You can rent coconuts there to ride around with if you ever visit. I visited in 2009 and the back curtain wall had fallen down by then. My brother fell down the hill Arthur gets mocked on, it's a bit steep lol. Good historical castle to visit too as it looks like castles actually did, Edinburgh is like Castle Disney land.
I've been to the castle they used in the film, it has an audio tour narrated by Terry Jones detailing both the castles actual history, and it's story in the film there were also Swallows nesting there for the added bonus
I do so love Terry Jones. I think Graham will always be my favorite Python.... and John Cleese has remained something of the visual icon of the group's comedy, with his foreboding height and physical dexterity. But Jones's ability to assume the most vulnerable straight man, or morph into complete insanity or absurdity, all while keeping a keen sense of humanity with his facial expressions, is what sells me fully on him as a member of the group. He was and is the heart of Monty Python.
Love of this movie and the Pythons in particular has lead to my meeting some very interesting and fun people. At a meeting or in a class or something and someone does or says a Python related bit! "How long is it"? "That's rather a personal question sir".
Since my childhood one of my favorite comedys ever. Still rewatch it alongside life of brian every easter with my mom and it never gets old. This movie is truly timeless.
I watched all your Kubrick videos and came across this. Brilliant!!! Your diverse perspectives are exceptional. You clearly did research; while not compiling it to a an average Top 10 list.
It is correct that they used Doune castle, which is pronouned "Doon". But the shot of the castle surrounded by water is a different castle in Scotland which is privately owned called Eilean Donan Castle. The close up shots at the castle wall looking up at the french guy is Doune Castle. ( another fun fact, the village of Doune is where it is believed the pistol was manufactured that fired the first shot in the American War of Independence)
"And Now for something Completely Different" was MY introduction to Python... And I was completely hooked after that. Then Live At the Hollywood Bowl, Meaning of life, then (the holy grail) Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Just incredible comedy and script writing. It wasn't until years later that I 'got' Life of Brian.
I knew who Monty Python was from TV. When the movie came out, I was like "I want to watch the Monty Python stuff, but I don't want to watch whatever The Holy Grail is". Double movies were a thing back in those days.
What it taught was that you only needed creativity, passion, hilarity and original music to make a great classic, and high crossing film only with your weekly allowance.
Castle Doune (pronounced like 'dune') in Scotland was where most of the Holy Grail's castle scenes (interior and extetior) were filmed. Castle Stalker was used as "Castle Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh", and (as I have read), in the early scene where the French soldier taunts King Arthur's from the battlements.
Great video! I love The Holy Grail. This film was my first introduction to Monty Python. The Life of Brian is my favorite, but The Holy Grail is a close second.
Just popping in to say thank you so much for subtitle! Actual, proper subs, no auto-subs! Since I have hearing loss I can easily misunderstand words so you're a lifesaver
Enjoyable video, but you are wrong about the castles (15:14). The picture you show is Castle Stalker, which is the castle they reach at the end of the film. However, most filming was done at Doune Castle, which looks quite different.
One of my most unique memories. I attended a rainbow gathering in Washington state. Well it turned very rainy and cold at elevation, it became a struggle. If you didn't have rain gear and a good tent it became very challenging. The meadows were tall grass you would get wet to your waist with a few steps. The trails and fire roads turned to mud, cars were getting stuck trying to leave and blocked the road. I was there in one of the early Subaru's and fancy gear for me. One miserable night by a roaring fire (lots of wood in Washington forests) a group of college students from Berkley recited most of the Holy Grail scenes. I didn't know people could remember so much. I have rarely ever witnessed so much joy and laughter with the stragglers around that fire that night, taking are minds off the weather. To this day that is some of my favorite dialog...for the...farcical aquatic....watery....tarts.
Terry Gilliam talks with a much stronger English accent in 1974 than in the stage discussion 20 years later! At 3:17 he could be a Brit with a slight drawl!
A small correction about 15:20 - the castle on water is not Doune Castle (I visited it many times, it's in a middle of a small town) but Castle Stalker. :)
i like it when youtubers say you know what is happening i am assuming you read the title, rather than oh you will never guess what we are going to be doing in todays video! good job
I loved this and as a result I’ve become a subscriber. I’m sorry to hear about Terry Jones’s medical condition- he and the rest of the PYTHONS are my absolute favorites. I watch those movies so much that I know the dialogue by heart.
Oh my fuck, this video of yours was amazing!!! You have genuinely presented a lot of interesting concepts and facts in an entertaining and careful way. I'm sorry to see that you have only this many subsribers, but I'm sure this number is going to rise. This video could easily be aired on regural tv. High quality editing, interesting and clear presentation, and it shows that you have really put time and effort in your production. I wish you and your channel all the best! :)
When you can't afford horses, just create one of the greatest gags in history.
Whatever works, I guess.
"Where did you find the coconuts?"
"We found them in Mercia."
"In Mercia? But coconuts are tropical!"
"The swallow may fly south for the winter and north for the summer. And yet these are not strangers to our land."
"Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?"
@@philipclayberg4928 What is the average speed of an unladen swallow?
@@Peter_Scheen African or European?
@@josephewing6385 Asian, but....
@@Peter_Scheen airspeed velocity!! C'mon!
i love how the end of the movie is a literal cop out
Eh. In one sketch they had 3 of those in a row.
Alright, Sonny! That’s enough! Just pack that in!
Ain't that a running gag from Flying Circus?
i really wish it had a proper ending... it always ruins it for me even though i know it’s coming. i mean, not ruins it, but it’s dissapointing.
Right! You are all nicked. Perhaps the Magistrate will find you to be punny.
I think this movie, more than anything, is an excellent example of how constraints can yield better results. Because of its small budget, they had to come up with very creative solutions to make the movie work, and the result is a hilariously absurd comedy unlike any other made before or since.
This mostly appleis to horror films. You just have to use ambience and psychology instead of effects.This is also why I love Bad Taste.
I'm coming out of left field here but I have been reading about Transformers lore, and it is unreasonably deep; I can't think of many toy-lines that have their own creation myth! I believe this happened for similar reasons, because of constraints. You see Transformers was not a planned toy-line, it was cobbled together from various unrelated "transforming robot" toys that Hasbro bought up in the early eighties. When it came to producing the comics and the first animated movie in 1987 (which incidentally Eric Idle played a supporting role in) the writers were presented with this mish-mash of unrelated toys that they had to somehow craft a universe around. I believe it was this challenge that spawned the rich and complex lore we have today, and that continues to grow. If there is no simple solution, the only solution is a creative solution.
"rich and complex lore"
now THATS some funny stuff right there!
Sigh Phi Guy there is some pretty good stuff
Sir Psycho Sexy On a second thought, let’s not go to Camelot. It’s really a silly place.
19:44 Sadly Terry Jones passed away from his dementia on January 21, 2020. Rest in peace Terry.
That makes me sad. He was an amazing guy.
I miss him already. Lets pray for Monty Python
2020 really is the worst year
Wow. This year sucks
That one account
Maybe we’ll find out is just one big April fools joke.....
4/2/2020
Damm!!!!
The fact that Terry Jones is now unable to speak due to dementia is so incredibly heartbreaking. Of all the people to be struck by that fate, losing the voice of a comic genius like Jones seems so cosmically cruel.
Just asking here 'cos you're pretty recent... Do you know that he pronounced Norwich wrong and that its actually pronounced
N-o(Like in monty)-rich?
@@PhoebusApollo360 And for the love of God it isn't Edinberg. It's ed-in-burra or ed-in-bre.
It has to be the most cruel form of dementia for a person like Jones with his work as author, comedian, actor, director, screenwriter, poet, and medieval historian (to name a few). As a result of primary progressive aphasia, he has lost language completely. It is not clear if he can even think in words. He spends ,uch of his time walking the countryside, often with Michael Palin. I have to say that his form of frontotemporal dementia scares me more than almost anything. Luckily he has friends and family that cares about him, but what a nightmare.
🙄
Sunny Jim What’s with that emoji?
"You're missing an arm!"
"No I'm not."
"LOOK!"
"I've had worse."
"YOU LIAR!"
"COME ON YA PANSY!"
Fusion “Your arm’s lopped clean off!”
-“‘Tis but a scratch!”
FLNY Mike “you make me sad, come on patsi!”
"Oh, so that's how it is. Come back here, you yellow-livered pansy! I'll bite your knees off!"
Philip Clayberg what’re you gonna do? Bleed on me?
"Alright... let's call it a draw"
The great thing about the coconuts substituting for horses is that in German the movie is called "Die Ritter der Kokosnuss" ("The Knights of the Coconut").
That's fucking brilliant!
In Hungarian it roughly translates to Pedestrian Gallop 😂 I guess it’s because the Monty Python tv show wasn’t as big as in the US & UK
Oh, Hungarian!
"My hovercraft is full of eals. "
Interesting to note is the german localization took a lot of freedom.Still very enjoyable with very enjoyable lines, but medium different expierences
It surely did and might be the reason I personally never really got into "Holy Grail", before watching it in english. Meanwhile they did a great Job on Life of Brian, despite also taking some liberties there. @@Superschokokeks
"Whitty dialogue"
*Nee Nee Nee Nee*
Kiritsugu Emiya **Ni*
Shh. Didn't you get the memo? We are no longer the Knights who say "Ni!" - we are noooow the Knights who say
Ecky-ecky-ecky-ecky-pikang-zoom-boing-mmbl-mmbl
@@DennisMoore664 Eecky eecky eecky eecky pitang zoom boing nieuw womm
Kiritsugu Emiya IT
Ping and NOOOWOMB !
I learned that even as an amputee, I can still kick some ass.
It is “tis but a scratch”
Or at least bite him to death.
As I am actually an amputee, I learned I could still kick ass.
@@erictaylor5462 what asshole is gonna hit back?
@@omg_look_behind_you I would.
Having never been around for film intermissions, I never got the intermission gag from this film- it had to be explained to me. Once I realised that everyone would be getting up to go to the snack bar/toilets etc during it, it became the funniest part of the film for me imagining how close everyone got to the doors before the action came thundering back and made everyone scramble back to their seats!
I honestly love intermissions. They make absolutely no sense and they’re only there to make you feel more pompous. If I ever made a film I’d definitely put in an intermission 😂
The last movie I saw with an intermission was "Empire Strikes Back" when it first came out. I remember the houses lights starting to come up and a curtain starting to close just as Yoda and Ben watch Luke leaving Dagobah and Yoda response to Ben's comment that Luke is their last hope with his line... "No, there is another". To tell you the truth them braking for intermission on that line made it SO much more dramatic than any other time I ever saw the movie without the intermission.
@@SNSWoTClan
Was that your first viewin? I ask because obviously it would be more dramatic then, that's the first time you hear it. If it wasn't your first then this all makes sense.
I remember seeing 2001 a Space Odyssey and being quite confused by the intermission.
And well most of the rest of the film too.
@@worrywirt ever watch ben hurr the original one ( theres a carrage sceen that lasts like 20 minutes The whole movie is like 4 hours. With a half hour intermission.
Fun fact: the guy in the middle of a shave wasn't an actor, he was just a normal civilian doing his thing until he saw the crowd and checked out the commotion.
At Doune Castle there were a lot of people just visiting who were talked into being extras in the film, being paid very little or not at all.
There was a guy called Mark Zycon - erroneously referred to as Zack Matalon by Palin and Jones in the Quest for the Holy Grail Locations documentary(2000) - who just turned up on the set, insisting he should be in the film. He's the guy clapping along to the Knights of the Round Table song whilst hanging from a wall. Later on he's killed twice in five seconds by Launcelot on the stairs when the latter enters Swamp Castle; first falling over some barrels at the bottom, and then in a less dramatic fashion at the door.
Fortunately, Terry Gilliam had no problem remembering Zycon's name in the audio commentary.
Gilliam is also the only Python to acknowledge the shaving man's presence in the commentary. When I first read your comment, I assumed you meant the guy was just a normal person happening to have a shave - on a film set - who then ran out to check out the commotion, not removing the shaving foam in the process, thus becoming an involuntary film actor.
I'm pretty sure that's not what happened. It's not how I interpret Gilliam, anyway.
I had a different take on that character. I always thought it was someone who was supposed to have a beard but this was their cheap way of showing it.
"In the frozen land of Nador, they were forced to eat Robin’s minstrels…and there was much rejoicing."
My favorite line from the movie, and it's simply narration over some of Gilliam's animation.
Yaaaayyy
“they were forced to eat Robin’s minstrels” is a lot funnier now that galaxy minstrels are a thing.
man, it teaches us how to infiltrate a castle, how to find a witch, how to beat a bridge keeper, how to deal with cheeky Frenchmen, what does it not teach us??
Don't forget it teaches us about swallows.
Well, they denied us knowledge of the part about the perilous spanking and oral sex
How to pronounce British place names.
What about the Spanish inquisition
@@ZuRekka The what?!
I always thought the coconut riding was deliberate and not because the budget. In Germany the movie is actually called "Monty Python and the Knight of Coconut"
It was both deliberate and not. The scene was written by Palin and Jones(but mostly Palin), appearing as the first scene even in the first draft of the movie in early 1973, having been written as a strange visualisation of a radio tradition of using coconuts for horses. In the planning stage of the movie, however, there was an idea to use real horses, which I guess would mean re-writing the scene quite significantly, or cut it, but in the end it was found to be too expensive and time-consuming to deal with real horses - for one it would mean teaching the Pythons to ride them - so the original idea stuck.
XoRMiAS I think it was a joke because the film was obviously low budget and on top of that movies do add in sound effects and in this comedy you get to actually SEE the sound effects being used and that in itself is funny.
One interesting thing that I noticed you left out. The Pythons originally had Neil Innes record music for the movie, but since the budget was so cheap, it sounded kind of pathetic for lack of a better word. So they went to some music library place to find music to use for there film. And they soon REALIZED that the music they chose was important because it allowed the film to be more like the epics that they were mocking. Having stuff like the visuals and soundtrack juxtaposed against their brand of humor only made the film much funnier.
I'm so glad that they changed it! The 'serious' music really adds to the overall silliness of it.
+Barney Os. You're wrong about Neil Innes's music. It didn't sound "pathetic", but it did sound authentically medieval, which sounds pretty weird to modern ears. It fitted with Gilliam's gritty set decoration, but in terms of comedy the conventional "dramatic" music was the better choice.
Because he only had about a dozen players, the music was deemed as 'too thin' and 'jokey'. I seem to remember those being Innes' words in Almost the Truth.
I think the Ballad Of Sir Robyn is by Neil Innes, he certainly acts and sings it as one of Robyn's favourite minstrals.
I love the earnest, epic music in this film.
To me Holy Grail is the perfect comedy film and Monty Python is the perfect comedy group, it's amazing what got away with back in the day and the humor still works perfectly. Amazing films and amazing show.
Kenny Lust insane how it was someones first film too
It is awesome, and have so many inspired scenes, but Brian has to be their best film.
Actually the castle they used for most of the filming is Dune Castle. The castle surrounded by water is Castle Stalker, which was only used as Castle of Aaaargh at the end of the film. BTW, if you visit Dune Castle the audio guide is narrated by Terry Jones and after every bit about the history and whatnot you can also choose to hear a bit about the filming that was done in each part. highly recommended!
Actually spelled Doune, not Dune, although it is indeed pronounced like 'dune'.
Also some scenes at Castell Cydweli, Cymru.
asdfghjkkjhgfdsa and for those who don't know: The correct pronunciation of this castle's name is "Stall-Kurr", not stalker
@@youtuuba It is actually pronounced Doon
Turned down by the other castles because those castles didn't want to mess up their history.
To me this shows the problem with over idolizing history. Some people become so obsessed with history that it smothers making new history.
I agree that the time wasting jokes in the movie are great. The Holy Hand Grenade scene is my favorite scene in the, even if it probably lasted longer than it should’ve, but of course you wouldn’t get any scene like that from any other movie.
It is the funniest part of the film "five is right out"
I like them because they are a celebration of abundance. Material filmed where every little thing serves a necessary purpose becomes boringly predictable.
Red herrings contain essential nutrients not found in standard TV dinner.
Alexis Harper and did you notice that the mock Gregorian Chant that they're doing when they did the presentation of the Holy hand grenade was the same one as the Monks chant in the scenes of "The Witch" and the animation prior to, "The tale of Sir Galahad"??
@Blackbriar95 And the absolute solemnity on the Idle character's face.
I cried when he said
“ one, two, FIVE”
“Three sir”
“THREE”
I learned that strange women laying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
Not if you can be an anarcho-syndicalist commune instead.
If some moistened bint launched a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!
True. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
under appreciated comment 🔥
You mean watery tarts ? 😂
I was entirely unaware of Terry Jones' dementia until watching this video. Now I am tremendously sad. :,(
Yes. Sadly i remember seeing him on TV a number of years ago, and realising from his speech that he had definite problems. Such a shame for an intelligent and eloquent man. I actually met him once on a train in England, and i rather gushed my admiration for him, and the Pythons in general. He was a really nice, and unassuming person.
Donald Costabile this saddens me to hear that Terry Jones is suffering from dementia
Dementia is my opinion is honestly worse than death.
Yeah... if you follow Michael Palins Social media pages, he gives update on Terry's condition. He also visits him all of the time and posts pics of them together
I've always loved the way Holy Grail looks. The combination of scenery and lighting, as well as the occasional smoke machine, ultimately makes the film genuinely atmospheric, which only serves to highlight the ridiculousness of the performances. One of the greatest and most underrated uses of juxtaposition in film.
"Five is right out"
One, two, five.
I never actually realized that the running scene was the same shot repeated. I honestly just thought he was really, really slowly approaching. I feel like I completely misunderstood the joke.
I remember being confused as hell as the shot went on.
Lauren Hahn unfortunately you did miss the joke. That scene is definitely my favorite.
the subtitles aren't Swedish at all. A direct translation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail would be: "Monty Python och den heliga graal". "Wik", "Ik" and such aren't Swedish words, they're gibberish. And you are quite correct, "ø" is found in Norwegian and Danish but not in Swedish. It's mostly just English with a few nonsensical variations.
You might be aware of this already, but I wasn't sure so I wanted to let you know, just in case
Benjamin Ljunggren "monthy Pythons galna värld". Den hette faktiskt så tyvärr. Översättare på 70-80talet hittade ofta på egna titlar
Yeah just like the Mel Brooks films all have the same title apart from the last word. Det våras för .... after the movie Det våras för Hitler (It's Springtime for Hitler) .
Python did this quite a lot, including the German's attempt at a joke from one of their sketchs, "Wenn ist das Nunstruck git und Slotermeyer? Ja!.... Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput" ...its just nonsense
the bit about moose's is still correct
Next I suppose you're going to say those weren't authentic French accents.
holy hand grenade is not a waste of time. it's comedy's few precious gemstones; from whatever angle you loook at it.
I think he means the bit about "thou shalt count to three". It is a waste of time as in the joke drags on. He is NOT saying its a waste of time as in it not beeing good.
He means it's a "waste of time" when you consider the typical rules of film making. He is not saying it's bad, just comparing it to what is considered the proper way
It’s also parodying the incredibly long-winded Bible passages that were written in a similar manner
@@felixhaggblom7562tbh, thats one of the funniest parts for me
The line "More witches!" wasn't in the script.
I was sure you were wrong, but you're right. The screenplay dating 20th March 1974 doesn't include that line. The "he hasn't got shit all over him" line, which Idle, on the audio commentary for the DVD, claims was ad-libbed on the day, *was* included, so he would appear to be lying/misremembering.
"What an eccentric performance!" was not in the screenplay, appearing to have been ad-libbed.
Carol Cleveland's "Oh, shit!" as well.
"There are some who call me...Tim?" *was* in the script. John did *not* forget his line. It *was* in the script! (People keep on insisting otherwise, annoyingly, but none of the Pythons, as far as I know.)
Or Nor Witch castle
I remember with crystal clarity exactly what each of these quotes refer to. I am unironically proud of myself.
I always thought the line was, RAW WITCHES! Made sense at the time given the fact that they wanted to BURN HER!
@@samwallaceart288 many here also revel in our ability to quote this film verbatim...it is a badge of honor and worthy of high praise
A friend & I went to see "... HOLY GRAIL" at the Egyptian Theater a few years ago with Terry Jones present. His son was there & ended up answering many of the questions during the q & a. Some time later we heard about Terry's dementia & realized why one of the wittiest & smartest people who ever lived needed help answering questions about a masterpiece that he helped create.
Beside his Monty Python work I would highly recommend seeking out some of his other tv work like THE CRUSADES & THE BARBARIANS to remind you what an intelligent & witty man this was.
The Crusades was brilliant... intelligent and full of witty moments - such as Jones explaining the importance of "washer women" to medieval crusaders.
I watched some of his history documentaries as a kid and loved them.
Only much later I was lucky to discover Monty Python and was surprised to see Terry J. in the sketches.
Much love to the UK for such brilliant comedy as Monty Python, Blackadder, Father Ted and so many others.
Greetings from El Salvador.
Also Medieval Lives I think it was called, and some documentary on Ancient Egypt, which I forget the name.
God bless you: my favorite movie. Not only is it ridiculously funny, but the production of this film is amazing
After researching the production, I was surprised they managed to pull it off! Such a hilarious movie!
This movie is more accurate than most of the historical movies made nowadays.
Stratan T. God damn people will stop at nothing to rip on new movies! Get a grip
Buelmore Sinkerstein hes just angry movies started including black people
Zatoz222222 what? Literally no one cares if movies star black people lol. You just love being the victim
Terry died today. He was one of my heroes, showing you can be great, be kind, and have a ton of heart all at the same time. This really is an amazingly good look at film making. Your video will live on for many years, it's so well done. Thank you for making me feel.,... better.
"´Tis but a scratch"
"But your arm is gone!"
nope is off not gone.
Come back here! I'll bite your legs off!
Ni!
I've had worse!
My dad made me watch this movie w him when i was young so it’s a really nostalgic movie for me. I remember when i told him “such an old movie it must be really bad” but wow i was so wrong, i also watched the life of brian w him. I’m so glad my dad introduced me to these amazing movies :D
this ended up being almost more of a little known-trivia vid than an analysis haha but I'm not mad at all. Great research man, one of my favorite films of all time. Pythons rule
Totally-- there were just too many great little factoids I just had to include! Thanks!
2:25 THE BRIDGE OF DEATH WAS THE FIRST SCENE SHOT OF THE FILM! (Near Glencoe; 30th April and a bit on 1st May 1974.)
Then they moved out west to Castle Stalker to shoot Castle Aaargh! (2nd May)
Then on 3rd-6th May they did the Cave of Caerbannog, the Old Man From Scene 24 and the Holy Hand Grenade. These scenes were filmed near Killin on Loch Tay. (On 4th May, whilst working on the Killer Rabbit, they were listening to the radio: Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-0 in the Cup Final.)
On 7th May they moved on to Doune Castle where they spent the next 3 weeks or so, and did most of the scenes in the film. 31st May is Palin's last day on the film.
Before leaving Scotland, the remaining Pythons[Chapman and the directors] film the army attacking near Stirling.
In June, with a very small crew due to lack of money, they shoot the Black Knight in Epping Forest. Lancelot running towards camera, being arrested and Arthur with Patsy arriving on hill - the very first shot - are shot on Hampstead Heath.
From reading Michael Palin's diary I could get even more detailed, but even I can get bored...
At 00:00:12 into reading this I was bored
"It's only a model."
-Terry 'the only American' Gilliam.
AT THE CORE that’s one of my favorite lines
@@Turt3752 Mine too. Gets me every time XD
SHUSH!😂😂😂
Shhh
@@JudgeHolden2003 Love to the Bully!
What I learned:
1. How to know if someone is a witch
2. African and European Swallows
3. The Brutality of rabbits
4. You don’t vote for kings
5. How to be a king
6. Insults
6. *Taunting
Never underestimate the lethal nature of bunny rabbits.
7. And being thrown a sword by watery bith is not qualification for king!
How to count to 3
7. How to not fall victim to a sensuous lust filled castle full of beautiful sex starved maidens.
I think you left out the single most important thing we learned from the Holy Grail: We now know the earth to be banana shaped. Indeed, this one simple fact has stymied the flat earth crowd to no end. Of course, the second most important fact deals with the relationship between Sheep's Bladders and earthquakes.
When it comes to "time jokes", it remind me of the scene in the movie Spaceballs by Mel Brooks, where the Darth Vader charachter ask what happend to then and gets the answer from his friend: "Just missed it!" Darth Vader: "When?" Friend: "Just now!" Darth Vader: "When will then be now?" Friend: "Soon!"
Yes, infinite 4th wall breaking when the stop the movie at the exact moment they are at....
Holy grail is my favorite comedy movie, simply because of its comedic simplicity. It has no need for entirely complex jokes or entirely complex plots, and nearly all of its scenes are hilarious whether it be because of a weight ratio argument, political joke, cutout/model joke, or a flesh wound, this movie in it’s entirety is a perfect example of a true comedy movie.
I guess Orson Welles was right. He said "No limitations is the ENEMY of art"
I can still remember being taken to this when I was 13 yrs old, I had already watched some of the TV show and their first movie which was a sort of best of the TV show, but I liked what I seen, but I had to go with my uncle as it was PG and you had to be a certain age, but
it was the most hilarious thing I'd ever watched and because of the laughter ,I missed scenes because of it, but it didn't matter as we came back a few times as it was so great and I've watched it now more times than I can count, but it's still fresh and I can still laugh and enjoy it like the first viewing , and that's the product of great film making and story! I wish we still had that in today's world but ,there's still the classics!
Pretty much every day since 1975 someone in my family will quote something from this movie. We all have different tastes, but everyone loves this film.
My favorite movie scene and line are both in this film.
Scene: the ‘how did you get to become king?’ scene.
Line: ‘are you suggesting coconuts migrate?’
I remember the first time I saw this, (78), down to the minute. It was 9 hours after I had my appendix removed. I laughed so hard I was was holding the incision out of fear it would break open.
On a side note, I know some sources claim nothing was ad-libbed but it's wrong. The most well known is probably ad-libbed. Probably the most well known is John Cleese when he played the enchanter.
On a side note,
"There are some who call me...Tim?" was included in the final script dating 20th of March 1974, over a month before the filming began. "What an eccentric performance!" wasn't in the script. Carol Cleveland's "Oh, shit!" wasn't in the script. Nor was Idle's "More witches!"
John Cleese, on the DVD commentary: "I think Graham and I wrote this Tim the Enchanter. And it's funny how certain names have certain connotations, and when we were trying to think what he should be called, we came up with Tim - which was *not* a reference to Tim Brooke-Taylor - but I think was something to do with the fact the word 'timid' and 'timorous' and all those words indicating a lack of immense amount of bravery."
Idle claims that he ad-libbed the "He hasn't got shit all over him" line, but the script disagrees.
In the BBC Film Night feature on the production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, transmitted in December 1974, Terry Jones points out that in Python they always stick fairly closely to the script when shooting. Michael Palin, however, says: "It's very scripted. And then we get together. And just about ten minutes before a take the script is slightly rewritten. About five minutes before the take it's fairly radically rewritten. So in fact to the very last minute there usually come little extra bits that creep in."
So it was scripted, by and large, but sometimes the script got changed at the last minute. But they very rarely, if ever, improvised in front of the cameras.
So, literally side splitting laughter...
That's metal
We had the movie recorded on a VHS. During so many years and watchings, I was continually mad about SOMEONE recording over the end of the movie with some other crap.
Until I saw it on tv, and it also ended with the police.
My personal favourite quote and illustration of the Python's creativeness is when the knights are approaching Camelot and we just the end of the conversation between King Arthur and Sir Bedervere. It's this...
Sir Bed: "And that my liege is how we know the world to be banana-shaped"
King: "This new learning amazes me Sr Bedervere. Explain to me again how a sheep's bladder may be used to prevent earthquakes"
He's about to explain when someone shouts: "Look, Camelot!" and they roll into the main scene.
I love the fact that we only catch the end of what sounds like a fascinating conversation!
I watch every one of your videos as though it were an event. Fantastic job as always.
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!
I'm quite interested in your thoughts on The Exorcist.
I really enjoyed your look at The Holy Grail. Loads of interest thoughts and observations. I'm a Monty Python fan and I've watched lots of documentaries about them, however its always great to find another well made and insightful one. Also, 'hats of to you' for actually taking the time to thank the members of Monty Python at the end of your film. So many film makers don't do that and I really think they should.
This was a wonderful video, the language structured so you don't have to have previous knowledge of film making to understand and appreciate it. Well done you!
I didn't know Terry Jones is struggling with his health. How horrible for him, for all of them, and for MP fans. I wish him well.
I love that you added the get on with it part in the intro
I love the little details that you might not spot the first time. Here’s two I found: In the bridge scene while their on the rocks crossing over there one of the characters say “hey look it’s the guy from 24” quietly. A fun fact is that that is a reused character from scene 24. I was really surprised on how many 4th wall breaks that was put into this film for being released in 1975. Before the witch scene, or right before the people have the witch, he is releasing a shallow holding a coconut. This is a reference to the conversation at the first castle, which happened minutes before, which is one of the details you really gotta pay attention to when hearing lines, or seeing in the background.
No movie has ever made me laugh out loud like Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I was In High school at the time this movie came out. My younger brother is 11 years younger than me, so he was too young to enjoy or understand the comedy then, because he was only 6 or 7 years old.
I finally introduced him to it in the 1980s when he was about 14 or so. I thought I might have killed him when he was laughing so hard he couldn’t breath, turned red and rolled out of his chair to the floor. Anything that really cracked him up made him go limp like that since he was a baby. Him and I always claim this movie as the funniest comedy ever made and still is. There are few things that make me laugh out loud.
I am a comedy writer, so I am familiar with how to set up a gag to pay off. Usually the best comedy is when the punchline is completely unexpected. Most comedy movies I see can’t make me laugh out loud because they use the same formulas that have been around since Vaudeville, so I find the comedy extremely predictable, so I’m rarely caught off guard, which would make me spontaneously let out a boisterous laugh.
There was not much predictable in The Holy Grail. Monty Python is complete silliness and most every gag is so out-there, that it is always a surprise. The first time watching the movie, I was sore from laughing by the time King Arthur defeated the Black Knight..... well, he never really defeated him, they decided to call it a draw.... the Black Knight did anyway.
Monty Python’s humor made me look at comedy in a whole different way. I can credit a lot of my best material as being inspired by their brilliant comedy. MP has made several movies and they are all funny as hell, but The Holy Grail is their masterpiece, I my opinion. Even after 40 years after first seeing this movie, it can still make me laugh at many scenes and I still find new things I didn’t notice before every time I watch it. It’s amazing.
I don’t understand why most women do not get this brilliant comedy. MP has always had a predominately male fan base, with a few women or girls that find it funny. Luckily, my wife loves this movie and she finds something new to laugh at every time she watches it again.
@Stellvia Hoenheim To Arthur's time you belong
Hi, I’m a woman, and this film is my favorite comedy, and my aunt was the one who introduced it to me.
I was really enjoying this comment until you said women dont like it? Bull! I love this movie, and my mom used to watch it with my dad before I was born.
You've obviously not met enough women!
@@royfearn4345 I just turned 60 years old, so I think I’ve met plenty of women. You may have that in reverse. I don’t think you’ve met many women outside of your own small click to have a large enough sampling to judge from. In that case, you don’t need to meet more women, since polls have been taken and it always comes out that more men get Monty Python humor and on average, and women don’t.
There are exceptions, like my wife, who loves Monty Python, but she is an exception, not the norm. You can also find small groups of women who enjoy the prog/rock Canadian band Rush too, but it’s a well known fact that every Rush concert is a sausage fest of air-drumming males. Just because some woman tells you she likes Rush, maybe to impress you if you’ve told her you’re big fan of the group, doesn’t mean shit.
Go to her house or apartment and see how many of their albums she owns? Here again, my wife is an exception.... one of the very few women in the fucking world who actually owned every one of their albums before I knew her (at least all of the albums out at that time). Any Rush fan knows that’s instant marrying material there. If she likes Rush and finds Monty Python funny, you find the first jewelry store and get that engagement ring.
Just because you know a small group of women who like something is hardly an example of the population of women in the world. You find me a midnight theater showing of Monty Python And The Holy Grail that has an audience that is predominantly female and I’ll change my stance and admit defeat. This is a safe bet, since I know that’s impossible. You just haven’t met very many women if actually going to try and tell me that there are equally, or even more ridiculous,more women that like Monty Python than men. It’s not even close. It’s a 20% to 80% in favor of men at best, but I would bet it’s closer to a 10% women to 90% men equation and every man who loves in the real world knows this. Hell, even Family Guy made fun of that fact in an episode because it’s well known.
"but...your arm's off!"
No it isn't...
"you're a loony."
I'm invincible!!
...we'll call it a draw.
Just a flesh wound.... have at you!
15:22 - The castle surrounded by water is Castle Stalker, not Doune. Most of the other scenes were filmed at Doune, with a couple of brief scenes at Kidwelly and Bodiam.
I was in the 10th or 11th grade when this came out. Me and my friends must have saw it at least four times at the theatre. Funniest shit we had ever seen.
Came here in the search of likeminded opinions on Brazil, now I can’t stop with your content! Amazing in-depth analyses of these artworks. Thanks for teaching, thanks for sharing!
Fab work and really interesting. Thanks !
Thank you!
Watching the Holy Grail when it was first release, was the sole time in my life when I've laughed so hard that the pain of it forced me to the floor...and in a cinema, a proper big old style formal one with red velvet curtain. Plus I was too young to understand the content of many of the jokes. Watery tarts, moistened bints, and autonomous collectives were all to be properly enjoyed in future viewings.
I've heard it said, I think by Michael Palin, that Terry Gilliam is superb at visual storytelling, but loves chaos, whereas Terry Jones was excellent at gathering masses of details and information in his head and creating order out of it. So the film benefited hugely from both their approaches.
Correction: Doune Castle (pronounced "doon" or "dune") is actually *not* the castle in the lake. It's a castle near Stirling surrounded by fields and countryside and is under the care of Historic Scotland. This is the same castle where they filmed the French Knights and the Torjan Rabbit, which were filmed on the grounds surrounding Doune. You can pay to go and visit there and you can take an audio guide narrated by Terry Jones with you as you look around.
Most of my favourite comedy skits and characters from python are with Terry Jones and Michael Palin, something I've only just realised. There's just something so completely on the mark, but also good natured and light-hearted about them when they got together. Just wonderful, I'm so grateful to have witnessed it...!
I discovered you through Kubrick's 2001, now Holy Grail? I know this is going to be good! you are top drawer material, much respect. Some day when I have a little extra cash I'm going to support your work.
That cracks me up. Arguably the most overrated most boring movie of all times and the greatest movie of all times in one sentence.
What a great commentary on a great film. You're sadness at Jones' dementia and the humility you show is heartwarming. Luckily Terry made some wonderful documentaries. Thanks for yuor work.
What I definitely learned from this movie was how to know for sure if one is a witch.
Two strange things. I live around the corner for the museum of the moving image and I've never heard it referenced in anything I've ever watched and you posted this on my birthday. Glad I found this channel. Really enjoy your work.
This has such artistic English product energy, like the budget is whatever your parents are willing to let you use and no one’s taking the presentations seriously so your group just decides to have a fun time
A weil-rounded and thought out video. You also get a trememndous sense of your own joy, love and appreciation of Python, which, I think, is why I watched it all the way through
"Oh, some lovely filth over here"!
The castle Surrounded by water is called Castle Stalker and was only used for the end of the movie from afar. Doune Castle is the castle in most of the movie. The French castle, the Beacon grail Castle, the wedding castle, all Doune. They had to make a few floors for that movie inside I think, they weren't there when I visited. You can rent coconuts there to ride around with if you ever visit. I visited in 2009 and the back curtain wall had fallen down by then. My brother fell down the hill Arthur gets mocked on, it's a bit steep lol. Good historical castle to visit too as it looks like castles actually did, Edinburgh is like Castle Disney land.
What made the movie for me was that Gilliam attention to detail. It was clear that he has a real passion for Medieval history.
That's no ordinary rabbit lad...
Able Baker he'll do you a treat mate!
"He's got a vicious streak a mile wide!"
{I hope that is correct - it is from memory...lol}
I'm warning you! That thing's a KILLER!
Bring out the holy hand gernade!
"it can jump....... .. oooh ... errhhh... this far" (indicates a couple of feet)
I've been to the castle they used in the film, it has an audio tour narrated by Terry Jones detailing both the castles actual history, and it's story in the film
there were also Swallows nesting there for the added bonus
When I was there in 2016 the tour was narrated by Terry Jones.
@@EmileJoulbert thank you for that
Turns out I got the names mixed up, as I was there around the same time as you
But....but...is it an EUROPEAN swallows?
I do so love Terry Jones. I think Graham will always be my favorite Python.... and John Cleese has remained something of the visual icon of the group's comedy, with his foreboding height and physical dexterity. But Jones's ability to assume the most vulnerable straight man, or morph into complete insanity or absurdity, all while keeping a keen sense of humanity with his facial expressions, is what sells me fully on him as a member of the group. He was and is the heart of Monty Python.
Love of this movie and the Pythons in particular has lead to my meeting some very interesting and fun people. At a meeting or in a class or something and someone does or says a Python related bit! "How long is it"? "That's rather a personal question sir".
Since my childhood one of my favorite comedys ever. Still rewatch it alongside life of brian every easter with my mom and it never gets old. This movie is truly timeless.
The fact that people have doodled for centuries makes me happy.
I watched all your Kubrick videos and came across this. Brilliant!!! Your diverse perspectives are exceptional. You clearly did research; while not compiling it to a an average Top 10 list.
I learned how to see if someone is a witch. Very helpful.
It is correct that they used Doune castle, which is pronouned "Doon". But the shot of the castle surrounded by water is a different castle in Scotland which is privately owned called Eilean Donan Castle. The close up shots at the castle wall looking up at the french guy is Doune Castle. ( another fun fact, the village of Doune is where it is believed the pistol was manufactured that fired the first shot in the American War of Independence)
Q; How do you know so much about swallows?
A; Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
"And Now for something Completely Different" was MY introduction to Python... And I was completely hooked after that. Then Live At the Hollywood Bowl, Meaning of life, then (the holy grail) Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Just incredible comedy and script writing.
It wasn't until years later that I 'got' Life of Brian.
I knew who Monty Python was from TV. When the movie came out, I was like "I want to watch the Monty Python stuff, but I don't want to watch whatever The Holy Grail is". Double movies were a thing back in those days.
What it taught was that you only needed creativity, passion, hilarity and original music to make a great classic, and high crossing film only with your weekly allowance.
Anything listed above are butchered in half now by little bits.
Castle Doune (pronounced like 'dune') in Scotland was where most of the Holy Grail's castle scenes (interior and extetior) were filmed. Castle Stalker was used as "Castle Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh", and (as I have read), in the early scene where the French soldier taunts King Arthur's from the battlements.
Easily the best Python video I've seen. Great job, keep it up! :)
Thanks so much!
Great video! I love The Holy Grail. This film was my first introduction to Monty Python. The Life of Brian is my favorite, but The Holy Grail is a close second.
"Do you mean an African or a European Swallow?" "What? I don't know that! Waaaaaahhhhhh"
Just popping in to say thank you so much for subtitle! Actual, proper subs, no auto-subs! Since I have hearing loss I can easily misunderstand words so you're a lifesaver
Enjoyable video, but you are wrong about the castles (15:14). The picture you show is Castle Stalker, which is the castle they reach at the end of the film. However, most filming was done at Doune Castle, which looks quite different.
One of my most unique memories. I attended a rainbow gathering in Washington state. Well it turned very rainy and cold at elevation, it became a struggle. If you didn't have rain gear and a good tent it became very challenging. The meadows were tall grass you would get wet to your waist with a few steps. The trails and fire roads turned to mud, cars were getting stuck trying to leave and blocked the road. I was there in one of the early Subaru's and fancy gear for me. One miserable night by a roaring fire (lots of wood in Washington forests) a group of college students from Berkley recited most of the Holy Grail scenes. I didn't know people could remember so much. I have rarely ever witnessed so much joy and laughter with the stragglers around that fire that night, taking are minds off the weather. To this day that is some of my favorite dialog...for the...farcical aquatic....watery....tarts.
Your videos are excellent. Very fascinating and well put together.
Thank you!
Terry Gilliam talks with a much stronger English accent in 1974 than in the stage discussion 20 years later! At 3:17 he could be a Brit with a slight drawl!
RIP Arthur "Two-Sheds" Jackson
A small correction about 15:20 - the castle on water is not Doune Castle (I visited it many times, it's in a middle of a small town) but Castle Stalker. :)
i thought the holy grail was actually one of the most brilliant, atmosphere-rich films I'd ever seen - now i realize it was the gilliam effect
If you liked "Holy Grail", also watch Michael Palin and Eric Idle in "Jabberwocky".
i like it when youtubers say you know what is happening i am assuming you read the title, rather than oh you will never guess what we are going to be doing in todays video! good job
Doune castle is Not surrounded by water that was Castle Stalker .... Although most castle scenes were filmed at Doune.
I loved this and as a result I’ve become a subscriber. I’m sorry to hear about Terry Jones’s medical condition- he and the rest of the PYTHONS are my absolute favorites. I watch those movies so much that I know the dialogue by heart.
German title:"The Knights of the Coconut"
Oh my fuck, this video of yours was amazing!!!
You have genuinely presented a lot of interesting concepts and facts in an entertaining and careful way.
I'm sorry to see that you have only this many subsribers, but I'm sure this number is going to rise.
This video could easily be aired on regural tv. High quality editing, interesting and clear presentation, and it shows that you have really put time and effort in your production.
I wish you and your channel all the best! :)
Maybe you could do Gilliam's masterpiece 'Brazil'.
It's a rare thing when I don't get bored by videos. This has never happened while watching your work. Great job!
Thank you!