What frees the prisoner in his lonely cell, chained within the bondage of rude walls, far from the owl of Thebes? What fires and stirs the woodcock in his springe or wakes the drowsy apricot betides? What goddess doth the storm toss'd mariner offer her most tempestuous prayers to? Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
I love Eric's little speech! and the attitude of Terry as the judge. and Michael as an impersonator. I'm partial to the little song at the end, too. thanks for uploading this!
And you're surrounded by red skinned English tourists drinking bleedin Watney's red barrell and idiots singing "torremillinos, torremillinos", and there's always some bloke who drones ON and ON and ON about how Mr. Smith should be running this country.........
For me, the Graham Chapman/woman character wasnt so much comedy as a trip down memory lane, that was almost exactly what my mum was like...only my mum made even less sense.
He also played one in A Fish Called Wanda. He just has that tall, authoritative look and manner about him, which makes it even funnier when he starts talking about complete goofiness with a straight face.
And the prosecutor should be wearing a red suit and a white frilly cravat. The detective needs to have a green trench coat and be underpaid to the point of near bankruptcy. And the judge needs to be older, balder and beardier.
He's mimicking the actor Sir Laurence Olivier. In the 30s, Olivier did a lot of Shakespearean films and he recites his lines in that nasal, clipped way.
"Mr Aldridge, not to put too fine a point on it, would you be prepared to say that you are, as it were, what is generally known as, in a manner of speaking - dead?" Way to take your time getting to the point, John Cleese!
The Pythons have outdone themselves once more: Alone the pathetic plea for freedom is beyond their usual comical mastery but the appearance of Cardinal Richelieu is amazing! When the Pythons were around it was obviously quite proper to show one’s knowledge on topics like art or history instead of making boast of one’s ignorance in these matters as many people tend to do today. While being a professional Cardinal Richelieu impersonator must be a good trade for sure.
After almost years 50 Monty Python remains the unbeaten "King of Comedy". P.S Micheal Palin impersonating "So-called Cardinal Richelieu" makes me crack up everytime!! XD
Iddle's speech is wonderful. Palin=Richelieu ("a caracter witness") is simply genious. Chapman's DIM ("fair cop") is incredible. And Cleese dance... simply the best performance in comedy ever.
Actually, it occurred to me that "strange, damnable, almost diabolic threads of this extraordinary tangled web of intrigue" is a precise description of my parking tickets!
No matter how many times the Late Arthur Aldridge had knocked to the question "Are you in fact dead"?" he would have opened himself up to a perjury trap. If he had knocked twice for "no" he couldn't very well be "the Late Arthur Aldridge" (i.e. dead), but rather " the Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge". On the other hand, if "the Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge" had knocked once for "yes" he couldn't be dead, because, well, a dead man answering a question in court would just be too silly. So the "Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge" wisely remained silent on the advice of his lawyer. Aldridge is/was(?) one smart stiff, too smart, I think, even for Inspector Dim of the Yard. There is a lesson to be learned here...somewhere.
Part of Cleese's genius is something he was not aware of. His body and limb movements are ridiculously exaggerated/rigid. His goose stepping on Fwatty Towels or (sorry) Fawlty Towers is a case in point. In his early career it was about two years before he actually saw what he looked like on video and he had no idea how ridiculous he looked. I think he described himself as something like "a giant hovercraft" moving about the stage. As in "My hovercraft is full of eels". A favoured M.P. object.
Chapman is brilliant in this one. So funny. "Not so fast". The way he says it is just hilarious. Just like everything else that comes out of his mouth.
"Curse you Inspector Dim, you are too clever for us naughty people" It alarms me how awesome Michael saying that in a pink outfit is... its... just... so... awesome...
One of the few sketches I'd not seen previously; the first witness reminds me of so many people! And then there's JC singing about being an engine driver! LOL funny!
@TheEventMaker I believe this is from the episode "How To Idenitfy Different Types of Trees From Quite A Long Way Away", in which they do "No. 1: The Larch. The. Larch."
150 Snazzes on the 100 Point Snazz-o-Scale. Off the charts! -This is one of my favorite MP sketches. It's so goofy! I especially love the Cardinal Richileau bit. "Ah ha! He fell for my little trap!" -I think more criminals in this world today should say "Curse you! You are too clever for us nawty people" when they get arrested. It would make law and order so much more entertaining.
This reminds me of the Goons (scene: a court trial): Man [from the gallery]: "I object!" Judge: "Who are you?" Man: "I'm the window cleaner." Judge: "What you have to say has no bearing on these proceedings." Man: "My bread and butter." Judge [exasperated]: "What about your bread and butter?" Man: "I cleans the windows with it."
MP's delivery of, "Curse you, Inspector Dim. You are too clever for us naughty people" always kills me.
Oh-we!
"I sure did that thing."
I'm going to get pulled up for a parking offense just to give that speech on freedom.
Curse you Inspector Dim, you are too clever for us naughty people.
Almost makes me want to get arrested just so I can use that line in court.
'Till the end of my days I'll remember that Cardinal Richelieu died in december 1642
"I swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth & nothing but the truth,
so anyway"
That's my favorite part! Kills me every time!
Cardinal Richelieu: a man so cool that he not only has his own fanfare entrance music, but he even brings his own handheld microphone to court.
Like judy garland
"I sure did that thing" has become a staple part of my everday vocabulary
John Cleese's 'engine driver' song may be one of the funniest things ever committed to film.
"If I were not in the CID...."-Graham's song is wonderful as is John's little followup-"If I were not before the bar..."
The song sounds so Lerner and Loewish
What frees the prisoner in his lonely cell, chained within the bondage of rude walls, far from the owl of Thebes? What fires and stirs the woodcock in his springe or wakes the drowsy apricot betides? What goddess doth the storm toss'd mariner offer her most tempestuous prayers to? Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Can you imagine a valedictorian giving a speech like that? 😁
It's only a bloody parking offense
@@dinahkyle3196 parking offense, schmarking offense!
"He's not completely dead, m'Lord, but he's not at all well."
Cracks me up every time XD
No comment on how cute Cleese's lil engine driver dance is??
Mret Wai Khine It is absolutely heartwarming!
Oui ❤
"Professional Cardinal Richelieu Impersonator". I'd love to put that down on a resume or income tax form.
I love Eric's little speech! and the attitude of Terry as the judge. and Michael as an impersonator. I'm partial to the little song at the end, too. thanks for uploading this!
My parents once hired a professional Cardinal Richelieu impersonator for my 10th birthday.
This may be the most underrated comment in the history of youtube.
Was it Lord Black of Crossharbour? He always attends costume parties as Richelieu.
The Gilbert and Sullivan references are unfortunately becoming ancient history in America. Terrific performance!
I remember hearing about Gilbert and Sullivan in movies.
It's only a bloody parking offense...
Gilles Tremblay It's only thirty shillings.
Eric Idle was perfect as a man who just wouldn't shut up..
And you're surrounded by red skinned English tourists drinking bleedin Watney's red barrell and idiots singing "torremillinos, torremillinos", and there's always some bloke who drones ON and ON and ON about how Mr. Smith should be running this country.........
Graham was perfect playing a woman who wouldn't shut up
Ya that was graham
@@MichaelShingo No, Graham was acting as the lady. Idle was delivering a speech about freedom over his parking offense.
0:35 I’m gonna get pulled up for a parking offense purely to give this speech
The bit when Michael turns to john and just goes 'oui' is my favourite part xD
Ooooooui.
Me too
"Mr. Larch, I find you incredibly guilty of overacting!"
I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so anyway...
Laughed out loud the instant Chapman delivered that
Yup. Amidst all the silliness and history lessons, there are moments of creative genius in this skit. And that's one of them.
Me too!
Such an underrated sketch!
This entire skit is glorious
so happy that these videos are back on youtube.
freedom, freedom, freedom!
one of my favorite sketches with the mostly dead guy in the coffin for extra silliness
For me, the Graham Chapman/woman character wasnt so much comedy as a trip down memory lane, that was almost exactly what my mum was like...only my mum made even less sense.
Wish I could meet yr mum. Graham is more like both my grandmums- they were funny without trying
Wow what respect.
Has anyone else noticed that John Cleese always plays a barrister in court room scenes?
Apparently he studied law at university :-)
He also played one in A Fish Called Wanda. He just has that tall, authoritative look and manner about him, which makes it even funnier when he starts talking about complete goofiness with a straight face.
WITH A RUB-DUB-DUB & A SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB I'D SING THIS VERY SONG!!!
One of the best Flying Circus bits. Absolutely fantastic.
NO WONDER I came out as a total blithering idiot! These hours were how I spent my teenage years! And I am thankful for it!🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣
Mr. Lawyer, you need a spirit medium trained in the Kurain school of Channeling before the deceased can testify.
And the prosecutor should be wearing a red suit and a white frilly cravat. The detective needs to have a green trench coat and be underpaid to the point of near bankruptcy. And the judge needs to be older, balder and beardier.
He's mimicking the actor Sir Laurence Olivier. In the 30s, Olivier did a lot of Shakespearean films and he recites his lines in that nasal, clipped way.
John's dance is simply too awesome for words.
Indeed ❤
Dead witnesses are the best ones. Clever people were the Monty Python people. Clever indeed. Beautiful song.
" ...well they do don't they, I mean you can't can you.... " Oh Graham , I'm almost in love with you haha, that monologue was pure genius!
I cry with laughter every time I watch Graham Chapman delivering that monologue.
Michael also did Richelieu doing his Petula Clark impression. I think he just loves the outfit
No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
I'm taking history notes on this...seriously.
thank you for uploading this
"Mr Aldridge, not to put too fine a point on it, would you be prepared to say that you are, as it were, what is generally known as, in a manner of speaking - dead?" Way to take your time getting to the point, John Cleese!
He studied to be a lawyer ❤
This is the 10th time I've seen and I'm drooling with laughter.
You've got to be cruel to be kind.
The Pythons have outdone themselves once more: Alone the pathetic plea for freedom is beyond their usual comical mastery but the appearance of Cardinal Richelieu is amazing! When the Pythons were around it was obviously quite proper to show one’s knowledge on topics like art or history instead of making boast of one’s ignorance in these matters as many people tend to do today. While being a professional Cardinal Richelieu impersonator must be a good trade for sure.
We need more kosher car parks in this country
This is probably my favourite Python sketch
It's just a bloody parking offense.
Parking offense? Schmarking offense, my lord. We must leave no stone unturned.
After almost years 50 Monty Python remains the unbeaten "King of Comedy".
P.S Micheal Palin impersonating "So-called Cardinal Richelieu" makes me crack up everytime!! XD
Rupert Pupkin will be most upset.
Michael Palin absolutely kills me everytime! OUI!
I always loved Gilliam as the knight with a chicken in these bits.
john cleese's expecting glances at the camera are hilarious.
"I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth...so anyway" 😅😅😅
Love Cleese's dance at the end. He's just so silly.
So light on his feet.
just a normal day in the courts of london
Iddle's speech is wonderful.
Palin=Richelieu ("a caracter witness") is simply genious.
Chapman's DIM ("fair cop") is incredible.
And Cleese dance... simply the best performance in comedy ever.
This is brilliant, one of the few MP sketches I haven't seen! THANK YOU!
Actually, it occurred to me that "strange, damnable, almost diabolic threads of this extraordinary tangled web of intrigue" is a precise description of my parking tickets!
One of their greatest skits!
And the larch is my second favourite tree, but I am never too sure about Laricus Japponica
this is simply amazing. 8 1/2 minutes. one shot. pure comedy.
Mr. Larch is the British version of what we Americans call a sovereign citizen 😆
“It was only a bloody parking offense”🤣
Me, too. It's all brilliant. The song, too, is really charming.
"Mr Alridge, I put it to you that you are dead."
LOL.
The Monty Python are a smart lot. I'd bet that they created such a speech just for this sketch
Inspector Dim should have gotten his own spin-off series.
John Cleese's graceful dance at the end is my favorite part
One of the best from Graham.
Eric's mimicking Sir Laurence Olivier by the end of his speech.
"one of the architects of the modern world, already"
No matter how many times the Late Arthur Aldridge had knocked to the question "Are you in fact dead"?" he would have opened himself up to a perjury trap. If he had knocked twice for "no" he couldn't very well be "the Late Arthur Aldridge" (i.e. dead), but rather " the Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge". On the other hand, if "the Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge" had knocked once for "yes" he couldn't be dead, because, well, a dead man answering a question in court would just be too silly. So the "Not At All Well Mr. Aldridge" wisely remained silent on the advice of his lawyer. Aldridge is/was(?) one smart stiff, too smart, I think, even for Inspector Dim of the Yard. There is a lesson to be learned here...somewhere.
I want to hear Cleese version with chorus "with a chiff-chiff"
Why didn't they let the barrister sing his part?
Favouritism in the court, I say!
This is the single best sketch that MP EVER did. Palin is fantastically funny.
It's a VERY funny sketch, but that's a BIG statement. They were just great.
watch this with subtitles. you wont be disappointed
Parking Finch.
Tick.
Thx.
PRIAM! FIELD! FREEDOM!
The of the best court scenes:-) Theres a lot more! Luckyly :-)
Part of Cleese's genius is something he was not aware of. His body and limb movements are ridiculously exaggerated/rigid. His goose stepping on Fwatty Towels or (sorry) Fawlty Towers is a case in point. In his early career it was about two years before he actually saw what he looked like on video and he had no idea how ridiculous he looked. I think he described himself as something like "a giant hovercraft" moving about the stage. As in "My hovercraft is full of eels". A favoured M.P. object.
Chapman is brilliant in this one. So funny.
"Not so fast". The way he says it is just hilarious. Just like everything else that comes out of his mouth.
I love how Cleese points at the audience when a witness says something "important". I can't even explain why I find it so funny but it's brilliant.
Absolutely the best and for ever.
I like that one too. It's "The Toad Elevating Moment" from the Royal Episode. :) He's a man who says things in a very roundabout way
"Curse you Inspector Dim, you are too clever for us naughty people"
It alarms me how awesome Michael saying that in a pink outfit is... its... just... so... awesome...
"oui...!"
Michael as the cardinal XD and it's just a parking offense
One of the few sketches I'd not seen previously; the first witness reminds me of so many people! And then there's JC singing about being an engine driver! LOL funny!
OMG, Graham is just hysterical as that witness and Michael as Cardinal Richelieu!!! Ah!
"So, anyway..!"
I just realized he's playing a lawyer here just like in A Fish Called Wanda.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS
still brilliant some 50 years on.
This is just so flat out perfect...
"He's not completely dead?"
"Well he's not completely dead, but he's not at all well"
Eric Idle's soliloquys are some of the most epic in English literature
Michael just looks good in Cardinal's robes
Love Count Binface's appearance at the end 😂😂😂
"Dim of the yard" lol, comedy genious
@TheEventMaker
I believe this is from the episode "How To Idenitfy Different Types of Trees From Quite A Long Way Away", in which they do "No. 1: The Larch. The. Larch."
No. 2: The Horsechestnut
150 Snazzes on the 100 Point Snazz-o-Scale. Off the charts!
-This is one of my favorite MP sketches. It's so goofy! I especially love the Cardinal Richileau bit. "Ah ha! He fell for my little trap!"
-I think more criminals in this world today should say "Curse you! You are too clever for us nawty people" when they get arrested. It would make law and order so much more entertaining.
Monty Python at its finest, so anyway.
This reminds me of the Goons (scene: a court trial):
Man [from the gallery]: "I object!"
Judge: "Who are you?"
Man: "I'm the window cleaner."
Judge: "What you have to say has no bearing on these proceedings."
Man: "My bread and butter."
Judge [exasperated]: "What about your bread and butter?"
Man: "I cleans the windows with it."
I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so anyway...
"character witness"
I get it.
I was waiting for the Spanish Inquisition.
no, that's yet another court sketch and by far the funniest.
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition
@@mfjdv2020 Nah, it's not better than this one. The best one is still Fish slapping dance.
What's number 2??? For the love of God, what's number 2!!!!????
The larch.
SPRPhilly The Horse Chestnut!
The larch. The....larch
so anyway
Classic!