Monty Python and the Holy Grail

UPC: 043396052765

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Questionable for Children, Adult Humor, Slapstick Violence]

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

Category: Comedy

Features: Subtitles for people who don't like the film (taken from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part II)
Onscreen screenplay: Read the screenplay while you watch the film
Enlightening commentaries by Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones, plus general complaints and back-biting by John Cleese, Eric Idle, & Michael Palin
"Follow the Killer Rabbit" feature
A special feature for the hard of hearing
A glorious extra 24 seconds absolutely free
Three mindless singalongs
Join Michael Palin and Terry Jones in their special feature documentary: "The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations"
"How to Use Your Coconuts" (an educational film)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Japanese (with English subtitles)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Lego
"On Location With the Pythons": Genuine 18-min. location report made in 1974 by BBC Film Night (broadcast Dec. 19, 1974)
An interactive cast directory: Discover just how many roles Michael Palin plays
Tons of Terry Gilliam's original sketches plus posters
Behind-the-scenes photos: Hitherto unseen by human hand
A Load of Rubbish: A surprise package of mystery items specially included for the mentally challenged
Unused Locations!: How the directors' recce used up the budget
Unused ideas
Theatrical trailers
Web links for real nerds

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Format: DVD

Release Date: 10/23/2001

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 1 USA & territories, Canada

Runtime: 89 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 -- Disc One
0. Scene Select
1. Main Titles [:01]
2. Coconuts [3:36]
3. Plague Village [:48]
4. Constitutional Peasants [:11]
5. The Black Knight [2:17]
6. Witch Village [:41]
7. Knights of the Round Table [:07]
8. God [1:06]
9. French Taunters [3:10]
10. The Trojan Rabbit [:11]
11. The Tale of Sir Robin [:05]
12. The Tale of Sir Galahad [1:01]
13. Scene 24 [:04]
14. The Knights Who Say Ni [3:08]
15. The Tale of Sir Lancelot [:48]
16. The Rescue of Prince Herbert [:05]
17. The Wedding Guests [:25]
18. Roger the Shrubber [:03]
19. A Herring [2:58]
20. Tim the Enchanter [:03]
21. The Cave of Caerbannog [1:06]
22. The Holy Hand Grenade [:12]
23. The Black Beast of Aaarrghh! [:03]
24. The Bridge of Death [:57]
25. The Castle of Aaarrghh! [:03]
26. The Holy Grail [:22]
27. Prepare to Attack [1:25]
28. The End of the Film [:04]

Derek Armstrong

The first feature-length film from Monty Python, the quintet of physically and verbally gymnastic British sketch comics, is not only widely considered their funniest, but one of the funniest films ever committed to celluloid. Known for abruptly ending TV skits mid-stream with the segue "And now for something completely different" -- due both to their distaste for writing endings and their ADD giddiness to move onward -- the troupe finds uncharacteristic continuity here, examining one fertile topic from each of its absurd angles. Yet the movie is still comprised of distinct segments, any of which could serve as a favorite for fans who want to recite the choicest dialogue and make converts of the uninitiated. But for five minutes of sheer uncontrollable hysterics, one need only watch the scene in which Graham Chapman steadily lops the limbs from a foolishly determined knight, who continues issuing taunts even after he's been totally neutralized. Irritated more than threatened, Chapman's King Arthur keeps hacking at the prating cripple just to shut him up -- it's the only sane reaction in this ridiculous world full of delusional windbags. Chapman is a wonderful constant as the frustrated straight man, and his colleagues lob one demented set piece after another "in his general direction." The temptation is to enumerate these clever interludes, but a catapulted cow really needs to be seen to be appreciated. The only time Monty Python and the Holy Grail stumbles is at its sudden ending, a cop-out that's pure Python. Or maybe it's just that any end to such enlightened joke slinging is cause for lament. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Graham Chapman  Screenwriter 
John Cleese  Screenwriter 
Mark Forstater  Producer 
Terry Gilliam  Director 
Terry Gilliam  Screenwriter 
John Goldstone  Executive Producer 
Eric Idle  Screenwriter 
Neil Innes  Composer (Music Score) 
Terry Jones  Director 
Terry Jones  Screenwriter 
Michael Palin  Screenwriter 
Michael White  Producer 
De Wolfe  Composer (Music Score) 
Graham Chapman  Actor 
John Cleese  Actor 
Terry Gilliam  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Terry Jones  Actor 
Michael Palin  Actor 
Graham Chapman  Actor 
Graham Chapman  Actor 
John Cleese  Actor 
John Cleese  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Eric Idle  Actor 
Terry Jones  Actor 
Terry Jones  Actor 
Terry Jones  Actor 
Patsy Kensit  Actor 
Monty Python  Actor 
Michael Palin  Actor 
Michael Palin  Actor 
Michael Palin  Actor 
Terry Gilliam  Actor 
Connie Booth  Actor 
Carol Cleveland  Actor 
Neil Innes  Actor 
Bee Duffell  Actor 
John Young  Actor 
Rita Davies  Actor 
Sally Kinghorn  Actor 
Sandy Johnson  Actor 
Sandy Rose  Actor 
Mary Allen  Actor 
Michael Palin  Actor 

Country: UK