Monty Python And The Holy Grail [1974]

This film is a series of (barely) connected sketches which end up just being a feeble excuse for six grown men to be extremely silly in a muddy field next to a castle (or is it only a model?). But it's all the better for it. You can marvel at the magnificence of the Knights of Ni, insult French people, fight killer vorpal rabbits, have both your arms and legs chopped off and call it a draw, and still get flattened by a flying cow or a large wooden duck, all from the comfort of your living room. All this and more in a well padded 90 minutes of cinematic hilarity. No mean feat.

If this sort of humour appeals, then this DVD is for you. It's packed with special features (I particularly liked the Lego musical number, which is simply inspired), but there's plenty of other silliness there for you to enjoy. Also a nice retrospective with Terry Jones and Michael Palin as they wander around Sloane castle to find where it all went horribly wrong 28 years ago. The film itself is transferred lovingly & beautifully, and is a joy to behold.

If you've never seen Python before, this is a good place to start, as I would argue that its easily the 2nd-most Pythonesque film they made.

So, bring out your dead, bang your head against a plank of wood & chant: "One copy of Monty Python and the Holy Grail please!"


I told them we already got one...   January 9, 2006
Kurt Messick (London, SW1)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

There are so many things about this (and indeed any) Monty Python movie that one hardly knows where to begin. Nothing is left out of the mix--history, religion, politics, personal relationships, prejudices, intellectual prowess or the lack thereof. My title, of course, comes from an early scene in with Arthur approaches a castle, inexplicably occupied by French k-nigits, who claim to already have a grail.

The Monty Python troupe, led by the creative talents of Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, incorporated John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman as King Arthur, the dominant role in the film. No animals were harmed in the filming, not even an African Swallow, non-migratory as they are. A few coconuts bit the dust, however, as did more than a few comic images. Logic bits the dust, too, on more than one occasion. I did a paper once for symbolic logic which I was told ten years later was still being passed about because I had dared to use something so unconventional as this Monty Python movie in the references (I couldn't see why that wouldn't be much more common, and indeed, hope it is today--I use 'Life of Brian' in homilies, so why not this film in logic?).

The particular logical incident (or rather, illogical incident) involves the trial of a woman accused of being a witch. Through 'logic' it is demonstrated that she would be a witch if she weighed the same as a duck (which, surprisingly enough, it turns out that she does -- 'It's a fair cop' she concedes as the general rejoicing commences at the prospect of a bonfire). Those who have benefit of the 'Executive Version of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail' are also treated to an exposition of the logical problems which itself concludes that 'sex is better than logic'. And who could argue with that reasoning?

However, my favourite scene would have to be the liturgical procession and reading of instructions for the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, with the leader's instruction 'skip a bit, brother' -- an instruction which I've searched in vain in the liturgical handbooks, but would vastly improve many readings on some mornings in church. This is a perfect parody of the sonorous but deadening readings that seem to drag on interminably.

A close second would be the scene in which Arthur tries to explain his kingship to members of an autonomous collective (read, peasants without a lord) who view him as just another oppressor, and inform him that watery tarts throwing swords at you is not an adequate basis for the exercise of supreme executive power.

Those who have visions of Great Britain as royal and cultural icons are often amazed-the likes of Monty Python and Benny Hill (among others) show the inhabitants of the UK as just as human (if not moreso) than the rest of the world. And we are all the richer for it. Alas, the Holy Grail is never actually attained by the seekers, who run into trouble with more French k-nigits and the local constabulary. But, the journey's the thing, so they teach me in seminary, and thus, this journey is well worth following to the end.

The DVD comes with many extras, including the Camelot song being sung by Lego-land figures, and extensive commentary by actors and others involved in the production.

Prepare to be amazed! Prepare to be offended! Prepare the popcorn in advance.


Outrageously funny, humorously outrageous   October 1, 2005
C. MCCALLISTER (The waters of the Great Lakes)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Monty Python and His Flying Circus, this film will be startling at first. Monty Python is a troup of comedic actors who had a long-standing British comedy show that was/is absolutely wacky, irreverent, off-the-wall, outrageous, and insanely funny. Some reviewers and critics say that Monty Python is not for everyone; I'm not sure about that, but renting a few episodes of the series to see how you like it would be a good test before buying the movie.

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail" takes the Arthurian legend and the crusade for the Holy Grail, and lampoons it in every way possible. The result is one of the funniest, silliest movies ever made. Do all of the jokes hit the mark? No, and I'm not sure that's even possible, especially with the number of gags in this movie. The viewer has to watch everything, as the comic attacks are non-stop. Beware the Black Knight and the Knights Who Say "Ni!" (yes, that will make sense to you after you see the movie, if anything in the movie really makes sense).


Python's second finest hour-and-a-bit   November 26, 2002
Dr. S. Ward
11 out of 14 found this review helpful

'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' was the Python team's take on Arthurian legend, directed by the Terrys Jones and Gilliam and was driven my Jones' love of history and legend and Gilliam's general weirdness. Even though the film was made in 1974, it hasn't really dated and remains gut-wrenchingly funny.

Whilst the general concensus is that `Life of Brian' is the best of Python's films, it's always 'Holy Grail' that I find myself watching over again - this isn't to say that 'Life of Brian' is a bad film, it certainly isn't, but despite the dark and mucky atmosphere of 'Holy Grail', the actors seem to be enjoying themselves, and as a result many of the scenes are indelibly etched into the brains of countless Python fans: the Black Knight ('All right, we'll call it a draw ...'), the French knights (`Now go away or I will taunt you a second time!') and, of course, the Knights Who Say .... Ni! Throw in a handful of Terry G's trademark animations and you've got yourself a winner.

Although the film's ending is, quite frankly, rubbish, the laughs will come thick and fast.

For fans of `additional material' (or filler, if you prefer) the second disc contains, amongst other things, a documentary in which Michael Palin and Terry Jones visit the film locations 25 years after the event; this is well worth watching in its own right. Other bits of inconsequential trivia include a couple of clips from the Japanese version of the film and the `Camelot' sequence performed with Lego(!). There's also the `singalong' sequence where you can learn the words to Sir Robin's theme song or the 'Camelot Song' (`we're knights of the Round Table, we dance when'er we're able' etc.etc.)

Like Monty Python? Got a DVD player? Get this ... you'll never look at coconuts in the same light again!


Buy it or the knights will get you.   March 8, 2000
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

A top movie which even if you watch it now does not look dated. The monty python comedy was way ahead of its time and it shows in this film. In this film you see the usual team playing a variety of different roles (both male and female) which makes this stand out. No-one is a by-stander in the movie it is definately a team effort. If you have watched the TV series and thought it wasn't for you, try this as I feel this film is for more of a main stream audience. If you enjoy The Python then you will love this.