HiT Monty Python

 

Monty Python produced two deeply researched dramas analysing the reign of the great British Hero King Arthur, and the religious leader, Brian. How accurate are they, and are we still a Python worshiping country?

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Are we still a Python worshiping country? 

The discussion on Not the Nine O’Clock News remains highly relevant…

 

The Life of Brian debate

The film prompted a deal of debate. Including this delightfully absurd debate, with Malcolm Muggeridge…Malc’s phrases ‘this squalid little number’ and ’10th rate film’ haven’t aged well!

 

 

18 thoughts on “HiT Monty Python

  1. lol, so today we get a look into Monty Python (lord those coconuts…) and a members only entiltled “enlightenment and radicalism”. I sense a merging of the podcasts, HA…
    Great work as always!!!!

  2. It was absolutely joyous to listen to the laughter!! The only thing missing was “your mothers a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries” 🙂 Thank you so much for doing this episode, truly fab.

  3. loved this episode… I have never watched the Life of Brian as I only heard all the “bad press” and as a Christian I thought I should avoid it… However I laughed and laughed along with you guys today, (and my adult son has highly recommended it, and he’s a devout fellow) – so I’m going to give it a go. All the laughter in this program has had me smiling all morning… a treasure – thanks for posting.

    1. I hate to blow the surprise, but Jesus is the only character that the film takes seriously. I hope you enjoy it.

  4. Great to hear you laughing so much and so hard (but the Pythons are really funny). I was introduced to them in college by a fellow student who recited the Parrot Sketch, and I was weeping with laughter by the time he finished.
    The episode had the best effect possible: I said to myself that I needed to get DVDs of both films. Thanks so much to you and Wolf for doing it.

  5. Love your approach with Python. I’m a high school English teacher in an inner-city neighborhood and present Python shorts as actual historical reenactments at the right moment in Beowulf or the Canterbury Tales. At first the kids are confused. Then they start laughing.

  6. Yes! “Novel Writing from Dorset” – one of my absolute favourites! It was “Return of the Native”, and all these years later I can still recite the first line in the voice of the commentator (I think it was Michael Palin) “A Saturday afternoon IN November WAS approaching THE time of twilight..”

  7. America was never as Python-worshipping as the UK, probably because the TV show was only on public TV here, but Python-worship and -awareness is widespread. As over there, it’s fading as younger people with a lesser sense of humor take over.
    I still hear “what have the Romans ever done for us?!?!” ironically, in conversation.

  8. One more thought. The discussion of how Life of Brian seemed like a more well-produced movie is borne out by the financials, as reported on IMDB. I suspect there’s no way to make the table align properly here, but I’ll try:
    MP&tHG LoB
    Year Released 1975 $1,979
    Budget $528,023 $4,000,000
    Opening Weekend (UK?) $45,487 $140,034
    Gross (UK?) $1,827,696 $20,206,622
    Worldwide Gross $1,940,906 $20,742,852

    HG budget reported in GPB; calculated as 1 GPB = $2.3
    Another note about Life of Brian: Among the producers was George Harrison. Yes, THAT George Harrison.

    1. You are quite right – it came across all jumbled up! But yes – very good point. I remember at the time George being involved actualy.
      Glad to hear there are Python worshipers in the US!

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