This is the film that helped get Graham Chapman sober. He was an alcoholic and, for at least part of the production, was constantly hammered. But it was causing acrophobia, tremors, and problems remembering his lines. Which, as King Arthur, was obviously a major problem. So, he knuckled down and committed to recovery. He achieved sobriety two years after the film was released.
@@suncore598 Graham Chapman as also an enthusiastic mountain / rock climber. However the day they were filming The Bridge Of Death, they had to get up really early (like 5am I think) and the hotel bar wasn't open, so Graham wasn't able to get his usual "hair of the dog". So by the time they got to the location, he was suffering delirium tremens (withdrawal symptoms). The other Pythons couldn't understand what was happening - they thought he was trembling from fear of venturing out onto the rickety bridge, which made no sense to them as he was usually fearless when it came to heights and risks.
I used that too. I also had a sender-specific alert that used a "...spam..." sound-bite from the infamous skit that inspired the meme associating spam with email.
Someone I work with had that for their incoming messages on their phone. I looked at her one day when it sounded and said, "Tis but a scratch!" She had no idea who Monty Python are...😧
@@WisteriaDrake - There was no end credits because the film crew ran out of money. They spent the money on Swallows migrating to England with coconuts for their outrageous special effect.
The ending is an epic portrayal of a tragic miscarriage of justice. A great and honorable king has his dreams shattered by shoddy police work. He is falsely accused of a murder he could not have committed. It was quite clear that the murderer had a real horse.
A little bit of trivia, the Famous Historian was the same man "who wasn't dead" but dumped on the cart and the man who was being Stoned in Life of Brian.
Yes. This one works also much, much better if you are well versed in Arthurian lore. This is as much university humour as it gets. The fact that it also works perfectly well if you never heard of King Arthur is a testament to its genius.
If you want examples from M. Python's earlier work being both silly and intellectually keen, check out "Philosopher's World Cup" or "Ministry of Silly Walks".
My brother saw this movie in the theater when it was first released in the States. He said that at the end, when the music kept going, every member of the audience just sat there expecting more, until the music ended and the lights came up (this was in the days before MCU and post-credit scenes). It was one last joke, but this time on the audience.
The music was “ Exit music”, meaning the screen shut down, the lights went up, and the music still played as you left your seats. (At least, when itI first saw it in theaters.) It also happens in old 50’s/60’s epic films, and confuses people today, when they see long black sections on video.
This was an easy trick to play on we regulars of MPFC, familiar as we were of credits that rolled well before the end of the program. Until the copyright appeared, anything was still possible.
Animation plays a huge part in Python as Terry Gilliam was primarily a Cartoonist and Animator when he joined the troupe. He was never particularly comfortable as an actor. Only after the series ended did he move into directing and screenwriting. He absurdist style always stands out as you'll see in a particular sequence of 'Life of Brian'.
The juxtaposition of silliness and satire is sublime. One of my college professors made a list of films to use for legit medieval history study, and "Holy Grail" was on it.
I was a kid when this had it's theatrical run. My older brother attended the premier at the local cineplex, and he came home with an actual coconut, which the theater was giving away as a promotion. I asked him why they gave away coconuts and he didn't explain any more than that they were used in the movie. Years later when I watched this for the first time on cable, I laughed so hard thinking about that coconut that he kept in his bedroom.
one thing I have seen is that people wonder why Sir Galahad got the castle Anthrax "peril" . what makes it appropriate for him is that he is Sir Galahad the Pure. Pure as in chaste and unsullied.
So much fun watching you laugh like a child at the silliness. The other Monty Python films are well worth watching. Also check out Time Bandits, directed by Terry Gilliam
The guy who follows Arthur around with the coconuts is Terry Gilliam. And the old man at 14:54 is also Terry Gilliam. And the animator at 21:29 is also Terry Gilliam. And the actual animator for the film, was also Terry Gilliam. And (one of) the director(s) of the film, was also Terry Gilliam. Terry Gilliam did alot of stuff in this film...
This has to be the silliest film ever. I love the bridge scene the most, because it does such a good job calling back to the earlier joke of the swallows.
There was a sort of running gag on the TV show that every time they couldn't think of a punch line for a sketch, it would just end with a police officer coming in and arresting someone.
@@zachkinkead14 Corporate pirates is the best thing about that film... apart from Mr Creosote. Death was good too, I enjoyed his anti-Americanism. The songs are not bad either. Actually, it's not the best Python film, but it's still funny.
Even as a Python fan I completely agree with your assessment. Life of Brian is generally seen as their best film and rightfully so, the cinematography is much more solid, the narrative is much more coherent, the satire is far more biting and just in general it's a far better film. It just nails (and spoofs) the grandeur of those classic movies like Ben Hur and Ten Commandments so well.
The Life of Brian is more coherent, has a bigger budget, and all in all feels more like a "real movie" but it isn't as funny as Holy Grail and when you are doing a comedy funny is what matters. (Do not conflate not being as funny as Holy Grail with not being funny. Life of Brian is very funny, just not as funny as Holy Grail.)
While the movie is mostly a series of sketches, they are some of the most beloved and re-watched sketches in cinema history. I doubt any other film has had as much of its script quoted, riffed on, and committed to memory by as many people, as Holy Grail.
Almost all films are a series of sketches (scenes) put together. I don’t see what Shan is getting at with that. We met the characters, there is a uniting plot (the quest for the Holy Grail - something that is iconically impossible to actually achieve), and it reaches a conclusion of sorts. Just like most other movies ever made.
Eric Idle adapted this for Broadway (Spamalot). It had an all star cast including David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria, Sara Ramirez and Tim Curry as King Arthur. It was a huge smash-hit and was an incredibly hard ticket to get with the original cast. It was directed by the legendary Mike Nichols (The Graduate). There are bootleg clips on here. “Find Your Grail” from the Tony Awards is fun.
The police breaking everything up at the end is reminiscent of many transitions from the Python TV show. When a sketch ran out of steam, they would just use some non-sequitur bit of business to transition to the next scene. It solved one of the problems that Saturday Night Live often ran into, having to use an unsatisfying conclusion. Best. Leo.
I have to disagree about the production values being "horrible". To be sure, they didn't have a massive budget for this thing, but they used the resources they had VERY effectively, and they even threw some innovative stuff in there. As one example, when Arthur and Bedivere are first talking to the mad old man who later proves to be the bridgekeeper, and he and his hut dissolve away: there's very little of that you'd consider a "special effect", but gets the point across VERY well that they were in the presence of sorcery. If you asked movie makers to do that scene today, it'd be overloaded with special effects, and it wouldn't work nearly as well.
They did in fact make use of a real castle for some scenes. The mockumentary "historian" and his wife were actually the owners of the castle, if I recall.
Shan, the first time I watched this film I chuckled a bit but mostly sat there saying WTF. Then I watched it again 2-3 times in a row and laughed uproariously. You might want to watch it again, I think it will grab you the second time.
The black screen and music at the end was there for movie theater audiences. The lights would come up while the music was still playing, and they would shuffle out.
Thank you so much for laughing at the end when the screen goes black. I've seen a couple other people react to this movie and they were MAD when it just ended suddenly and there was no payoff. Much better to see a good chuckle about it.
Life of Brian has more plot, though it's still a bunch of sketches. Production values are higher than on Holy Grail. Meaning of Life is purely a series of sketches with no connecting plot at all, though sometimes a sketch will call back to an earlier sketch.
Loved your reaction to this film. This was shown on "The CBS Late Movie" in edited form long before my hometown got cable and we could watch the TV series on my local PBS station, KERA Dallas/Ft. Worth (which was actually the first station in the U.S. to show it) so the movie was my first introduction to Monty Python along with some of their excellent albums. Terry Gilliam's animations were used in every episode of the series for the opening titles and to link sketches together. He is the only American member of Monty Python. Several of the TV show sketches were filmed for the Pythons' first feature film, "And Now For Something Completely Different." I would strongly recommend both it and the classic TV series. As an aside, the idea of the abrupt broken-film ending was first used by Jerry Lewis to end his classic comedy "The Nutty Professor", which I would also heartily recommend.
I appreciate your reaction to this movie. This movie kills me. I grew up watching the Python shows with my dad, but he told me to wait on the movies until I was older, as they were more adult themed. The first time I saw this movie was on a marching band field trip in high school hahaha I completely missed the subtitle joke my first time watching it
I've seen people react to this movie many times; damn I'm glad you're the first one to see the crazy swedish lama centered subtitles. Thank you for that ! I sub and like. Watch it again slowly, see all the lovely sweedish deer, lamas droping and crazy useless names in those lovely lakes that bit my sister once ... also; the movie is not set in 932 ad but in 93 squared AD !!!! be aware, lol.
Six guys played ALL the parts. This movie came out the same year I discovered Monty Python's Flying Circus, late nights.. It is the first movie that I went back to the theater to see it again and again. Totally resonates with my absurd sense of humor. One of the joys of fatherhood for me is that my younger son has become a Python fan, like his dad.
My first year in college (1975) this show ran every Saturday night, midnight at Sacramento’s K Street Cinema for a dollar… we went at least every other week. It is good thing to because if you are going to have a career in IT it is required repertoire.
The point of comedy is to make you laugh. You laughed the entire way through. Sure the movie wasn't some block-buster, however there are so many sayings from this movie that is part of our lexicon. "It's just a scratch" is probably the most recognizable one.
Glad you enjoyed this. Yes, the format was intentional. They went out of their way to poke fun at cinema and standard film making... hence the opening and closing credits and multiple parts of the plot. No horses was budget related, but they specifically opted to take the opportunity to incorporate Foley as part of poking fun film making . FYI.. and most people miss this, the monks banging themselves in theh head is a reference to self flagellation, common in some sects at the time and shown in Davinci Code with Opus Dai
Michael Palin is also in "Brazil". Also, Terry Gilliam is the one who makes all the Monty Python animations (besides directing and acting in some of the smaller roles). And, also, "The life of Brian" is the greatest parody about religion of all time. You wont regret watching it.
Great reaction. This film has come to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. You should come back to it in a year or two and watch it again. The first time I saw Holy Grail was when I was in 8th grade. And I saw it on a IMAX screen! To say I was confused would be an understatement. But it’s one of those weird films that just gets funnier and funnier every time I see it. So many little subtle things going on in every scene because, as you correctly guessed, they had practically NO budget. So they had to be creative. The reason they use coconuts is because they LITERALLY couldn’t afford horses. It’s a film that REALLY grows on you.
Life of Brian has a little more of a coherent story, also with sketch comedy sprinkled in. Meaning of life is pure sketch comedy. FYI the animator was Gilliam and he did the animation. He was known for his animated sequences from Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
An unexpected great choice for a reaction! I'd highly recommend watching the film again after some time to pick up on other subtle bits of humor and other digs against film-making and the British aristocracy. This easily is in the league of Airplane! and Naked Gun as far as classic comedy films for their humor and influence!
I am old enough to say I saw this when it came out in theatres, and yes we sat there until the music ended... I have the script book they released many years ago, it is just as fun to read.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Unbelievably quotable. The end was _literally_ a cop-out, as they had run out of their already tiny budget. Monty Python’s Flying Circus was indeed the cream of British humor. 🥰🥰😂😂🥰🥰
First time I watched Monty Python was when public TV played the TV show in the 70s when I was in Jr high and I loved it right off, this movie is one of my favorites
Why do I smile everytime Shan laughs at the appropriate time? Being somewhat self-centered, I guess I might take it as some form of unearned vindication. Best. Leo.
I knew it! Thanks for another good reaction/ review. I'm glad you chose it and I hope you will watch The Life of Brian sometime. I agree with you that Monty Python's humour isn't for everyone and the writing and execution is very British. Anyway, I really enjoyed watching it again with you and I'm looking forward to your next upload. Thanks again 👍
The Holy Grail was *huge* in nerd/geek circles in the 70s and 80s. Not many movies have as many quotable lines as this one. Even today, you'll hear folks quoting lines. The movie ending is a literal cop out. ;) Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull helped fund The Holy Grail. IMO, this is my favorite with The Meaning of Life a close second. The Life of Brian is good, too, of course but it's 3rd in my line up.
The Life of Brian has a much higher production value and it was filmed as a more cohesive story with a discernible beginning, middle, and end, along with a main character. I think you'll LOVE IT. It pissed off every single religious group when it came out as well, so it was a bit contentious.
There WAS one horse in this movie. The knight who slashed the Famous Historian was galloping on a real horse. The rest were just cocoNUTS. Cheers. Check "Life Of Brian". Ex Beatle put out his money to make this film see the daylight. He was great fan of Monty Pythons. George Harrison. (he makes a cameo appearance there)
Monty Python's catch phrase on their old sketch tv show was "And now for something... completely different". It kinda says it all about them. They weren't interested in logic.. they just wanted to be silly and make you laugh.
I waited till the end of the film to see your reaction and it was priceless. One of my fav films no matter the budget. (the coconuts as horse is becausee they couldnt afford horses) Life of Briaan is good. Keep up the good work.
Oh, we want a COHERENT comedy, do we? Ooooh, so high and mighty are we? Right then, my fine feathered friend. You shall be sent to Woody Allen for "Bananas" or "Love and Death." Or maybe even "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" That will do you in then.
“Neee” is how you pronounce “knight” in old English. There is also no equivalent of the word “it” in old English. So they were hurting each other with their respective dialects
Gilliam was actually the animator for the film. And the ending was a literal COP OUT I think you'll enjoy The Life of Brian more, It's a bit more structured, and the bits are rooted in a more mature narrative I think.
I have and do think so differently than our kind host about this film. Particularly about the narrative, plot, comparison to sketch, and overall impression of the movie. It is very interesting and thought provoking to hear the point of view, opinions and ideas of a first time watcher with a passion for cinema and a library of reviews. No doubt that the years when, and age that I first watched MPTHG as well as the (prob unhealthy) number of times I rewatched it as a youth have given me a or many bias'. I wonder if other commenters will agree that a second or better still, multiple viewings can lead to a greater or different appreciation for this classic. It did for me for sure. Or maybe I overvalue its quality and influence in my own mind.* ----* Thank you for your content Shan. I have enjoyed many of your videos and look forward to seeing more in the future.
This is the film that helped get Graham Chapman sober. He was an alcoholic and, for at least part of the production, was constantly hammered. But it was causing acrophobia, tremors, and problems remembering his lines. Which, as King Arthur, was obviously a major problem. So, he knuckled down and committed to recovery. He achieved sobriety two years after the film was released.
Wow. I had no idea.
@@suncore598 Graham Chapman as also an enthusiastic mountain / rock climber.
However the day they were filming The Bridge Of Death, they had to get up really early (like 5am I think) and the hotel bar wasn't open, so Graham wasn't able to get his usual "hair of the dog". So by the time they got to the location, he was suffering delirium tremens (withdrawal symptoms).
The other Pythons couldn't understand what was happening - they thought he was trembling from fear of venturing out onto the rickety bridge, which made no sense to them as he was usually fearless when it came to heights and risks.
Good to know.
I highly recommend "The Life of Brian" !
I second this recommendatioN!
I couldn’t agree more!
me to
Life of Brian is my favorite
Im i the only one that thinks its anoying.....
"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries" is the greatest insult uttered in the cinema history.
You silly king!
I personally prefer the "I fart in your general direction" :)
Seljanmarjojen hamstraajat saatana…
It's a medieval insult, roughly meaning your mother eats too much and your father is an alcoholic.
Fun fact: Cleese eats elderberries every night. Said so in an interview.
Shan: Seriously, what is the point of this entire film?
All of us: Yes.
to make you laugh - success !
"I was trying to make sense of it all. My mistake."
Yep. I think he gets it now.
The point? I'm pretty sure we just watched you laugh for 92 minutes. 😀
It’s effectively a series of connected skits rather than a film.
Life of Brian, on the other hand, is a clear film.
Point? What's the point of, I don't know, a whelk? Or Anne Elk?
The coconut gag was created because they literally didn’t have enough in the budget for horses.
And the coconut resourece was just brilliant!
They had enough in the budget for ONE horse, for ten seconds of screentime
@@Hugin-N-Munin really? lol
@@AnonymousSaiyan A knight on horseback killed the historian. Hence, one horse, ten seconds of screentime. That's it, the only horse in the film
@@Hugin-N-Munin didn’t even put that scene into consideration, thanks for the reminder
The animator wasn't just played by Terry Gilliam, he actually is the animator for Monty Python's animation scenes.
College friend and lone American in the group. (Or was he Canadian, can't recall)
@@menolikey_ American. Born in Minnesota.
Terry Gilliam's facial expressions in this film (and in The Life of Brian) just crack me up!
Right, he also played Manservant Patsy, among others.
You said it before I could.
"You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!" - English peasant.
"If I went around saying I was emperor just cuz some moistened bink lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd throw me away!"
Dennis!
That scene was so brilliant.
I don't know...I'm willing to give that style of govt a try.
That was Dennis.
“Message for you sir” was my incoming email sound for years.
It's my message alert on my mobile phone
I used that too. I also had a sender-specific alert that used a "...spam..." sound-bite from the infamous skit that inspired the meme associating spam with email.
Someone I work with had that for their incoming messages on their phone. I looked at her one day when it sounded and said, "Tis but a scratch!" She had no idea who Monty Python are...😧
I had this as my email notification way back in the AOL days.
I replaced my windows boot sound with Darth Vader's "What is thy bidding, my Master" back in the day.
The ending is a literal ‘cop out’.
And the original audience would have been totally familiar with the Pythons' unique way (s) of concluding shows.
I saw this movie about 4 times at the theatre. Even a midnight showing. The ending was so Monty Python. It was perfect.
There were no ending credits because the people working on them were sacked.
@@WisteriaDrake - There was no end credits because the film crew ran out of money. They spent the money on Swallows migrating to England with coconuts for their outrageous special effect.
The ending is an epic portrayal of a tragic miscarriage of justice. A great and honorable king has his dreams shattered by shoddy police work. He is falsely accused of a murder he could not have committed. It was quite clear that the murderer had a real horse.
A little bit of trivia, the Famous Historian was the same man "who wasn't dead" but dumped on the cart and the man who was being Stoned in Life of Brian.
Worse ! How could it get any worse ! Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah....
LOL - LOVE Python
and also, crucifixion's a doddle
@@MrDeadstu
SO worth it....
That halibut was absolutely FIRE 🔥
👍
He was also the classroom volunteer for Dr. Frankenstein in the beginning of Young Frankenstein.
I didn't know that! *BOING*
Monty Python really were one of a kind. Such silly and yet still intellectual humor. Two of my favorite attributes working together :)
Yes. This one works also much, much better if you are well versed in Arthurian lore. This is as much university humour as it gets. The fact that it also works perfectly well if you never heard of King Arthur is a testament to its genius.
@@Dacre1000 I'm slightly versed in Arthurian lore, though not as much I would like to be, haha. Sadly never read Le Mort d'Arthur.
Their movies tackle some serious topics, especially if you go deeper than surface level!
If you want examples from M. Python's earlier work being both silly and intellectually keen, check out "Philosopher's World Cup" or "Ministry of Silly Walks".
@@parissimons6385 "Philosopher's World Cup" is actually one of my favorite of their sketches :D
There are many "reviewers" on youtube, but I have to say I really enjoy your reviews. Much better than folks who have 2x 3x subscribers in my opinion.
I agree, Shan is one of the best reviewers. It's difficult for quality content to compete with pretty brunettes, cute redheads and hot blondes though.
My brother saw this movie in the theater when it was first released in the States. He said that at the end, when the music kept going, every member of the audience just sat there expecting more, until the music ended and the lights came up (this was in the days before MCU and post-credit scenes). It was one last joke, but this time on the audience.
The music was “ Exit music”, meaning the screen shut down, the lights went up, and the music still played as you left your seats. (At least, when itI first saw it in theaters.) It also happens in old 50’s/60’s epic films, and confuses people today, when they see long black sections on video.
This was an easy trick to play on we regulars of MPFC, familiar as we were of credits that rolled well before the end of the program. Until the copyright appeared, anything was still possible.
Took me many long years before I realized the real joke at the end.
The ending is a literal cop-out.
“I have some knowledge of the Arthurian Legend.” - Well you can go ahead and toss that out the window for this film, buddy. Not needed.
If you know the Arthurian Legends, some of the jokes are even funnier.
Animation plays a huge part in Python as Terry Gilliam was primarily a Cartoonist and Animator when he joined the troupe. He was never particularly comfortable as an actor. Only after the series ended did he move into directing and screenwriting. He absurdist style always stands out as you'll see in a particular sequence of 'Life of Brian'.
In "Life of Brian" there are also some great animated Gilliam-made scenes
Gilliam was the one American in the Monty Python troupe. My favorite Terry Gilliam part was in the Spanish Inquisition skits.
There IS a horse scene when the famous historian was killed.
The point is, that you can watch this film a thousand times and laugh every time, if you love this kind of "anarchy" fun.
The juxtaposition of silliness and satire is sublime. One of my college professors made a list of films to use for legit medieval history study, and "Holy Grail" was on it.
Lol. U obviously didn't study one of the sciences in university/ college...
I was a kid when this had it's theatrical run. My older brother attended the premier at the local cineplex, and he came home with an actual coconut, which the theater was giving away as a promotion. I asked him why they gave away coconuts and he didn't explain any more than that they were used in the movie. Years later when I watched this for the first time on cable, I laughed so hard thinking about that coconut that he kept in his bedroom.
I think when there was an anniversary release of the movie on DVD, they also included coconut shells in the packaging.
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate? My single favorite line in all of Monty Python. Followed closely by, no one expects the Spanish Inqusition.
Where'd they get'um?
"What's the point of this?"
"I don't kno- AAAAAGGGHHHH!!"
were you dying while typing it? XD
@@boguslawpiskorz2208 Trying to cross the Bridge of Death. lol
one thing I have seen is that people wonder why Sir Galahad got the castle Anthrax "peril" . what makes it appropriate for him is that he is Sir Galahad the Pure. Pure as in chaste and unsullied.
So much fun watching you laugh like a child at the silliness. The other Monty Python films are well worth watching. Also check out Time Bandits, directed by Terry Gilliam
"What is the point of this entire film, guys?"
To make you laugh and question your own sanity, obviously. Welcome British absurdist humor. :)
The guy who follows Arthur around with the coconuts is Terry Gilliam.
And the old man at 14:54 is also Terry Gilliam.
And the animator at 21:29 is also Terry Gilliam.
And the actual animator for the film, was also Terry Gilliam.
And (one of) the director(s) of the film, was also Terry Gilliam.
Terry Gilliam did alot of stuff in this film...
and the Bridge Of Death keeper, too
I didn't know that. That's funny...
@@boguslawpiskorz2208 The bridgekeeper is the same character from 14:54
Yes the old man from scene 24.
And he was supporting Cleese, Idol and Palin during their class on witchcraft logic...
Shan, you're meant to feel exactly how you did throughout the movie, including the ending. You laughed more in this than I've seen in a while.
This has to be the silliest film ever. I love the bridge scene the most, because it does such a good job calling back to the earlier joke of the swallows.
There was a sort of running gag on the TV show that every time they couldn't think of a punch line for a sketch, it would just end with a police officer coming in and arresting someone.
There are so many things in this movie that actually reference their show. They had jokes running on for years at this point.
Life of Brian has more of a story.
Meaning of life is just more sketches.
Except for the aliens.
@@Tampahop And the Corporate Pirates
@@zachkinkead14 Corporate pirates is the best thing about that film... apart from Mr Creosote. Death was good too, I enjoyed his anti-Americanism. The songs are not bad either. Actually, it's not the best Python film, but it's still funny.
@@TheJrr71 Sadly, it's the only film has was awarded the Grand Prix at Cannes in 1983
Oh, the sketches are (mostly) solid but I don't think the Meaning of Life is the right movie for someone who wanted more of a story from Holy Grail.
Even as a Python fan I completely agree with your assessment. Life of Brian is generally seen as their best film and rightfully so, the cinematography is much more solid, the narrative is much more coherent, the satire is far more biting and just in general it's a far better film. It just nails (and spoofs) the grandeur of those classic movies like Ben Hur and Ten Commandments so well.
They were still learning how to make a movie when they filmed this. It and John Carpenter's "Dark Star" are the best student films I know of. :)
The Life of Brian is more coherent, has a bigger budget, and all in all feels more like a "real movie" but it isn't as funny as Holy Grail and when you are doing a comedy funny is what matters. (Do not conflate not being as funny as Holy Grail with not being funny. Life of Brian is very funny, just not as funny as Holy Grail.)
@@88wildcat im with wildcat on this one, life of brian was funny, but it wasn't no holy grail...
I went to the premiere of this film in New Orleans. The first 100 people in line were given coconuts.
Where'd they get'um?
On the way to 15,000 in less than a year!!
You've worked so hard, I'm so happy for you!!
Congrats Shan!!
You should give "What we do in the Shadows" a watch! It's one of the best mockumentaries ever!
While I like the film, the show is so much better.
The punchline in the “you stay here and make sure he doesn’t leave” is so overlooked.
While the movie is mostly a series of sketches, they are some of the most beloved and re-watched sketches in cinema history. I doubt any other film has had as much of its script quoted, riffed on, and committed to memory by as many people, as Holy Grail.
Almost all films are a series of sketches (scenes) put together. I don’t see what Shan is getting at with that. We met the characters, there is a uniting plot (the quest for the Holy Grail - something that is iconically impossible to actually achieve), and it reaches a conclusion of sorts. Just like most other movies ever made.
I love these guys ! Only "Monty Python" can make a movie like that, with an ending like this and get away with it ! Because they are genius !
Eric Idle adapted this for Broadway (Spamalot). It had an all star cast including David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria, Sara Ramirez and Tim Curry as King Arthur. It was a huge smash-hit and was an incredibly hard ticket to get with the original cast. It was directed by the legendary Mike Nichols (The Graduate). There are bootleg clips on here. “Find Your Grail” from the Tony Awards is fun.
The police breaking everything up at the end is reminiscent of many transitions from the Python TV show. When a sketch ran out of steam, they would just use some non-sequitur bit of business to transition to the next scene. It solved one of the problems that Saturday Night Live often ran into, having to use an unsatisfying conclusion. Best. Leo.
There was one sketch where a cop arrested the cop who was arresting the players, because they were ending every sketch with a cop.
Except they set up the police story earlier, and the holy grail story was complimented by the fourth wall breaks which showed they were just actors.
I have to disagree about the production values being "horrible". To be sure, they didn't have a massive budget for this thing, but they used the resources they had VERY effectively, and they even threw some innovative stuff in there. As one example, when Arthur and Bedivere are first talking to the mad old man who later proves to be the bridgekeeper, and he and his hut dissolve away: there's very little of that you'd consider a "special effect", but gets the point across VERY well that they were in the presence of sorcery. If you asked movie makers to do that scene today, it'd be overloaded with special effects, and it wouldn't work nearly as well.
They did in fact make use of a real castle for some scenes. The mockumentary "historian" and his wife were actually the owners of the castle, if I recall.
Shan, the first time I watched this film I chuckled a bit but mostly sat there saying WTF. Then I watched it again 2-3 times in a row and laughed uproariously. You might want to watch it again, I think it will grab you the second time.
Exactly like that for me! It gets better and better.
God reveals the Grail.
Shan: "and that is what this film is about."
Everyone else: .....no.
God was a cricket player!
The black screen and music at the end was there for movie theater audiences. The lights would come up while the music was still playing, and they would shuffle out.
Thank you so much for laughing at the end when the screen goes black. I've seen a couple other people react to this movie and they were MAD when it just ended suddenly and there was no payoff. Much better to see a good chuckle about it.
Life of Brian has more plot, though it's still a bunch of sketches. Production values are higher than on Holy Grail. Meaning of Life is purely a series of sketches with no connecting plot at all, though sometimes a sketch will call back to an earlier sketch.
Loved your reaction to this film. This was shown on "The CBS Late Movie" in edited form long before my hometown got cable and we could watch the TV series on my local PBS station, KERA Dallas/Ft. Worth (which was actually the first station in the U.S. to show it) so the movie was my first introduction to Monty Python along with some of their excellent albums. Terry Gilliam's animations were used in every episode of the series for the opening titles and to link sketches together. He is the only American member of Monty Python. Several of the TV show sketches were filmed for the Pythons' first feature film, "And Now For Something Completely Different." I would strongly recommend both it and the classic TV series. As an aside, the idea of the abrupt broken-film ending was first used by Jerry Lewis to end his classic comedy "The Nutty Professor", which I would also heartily recommend.
I appreciate your reaction to this movie. This movie kills me. I grew up watching the Python shows with my dad, but he told me to wait on the movies until I was older, as they were more adult themed.
The first time I saw this movie was on a marching band field trip in high school hahaha I completely missed the subtitle joke my first time watching it
Fisher King 👑 by Terry Gilliam starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges ...forgotten gem
The reason the opening credits are so long is that there are no closing credits.
Nice and old fashioned that way.
There were no closing credits because everyone with any credits-making experience had been sacked.
Watching in the theater was surreal. The audience thought the film broke. This happened a lot back then.
A theatre I used to go to had a stain where someone tossed a Coke and a tear where someone threw a projectionist.
The mark of a good comedy is if you're still laughing after it's over. And you were.
0:45 - Monty Python's Flying Circus (that sketch show) was released first time from 1969 to 1974
The Life of Brian is comedy genius, that should be your next Monty Python movie. Its got a story and a bigger budget. Easily the best Python movie.
Time Bandits & Tha Adventures of Baron Munchausen are 2 other excellent and fun Terry Gillium films which also have a very Monty Python feel to them.
I've seen people react to this movie many times; damn I'm glad you're the first one to see the crazy swedish lama centered subtitles. Thank you for that ! I sub and like. Watch it again slowly, see all the lovely sweedish deer, lamas droping and crazy useless names in those lovely lakes that bit my sister once ... also; the movie is not set in 932 ad but in 93 squared AD !!!! be aware, lol.
Six guys played ALL the parts. This movie came out the same year I discovered Monty Python's Flying Circus, late nights..
It is the first movie that I went back to the theater to see it again and again. Totally resonates with my absurd sense of humor.
One of the joys of fatherhood for me is that my younger son has become a Python fan, like his dad.
Our dad loved Monty Python and forced us to watch all the shows, along with Faulty Towers and Are You Being Served?
They literally didn't have the budget for horses 🤣
The only horse was the one used by the knight to murder the historian ;) That's how you know he wasn't one of Arthur's knights ;)
@@shanehebert396 I believe it's also been said that Graham Chapman was terrified of horses, so it worked out well for him.
Didn't Roger the Shrubber also ride an actual horse?
@@porflepopnecker4376 Nope Roger was on a cart being pulled by 2 people
@@porflepopnecker4376 no, he was in a wagon pulled by two people pretending to be horses, iirc. ;)
"The animator suffered a fatal heart attack." And thus, Terry Gilliam's place in film history is made indelible. Best. Leo.
My first year in college (1975) this show ran every Saturday night, midnight at Sacramento’s K Street Cinema for a dollar… we went at least every other week. It is good thing to because if you are going to have a career in IT it is required repertoire.
The point of comedy is to make you laugh. You laughed the entire way through. Sure the movie wasn't some block-buster, however there are so many sayings from this movie that is part of our lexicon.
"It's just a scratch" is probably the most recognizable one.
Glad you enjoyed this. Yes, the format was intentional. They went out of their way to poke fun at cinema and standard film making... hence the opening and closing credits and multiple parts of the plot. No horses was budget related, but they specifically opted to take the opportunity to incorporate Foley as part of poking fun film making .
FYI.. and most people miss this, the monks banging themselves in theh head is a reference to self flagellation, common in some sects at the time and shown in Davinci Code with Opus Dai
Michael Palin is also in "Brazil".
Also, Terry Gilliam is the one who makes all the Monty Python animations (besides directing and acting in some of the smaller roles).
And, also, "The life of Brian" is the greatest parody about religion of all time. You wont regret watching it.
Great reaction. This film has come to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. You should come back to it in a year or two and watch it again. The first time I saw Holy Grail was when I was in 8th grade. And I saw it on a IMAX screen! To say I was confused would be an understatement. But it’s one of those weird films that just gets funnier and funnier every time I see it. So many little subtle things going on in every scene because, as you correctly guessed, they had practically NO budget. So they had to be creative. The reason they use coconuts is because they LITERALLY couldn’t afford horses. It’s a film that REALLY grows on you.
Life of Brian has a little more of a coherent story, also with sketch comedy sprinkled in. Meaning of life is pure sketch comedy. FYI the animator was Gilliam and he did the animation. He was known for his animated sequences
from Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
An unexpected great choice for a reaction! I'd highly recommend watching the film again after some time to pick up on other subtle bits of humor and other digs against film-making and the British aristocracy.
This easily is in the league of Airplane! and Naked Gun as far as classic comedy films for their humor and influence!
I am old enough to say I saw this when it came out in theatres, and yes we sat there until the music ended... I have the script book they released many years ago, it is just as fun to read.
Great reaction. It's always so insightful and your choice of movies to react to are great. I just subscribed. Can't wait for more.
In German this movie is called "Knights of the Coconut". ^^
One of my favorite movies of all time. Unbelievably quotable.
The end was _literally_ a cop-out, as they had run out of their already tiny budget.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus was indeed the cream of British humor. 🥰🥰😂😂🥰🥰
This reaction has come at the right time. Today is my birthday and I love Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Glad to see you got the subtitle jokes!Many people either miss them or just plain don't get the joke.
First time I watched Monty Python was when public TV played the TV show in the 70s when I was in Jr high and I loved it right off, this movie is one of my favorites
Why do I smile everytime Shan laughs at the appropriate time? Being somewhat self-centered, I guess I might take it as some form of unearned vindication. Best. Leo.
Death is the great equalizer, and laughter is the great unifier.
@@StCerberusEngel Pithy. Can I have it? Best. Leo.
oh and this film only cost $400k - that's why there are no horses and no battle LOL XD But that's Python. It's all in dialogue :)
"Seriously, what is the point of this?" - Welcome to Monty Python. ^^
The actual castle that stood in for Castle Aaargh is a real castle and has been remodeled inside to a lovely home.
I knew it! Thanks for another good reaction/ review. I'm glad you chose it and I hope you will watch The Life of Brian sometime. I agree with you that Monty Python's humour isn't for everyone and the writing and execution is very British. Anyway, I really enjoyed watching it again with you and I'm looking forward to your next upload. Thanks again 👍
The Holy Grail was *huge* in nerd/geek circles in the 70s and 80s. Not many movies have as many quotable lines as this one. Even today, you'll hear folks quoting lines.
The movie ending is a literal cop out. ;) Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Jethro Tull helped fund The Holy Grail. IMO, this is my favorite with The Meaning of Life a close second. The Life of Brian is good, too, of course but it's 3rd in my line up.
A limited budget it was. That's the reason for the coconuts, they couldn't afford horses.
strange, I thought they are paid with hay or green grass... Was it really THAT THIN?
I like that you got the entire point of the movie is just sheer silliness. Far too many people think movies must fit a particular set of rules.
The Life of Brian has a much higher production value and it was filmed as a more cohesive story with a discernible beginning, middle, and end, along with a main character. I think you'll LOVE IT. It pissed off every single religious group when it came out as well, so it was a bit contentious.
And was banned in Norway....
Even the Pythons themselves have said that this movie has the dumbest ending of all time.
There WAS one horse in this movie. The knight who slashed the Famous Historian was galloping on a real horse. The rest were just cocoNUTS. Cheers. Check "Life Of Brian". Ex Beatle put out his money to make this film see the daylight. He was great fan of Monty Pythons. George Harrison. (he makes a cameo appearance there)
Monty Python's catch phrase on their old sketch tv show was "And now for something... completely different". It kinda says it all about them. They weren't interested in logic.. they just wanted to be silly and make you laugh.
I was waiting for you to let the screen go blank for 2 mins just to troll us as well. XD
Here early to say I cannot believe you have not seen this, excited to watch the review :)
5:20 and 5:23 these battle sounds were used in the game civilization 2, i played that game for hundreds of hours since childhood
I waited till the end of the film to see your reaction and it was priceless. One of my fav films no matter the budget. (the coconuts as horse is becausee they couldnt afford horses) Life of Briaan is good. Keep up the good work.
The funniest part about watching Monty Python appears when you discuss (or try to discuss) what you witnessed happening in the sketches.
I love that the ending is a literal cop out
I love this movie so much :) I'm happy you've reviewed it :)
Oh, we want a COHERENT comedy, do we? Ooooh, so high and mighty are we? Right then, my fine feathered friend. You shall be sent to Woody Allen for "Bananas" or "Love and Death." Or maybe even "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" That will do you in then.
“The production value and filmmaking is horrible” Lol wtf are you talking about?
When this film came out theaters were told not to turn up the lights at the end. The audience was to be left on their own to figure out it was over.
“Neee” is how you pronounce “knight” in old English. There is also no equivalent of the word “it” in old English. So they were hurting each other with their respective dialects
Gilliam was actually the animator for the film. And the ending was a literal COP OUT
I think you'll enjoy The Life of Brian more, It's a bit more structured, and the bits are rooted in a more mature narrative I think.
We are no longer the Knights who say Ni lol
Quite a difference from the Lord of the Rings movies. This is also a classic though, and iirc it was once awarded as the best comedy ever.
Terry Gilliam directed the Trilogy of Imagination. Time Bandits, Brazil and Baron von Munchausen, representing the three stages of life.
plus: Jabberwocky, 12 Monkeys, The Imaginarium os Doctor Parnassus, The Fisher King to mention a few
@@boguslawpiskorz2208 Holy shit, I forgot Jabberwocky even existed.
I have and do think so differently than our kind host about this film. Particularly about the narrative, plot, comparison to sketch, and overall impression of the movie. It is very interesting and thought provoking to hear the point of view, opinions and ideas of a first time watcher with a passion for cinema and a library of reviews. No doubt that the years when, and age that I first watched MPTHG as well as the (prob unhealthy) number of times I rewatched it as a youth have given me a or many bias'. I wonder if other commenters will agree that a second or better still, multiple viewings can lead to a greater or different appreciation for this classic. It did for me for sure. Or maybe I overvalue its quality and influence in my own mind.* ----* Thank you for your content Shan. I have enjoyed many of your videos and look forward to seeing more in the future.