they were only allowed one, so they shot it from a ton of different angles and pretended it was more

#MontyPython #videoessay

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is basically a 90 minute compilation of legendary scene after scene after scene. Released in 1975, Holy Grail was the first feature film made by Monty Python. For those unfamiliar with the movie, let today's video be your official introduction. For those who very familiar with its innumerable bits of ridiculousness, let it be an opportunity for us all to revel in it together. Next time, I'll delve even deeper into the Holy Grail's behind the scenes production stories. So stay tuned.

Written & edited by Danny Boyd

[Nerfunkal]

Saw it in theater once at re-release. Came with a heartened announcement before the show from the theater manager "I KNOW ALL THE QUOTES, YOU KNOW ALL THE QUOTES, NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS QUOTE THE WHOLE MOVIE, SO SHUT UP AND JUST WATCH!"

[OutlawMaxV]

Heh, I remember when some madlad uploaded a video with title of something along the lines of "Monty Python best moments" and the dude straight up uploaded the whole movie, absolute legend

[chrislong]

I worked in a lab of computer and electronics engineers and you know this movie was quoted by far the most.
Especially, "Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?"

[uzytkownik]

This is one of the most important movies in modern Polish-English translation. Until Monthy Pyton the translation to Polish was either literal 1:1 or poetic interpretation (in cases like Shakespeare). But sińce both languages are so phonetically and structurally deifferent, something always got lost along the way. Then Tomek Beksiński (who was self-thought in English!) decided he’ll do a sort of hybrid of both approach with emphasis on the beat - the flow of sentence. He totally nailed it and single-handely made Monty Python insanely popular in Poland, while also creating a whole new school of translation. So here it’s double iconic, on the movie and linguistic level.

[BlockheadJiujitsu]

I still remember not being able to breathe the first time I saw John Cleese running at the castle for so long while the guard ate an apple before suddenly appearing and killing everyone. This movie was so unhinged and wonderful. I've rewatched it more than almost anything else.

[pangalactictuber]

Graham Chapman playing Arthur totally straight across all the sketches is the backbone of the movie.

[MrOtistetrax]

In my early twenties I worked in a bar in Oxford. When it was my turn to collect glasses, I would chant “bring out yer dead!” as I did my rounds. Always went over well.

[mattshu]

My favorite line ever was small but stuck with me as one of the funniest ever: “WHAT… is your favorite color?”
“Blue! ..—NO WAIT*cast away*”

[cajkaiju]

My parents were never ones to dictate what media I could or could not consume as a child, but I will never forget being 12 years old and my dad insisting I had to stop what I was doing to watch Holy Grail. As an angsty tween, I was certain it would be dumb, dated, not cool....then the first scene happened and my love and appreciation for Monty Python was born. I've accomplished a lot since then, but I think that is still one of my dad's proudest moments as a parent. 🥥

[taufanaugusta]

"Look, there's the old man from scene 24!"

This fourth wall breaking line is so random lmao.

[patricktilton]

Anybody who has actually read early English poetry knows that certain words which USED to rhyme no longer do, and the lyrics of the "Knights of the Round Table" song exemplifies this brilliantly, rhyming 'table' with 'impeccable', 'formidable', 'unsingable', 'indefatigable', and 'Clark Gable', finally. I have to admit that I didn't 'get' the joke when I first saw it -- not having read much if any older English poetry (etc.), but later, after I bought the book of the film, and was able to read the lyrics, I finally was able to appreciate that extra level of brilliance on their part. This above-and-beyond the fact that that song-scene was a spoof on the musical 'CAMELOT'.

I also dig how Sir Lancelot's squire -- named 'Concord' -- regularly supplies him with that word he just can't think of saying . . . on the tip of his tongue . . . just as a 'concordance' is a type of book that supplies an alphabetized list of all the words used in a literary work, as in Strong's Concordance to the King James Bible, etc. We English majors probably got an extra little something out of the efforts of the Pythons that perhaps was slightly over-the-heads of average viewers.

[jesustyronechrist]

What makes it so memorable too is that while it is absurdist, it's still "grounded". The budget definitely helped in making sure they wouldn't go overboard with fanciness.

[WhySolSirius]

"See the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

One of my favorite quotes of all time. I love this movie so much.

[StKildaFan]

Brave Sir Robin ran away, bravely ran away away.
When Danger reared its ugly head he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes Brave Sir Robin turned about and gallantly he chickened out

The Pythons had a flair for choosing perfect words that give Shakespeare a run for his money. You don't get something like "Your Mother was a Hamster and your father Smelt of Elderberries" by accident. It's pure poetry.
Additionally to that it's amazing how a low budget film made by a small team of inexperienced filmmakers 50 years ago still looks so damn good today. It doesn't look cheap, and it doesn't look fake and that quality and authenticity in presentation is absolutely essential to the comedy.
This film is as good as cinema gets.

[rogersmith]

There will never be another Holy Grail. It had the perfect mix of comedy, actors, and writing.

[reservoirdude]

"Moistened bint" and the animator's heart attack are the hardest I've laughed at damn near anything 😂

[shwasywasy]

I wad not allowed to watch movies or TV growing up but my father made an exception for month python. I will forever thank him for that.

[chriskola]

The swallow/coconut scene is basically like every Reddit comment thread.

[PM-zucz]

Bedevere tying the coconut to the swallow in the intro to the witch scene is next level.

[oneinathousand]

Since Terry Jones studied medieval history, when you strip away all the absurdist humor and meta jokes you’re left with a surprisingly historically accurate depiction of early Medieval life, which creates a solid foundation that contrasts all the jokes.