{"id":8990,"date":"2009-08-10T16:39:34","date_gmt":"2009-08-10T23:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8990"},"modified":"2020-12-20T22:33:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T05:33:29","slug":"monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1975","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8990","title":{"rendered":"Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;That rabbit has a vicious streak a mile wide.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster-200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-58742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster-684x1024.png 684w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster-180x270.png 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Monty-Python-Holy-Grail-Poster.png 731w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn medieval England, King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his servant (Terry Gilliam) solicit help from a group of knights &#8212; Sir Lancelot (John Cleese), Sir Robin (Eric Idle), Sir Belvedere (Terry Jones), and Sir Galahad (Michael Palin) &#8212; in finding the Holy Grail.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Medieval Times<\/li>\n<li>Monty Python Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Satires and Spoofs<\/li>\n<li>Search<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary argues that this &#8220;side-splitting comedy by England&#8217;s premier comedy troupe&#8221; is, &#8220;despite a rushed ending&#8221;, the group&#8217;s &#8220;best film to date, the one that made converts out of those&#8230; who never watched their cult TV series.&#8221; He notes that &#8220;we laugh because of the crazy characters, foolish dialogue, and ridiculous incidents that occur, but also because someone&#8230; had the gall to make a historical picture with such shoddy production values that all [the] horses are invisible and the sound of galloping steeds is made by&#8230; striking coconuts together&#8221;. Indeed, given their rather severe budget limitations, it&#8217;s genuinely impressive how much of the &#8220;look&#8221; of medieval England the troupe was able to achieve &#8212; complete with &#8220;mist, mud, peasants living in squalor, forest lakes, colorful costumes, and castles&#8221;.  <\/p>\n<p>As Peary notes, the film satirizes, among other things, &#8220;the French, homosexuals, communists, [and] kings&#8221;, as well as &#8220;cowardice&#8221; and &#8212; most harshly &#8212; &#8220;senseless British gallantry&#8221;. Nothing about the King Arthur legend is left sacred: Sir Robin is revealed to be a cowardly ninny; Sir Lancelot rushes into a massacre without stopping to verify that he&#8217;s in the right place; the Black Knight (Cleese) refuses to stop swordfighting despite the loss of one limb after the other. Other humor &#8212; such as the infamous &#8220;killer rabbit&#8221; sequence &#8212; is more random and less historically situated, but still stupidly hilarious if you&#8217;re in the right mood. While some sequences inevitably fall flat, <em>Monty Python the Holy Grail<\/em> remains indispensable must-see viewing at least once for all film fanatics. It&#8217;s too much of a cult classic to miss.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Excellent use of low-budget costumes, props, and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-comedy.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-comedy.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9001\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Peasants complaining to King Arthur about being &#8220;repressed&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-peasants.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-peasants.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9000\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>An irreverent look at disposal of bodies (both dead and alive) during the Black Death<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-dead-bodies.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-dead-bodies.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8999\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>King Arthur chopping off the Black Night&#8217;s limbs, one by one (&#8220;It&#8217;s only a flesh wound.&#8221;)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-black-knight.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-black-knight.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8994\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sir Galahad ignoring the requests of nubile girls &#8212; between the ages of 16 and 19 &#8212; at Castle Anthrax<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-anthrax.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-anthrax.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8995\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sir Lancelot nobly but wrong-headedly murdering members of a wedding party in an attempt to save a &#8220;damsel&#8221; in distress<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-lancelot.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-lancelot.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8998\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The &#8220;killer rabbit&#8221; sequence<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-killer-rabbit.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-killer-rabbit.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8996\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Terry Gilliam&#8217;s animated interludes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-animation.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-animation.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8997\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The incredibly silly opening credits<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-credits.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/mphg-credits.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8993\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a comedic classic and cult favorite. Nominated by Peary as one of the best films of the year in his <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/AlternateOscars.html\"><em>Alternate Oscars<\/em><\/a> book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0071853\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/php_review_template.php?identifier=825\">Reelviews Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/index.php?page=review&#038;id=551\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1975.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/monty-python-and-the-holy-grail\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;That rabbit has a vicious streak a mile wide.&#8221; Synopsis: In medieval England, King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his servant (Terry Gilliam) solicit help from a group of knights &#8212; Sir Lancelot (John Cleese), Sir Robin (Eric Idle), Sir Belvedere (Terry Jones), and Sir Galahad (Michael Palin) &#8212; in finding the Holy Grail. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Historical Drama Medieval Times Monty Python Films Royalty and Nobility Satires and Spoofs Search Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: Peary argues that this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=8990\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8990"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58744,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8990\/revisions\/58744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}