Review: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Starring: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin
Genre: Cult Comedy
Year: 1975
Run Time: 88 Minutes
How: DVD

Monty Python has come to epitomize the world of irreverent comedy and their 1975 classic Holy Grail is no exception. From the opening credits which consist of a completely unrelated toothpaste ad, some moose related subtitles and a seizure inducing llamas, you know your in for quite a trip.

For the uninitiated, the film is roughly based on the legend of King Arthur (played by Graham Chapman) and the Knights of the Round Table. In true Python fashion each actor plays a number of parts. For example, The incomparable John Cleese plays Sir Lancelot the Brave, Tim the Enchanter, and the Black Knight. The rest of the Knights of the Round Table include Sir Bedevere the Wise (Jones), Sir Galahad the Pure (Michael Palin), and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Eric Idle).

This marked the first time any of the Pythons had stepped behind the camera. Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. Gilliam would go on to direct such films as Fear and Loathing and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, while Jones would direct the other two Monty films Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.

As many fans know, this film had a notoriously small budget. It was filmed entirely at one castle, just shot from different angles. The crew didn't have enough money for horses and thus those infamous coconuts migrated north.

Every single scene in this film is a classic, full of memorable lines and  that is not an exaggeration. It will remain one of my favorite films, one that never get old no matter how many times you've seen it. Holy Grail is a testament to what can be done with a small budget and will forever leave us wondering about the air speed velocity of various swallows. 

Score: 9.7/10