Jump to content

List of Monty Python projects

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by BillyH (talk | contribs) at 11:51, 25 September 2005 (Performed several corrections, including a removal of some very sneaky vandalism.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Monty Python comedy troupe branched off into a variety of different media after the success of their sketch comedy television series Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Television

Two 45-minute specials made by WDR for West German television. The first was recorded in German, while the second was in English with German dubbing.

Special programmes

  • Monty Python Montreux Special 1971
  • Euroshow 71 - May Day Special 1971
  • Parrot Sketch Not Included - 20 Years of Monty Python 1989
  • Python Night on BBC2 - 30 Years of Monty Python 1999

Films

File:MontyPythonHolyGrailCastShot.jpg
Cast on the set of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

There were four Monty Python films:

A collection of re-filmed sketches from the first and second series of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering humorous obstacles along the way. Some of these turned into standalone sketches.
Brian is born on the first Christmas, in the stable next to Jesus'. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
An examination of the meaning of life in a series of sketches from conception to death and beyond, from the uniquely Python perspective.

In addition, a documentary-style film was made of their live performances at the Hollywood Bowl in 1980, titled Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Live shows

Python performed several live shows and tours. The following shows were recorded for public release:

  • Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) A video record of the team's Hollywood Bowl concerts in 1980. Also incorporates some filmed inserts from the German specials.
  • Monty Python Live At Drury Lane: Also released as an album.
  • Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (1998) (featured on the 2-disc DVD entitled Monty Python Live!)

Musicals and Plays

Written by Eric Idle, directed by Mike Nichols, with music and lyrics by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, and starring Hank Azaria, Tim Curry, and David Hyde Pierce, SpamAlot is a musical adaptation of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It ran in Chicago from December 21, 2004 to January 23, 2005. On June 5, 2005 the music won the Best Musical award at the 59th annual Tony Award Ceremony.

Books

The following books were published by Monty Python, mostly in large format:

  • Monty Python's Big Red Book (1971) - Hardcover and paperback. Covers vary.
  • The Brand New Monty Python Bok (1973) (Paperback edition issued as The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok)
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1977) (Original and shooting script, with Gilliam pictures, lobby cards, stills, correspondence and cost breakdown)
  • The Life of Brian of Nazareth/Montypythonscrapbook (1979) (Film script plus a lot of extra material published back-to-back with it)
  • The Life of Brian script book published separately as a standard paperback
  • Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (Film script with photos)
  • Monty Python: Just the Words (1989) (Full transcripts of all 4 television series. Originally published in two volumes)
  • The Complete Works of Shakespeare and Monty Python: Vol. 1 - Monty Python (1981) (a repackaging of both the Big Red Book and the Brand New Bok)
  • The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Songbook (1995) (by Terry Gilliam, Gary Marsh, John Hurst)
  • A Pocketful of Python, picked by John Cleese (2000) (John Cleese's favorite moments from the Python films and TV series.)
  • A Pocketful of Python, picked by Terry Gilliam (2001) (Terry Gilliam's favorite Python moments.)
  • A Pocketful of Python, picked by Michael Palin (2001) (Michael Palin's favorite Python moments.)
  • A Pocketful of Python, hand-picked by Eric Idle (2002) (Eric Idle's favorite Python moments.)

Records

Album releases include:

In addition, there have been several singles, either on general release or as promotional material (including magazine freebies).

Computer games

File:FlyingCircusGameGumbyFish.jpg
Mr. Gumby as a fish from the MPFC game.
  • Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Computer Game (1991)
A platform/shoot-em-up game in which you play D.P. Gumby on a quest to find all four parts of his brain. Throw fish at flying feet, learn a lesson on "the larch", or play a quick game of breakout, among other things.
  • Monty Python's Complete Waste Of Time (1994)
Based on different bits from the Python world, including a Desktop Pythonizer, a game to discover the secret to Intergalactic Success, and an Interactive Monty Python Show.
  • Monty Python and The Quest for the Holy Grail (1996)
A comedy-strategy adventure game based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
  • Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life (1997)
A first-person puzzle solver in the style of Myst and loosely based on the film of the same name.

Further reading

  • From Fringe To Flying Circus - Roger Wilmut (1980)
  • Monty Python: The Case Against Irreverence, Scurrility, Profanity, Vilification, and Licentious Abuse - Robert Hewison (1981)
  • Monty Python: Complete and Utter Theory of the Grotesque - John O. Thompson (1982)
  • Life of Python - George Perry (1983)
  • The First 20 Years of Monty Python - Kim "Howard" Johnson (1989)
  • And Now For Something Completely Trivial: The Monty Python Trivia and Quiz Book - Kim "Howard" Johnson (1991)
  • Monty Python: A Chronological Listing of the Troupe's Creative Output and Articles and Reviews About Them, 1969-89 - Douglas L. McCall (1992)
  • Life Before and After Monty Python: The Solo Flights of the Flying Circus - Kim "Howard" Johnson (1993)
  • Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time : An Official Compendium of Answers to Ruddy Questions Not Normally Considered Relevant to Mounties! - Rusel Demaria (1995)
  • The First 28 Years Of Monty Python - Kim "Howard" Johnson (1998)
  • Monty Python Speaks! - David Morgan (1999)
  • The (Non-Inflatable) Monty Python TV Companion - Jim Yoakum (1999)
  • The Pythons Biography Of The Pythons (2003)