Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)

Directors:

Terry Hughes
Ian MacNaughton

Writers:

Graham Chapman (written by) &
John Cleese (written by) ...

Release Date:

25 June 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Never before in the history of human civilization has there been a movie called "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl"

Plot:

The Monty Python troupe perform a combination of classic sketches and new material at the Hollywood Bowl.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood Bowl | Monty Python | Pope | Lumberjack | Reference To Socrates

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Barber #2 / Colin 'Bomber' Harris / Servant / Inspector / The Colonel / Yorkshireman #2 / Abuser / Lecturer / A humble woodcutter / Son / Mountie
John Cleese	...	Barber #1 / Boxing commentator / The Pope / Silly Olympiad commentator #1 / Mr. Teabag / Lenin / Albatross vendor / Mr. Barnard / Man in white suit / Little Red Riding Hood / Church policeman / Mountie
Terry Gilliam	...	Various Roles
Eric Idle	...	Michelangelo / Bruce #1 / Judge #1 / 'World Forum' Host / Arthur Nudge / Yorkshireman #1 / Mr. Smoketoomuch / Husband / Lumberjack
Terry Jones	...	Barber / Referee / Anti-rasicism singer / Silly olympiad commentator #2 / Karl Marx / Mr. Hilton / Man with hat / Yorkshireman #3 / Demonstrator #2 / Wife / Mountie
Michael Palin	...	Emcee / Bruce #2 / Applicant / Judge #2 / Che Guevara / Soccer commentator / Yorkshireman #4 / Argument customer / Mr. Bounder / Demonstrator #1 / Storyteller / Detective-Parson / Mountie
Neil Innes	...	Bruce #3 / Carl Weetabix / Idiot / Detective-Other
Carol Cleveland	...	Various roles

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | France:Unrated | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-8 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Filmed while the Python troupe were in the midst of writing The Meaning of Life (1983). According to one book on the team, the Hollywood Bowl shows were intended to help the group break out of a writing impasse they had encountered.

Quotes:

Customer: This isn't an argument! It's just contradiction!
Professional Arguer: No, it isn't!
Customer: Yes it is!
Professional Arguer: No, no, no!
Customer: It is!
Professional Arguer: No, it isn't!
Customer: Yes it is! An argument is an intellectual process! It isn't just contradiction!
Professional Arguer: Look, if I'm to argue with you, I have to take up a contracitary position!
Customer: Yes, but it's not just saying "No it isn't!"
Professional Arguer: Yes, it is!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Life of Python (1990) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Bruces' Philosophers Song

Inevitably uneven, but in its best moments brilliant

I consider the Pythons to be one of the best comedy groups that ever appeared on the screen, perhaps even THE best (it's either them or the Marx Brothers). If you agree even partially, you should not miss "Live at the Hollywood Bowl". Irreverence and surrealism in abundance - as you would expect from the Python guys at their best. Sure, devoted fans have probably seen many of these sketches before, but that won't stop them from enjoying them again - it certainly didn't stop the live audience at the time. There are some slow spots and the picture quality is fairly poor (as the show was videotaped and then transferred to film), but how can you say anything bad about a film that has you crying from too much laughter at least twice? ("What? Only one Christ?") (***)