Python Night: 30 Years of Monty Python (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Directors:

Terry Jones
Elaine Shepherd

Writers:

Graham Chapman (writer)
John Cleese (writer)

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy

Plot:

Series of new sketches performed by the Monty Python team, linking programmes to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Plot Keywords:

Monty Python | Number In Title

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Himself (archive footage)
John Cleese	...	Himself / Announcer / Gumby / Pepperpot / Gent / BBC Voice Over
Terry Gilliam	...	Himself / Man with Vercotti / BBC Crewmember / Gumby / Onan Vandergoy / Gorilla
Eric Idle	...	Himself
Terry Jones	...	Himself / Arthur Ewing / BBC Crewmember / Gumby / Pepperpot / Gorilla / BBC Voice Over / Policeman
Michael Palin	...	Himself / Luigi Vercotti / BBC Crewmember / Gumby / Pepperpot / Magnus Magnusson / Gorilla / BBC Voice Over / Ken Shabby / Policeman / 'It's' man
Carol Cleveland	...	Herself
Ian Davidson	...	Policeman
Eddie Izzard	...	Host
Dawn French	...	Herself
Ian MacNaughton	...	Stereotype Scotsman (as Ian McNaughton)
Peter Sissons	...	Himself
Pam Buckley
Kelly Hart
Stanley Kaye

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Quotes:

[Four pepperpots have been asked what they would like to see on the BBC]
First pepperpot: I'd like to see that nice Michael Palet doing one of his travel programmes. You know when he says Hello, I'm Michael Palin and they say oh hello Michael how are you. And he says oh I'm very very well thank. What a nice hat you have. Would you like to come in and he says oh good idea and on and on and on.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969)

A great reunion and good documentaries.

When Monty Python was first broadcast in 1969, it was the start of a legendary comedy group which still goes on today. In 1999, BBC2 aired a Python Night, with documentaries and new sketches. I saw it a few days ago and really loved it. There are three documentaries: It's the Monty Python Story, a look at the history of Monty Python, 'Pythonland', a spoof of Michael Palin's travel documentaries in which he visits a few Python locations and the last one 'From spam to sperm', hosted by Meat Loaf in which he gives us a look at the music of Monty Python. Than, of course, my favorite of it all: The new sketches. Including many old characters: The Gumbys, the pepperpots, Graham's Colonel, Vercotti and Terry Jones's mouse 'lover', Arthur Ewing. It's very nice to see, if not for the entertainment value it's just wonderful to see the Pythons (including the late Chapman, wonderfully edited in) back at work. It makes you sad that this is probably it as far as a full scale reunion is concerned. There are two ways of finding this special. When you have a region 1 DVD, you should buy the Life of Python DVD, but when you have a region 2 DVD, buy the Live at Aspen BBC DVD. The last one has the 1998 reunion as well. I have such high hopes they will do a further reunion in 2009, but of course only time can tell. Do yourself a favor and have a look at this special, you won't regret.

10/10