Monty Python's Flying Circus 

The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.

Creators:

Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones

Stars:

Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam

Top Rated TV #48 | 4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Graham Chapman	...	Various / ... 45 episodes, 1969-1974
Eric Idle	...	Various / ... 45 episodes, 1969-1974
Terry Jones	...	Various / ... 45 episodes, 1969-1974
Michael Palin	...	It's Man / ... 45 episodes, 1969-1974
Terry Gilliam	...	Various / ... 45 episodes, 1969-1974
John Cleese	...	Announcer / ... 39 episodes, 1969-1973
Carol Cleveland	...	Various / ... 33 episodes, 1969-1974

Storyline

The irreverent Monty Python comedy troupe present a series of skits which are often surreal, bawdy, uncompromising and/or tasteless, but nearly always hilarious.

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Plot Keywords:

crossdressing | cutout animation | monty python | sketch comedy | surrealism | 

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Taglines:

And now for something completely digital...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terry Gilliam was the only American in the group, and although he appeared occasionally on-screen, his roles were generally non-speaking or with few lines. Gilliam's primary contributions, the animated sequences that "linked" the various live sketches, were one of the the key components that set this show apart from its peers, and remain amongst the most memorable elements of the show.

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Goofs

The Air Tube that operates Mr. Tree's mouth can be seen in the profile shot, when light starts glinting off it.

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Quotes

[BBC rolling globe logo on screen]
Announcer: And now... one more minute of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".
[BBC rolling globe logo continues for 60 seconds in silence]

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Crazy Credits

Several episodes go on for several minutes following the closing credits. Some closing credits even incorporate the BBC "rolling earth" logo that was used at the time between programs.

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Alternate Versions

The A&E home video VHS & DVD versions, while restoring some footage, have eliminated some as well, including:

• Graham Chapman's abbreviated rendition of "Tonight Tonight" from "West Side Story" in the "Funny Bus Conductor" sketch.
• The ending "Dad's Pooves" film from episode 38.
• Dialogue from "Biggles Dictates A Letter" sketch.
• A&E explains that: "All of the Monty Python[videos] available at the A&E online store were produced directly from masters that we received." And that some "rights issues" were involved in some of the cuts.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Comix Scrutinizer: The Life & Death of Fritz the Cat (2013)

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Soundtracks

The Liberty Bell
(1893) (uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa
Performed by The Band of the Grenadier Guards
(opening theme music)

User Reviews

A staged and carefully crafted presentation of absurdity and chaos

The original sketch comedy show that has a very deserved cult following.

It's... hilarious. It's... absurd. It's... very hard to describe, because it is so freakin' random! Almost every little sketch takes such bizarre twists and turns into something completely else that you'll literally never see it coming. Terry Gilliam's innovative, and equally absurd, animations are no different in their appearances between sketches. Often serving as transitions, but really this is just one side-splittingly funny compilation of sheer absurdity.

Poking fun at just about everything that you could possibly imagine - talk shows, courts, daily life, the Spanish Inquisistion, the military, etc... - and it is all put together in a way no less random. Skits end unexpectedly, some shots are used many times, random characters appear only to speak one line, and all that makes for what is quite possibly the best crafted presentation of absurdity and chaos ever made. 10/10

Not Rated and suitable for most viewers, but very cautious parents will undoubtedly object to the crude humor.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Arabic French German Italian Mandarin Spanish

Release Date:

5 October 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Filming Locations:

Crown Rd, Isleworth, Twickenham, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Python (Monty) Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (45 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1