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IMDbPro

Monty Python's Flying Circus

  • TV Series
  • 1969–19741969–1974
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
75K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,404
179
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
Trailer for Monty Python's Flying Circus
Play trailer0:31
6 Videos
99+ Photos
Comedy
The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
75K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,404
179
  • Creators
    • Graham Chapman
    • Eric Idle
    • Terry Jones
  • Stars
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
  • Creators
    • Graham Chapman
    • Eric Idle
    • Terry Jones
  • Stars
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 89User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #53
    • Won 3 BAFTA Awards

    Episodes45

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos6

    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Monty Python Flying Circus: The Personal Best Of
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch Monty Python Flying Circus: The Personal Best Of
    The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus 16 Ton Megaset
    Trailer 1:15
    Watch The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus 16 Ton Megaset
    Monty Python: Almost The Truth (Cheese Shop)
    Trailer 2:57
    Watch Monty Python: Almost The Truth (Cheese Shop)
    Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Undertaker)
    Trailer 1:31
    Watch Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Undertaker)
    Monty Python: Almost The Truth
    Trailer 2:32
    Watch Monty Python: Almost The Truth

    Photos568

    John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Eric Idle and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    John Cleese and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Terry Jones and Julie Desmond in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Graham Chapman and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    John Cleese and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    John Cleese and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Graham Chapman in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Graham Chapman and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Terry Jones in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)
    Terry Jones and Monty Python in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Graham Chapman
    Graham Chapman
    • Various…
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Announcer…
    Terry Gilliam
    Terry Gilliam
    • Various…
    Eric Idle
    Eric Idle
    • Various…
    Terry Jones
    Terry Jones
    • Various…
    Michael Palin
    Michael Palin
    • It's Man…
    Carol Cleveland
    Carol Cleveland
    • Various…
    John Hughman
    • Alfred Lord Tennyson…
    Monty Python
    • Themselves
    Ian Davidson
    • Brain Surgeon…
    The Fred Tomlinson Singers
    • Amantillado Chorus…
    Frank Lester
    • Corpse…
    Bob Raymond
    • 'Dad'…
    Connie Booth
    Connie Booth
    • Animated Mother…
    Lyn Ashley
    Lyn Ashley
    • Algon Girl…
    Rita Davies
    Rita Davies
    • Argument Secretary…
    Maureen Flanagan
    • Anona Winn…
    Peter Brett
    • Door-to-Door Martial Arts Salesman…
    • Creators
      • Graham Chapman
      • Eric Idle
      • Terry Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The usual casting process for a sketch was that the lead role would be given to the member who came up with the idea. Sir Michael Palin has said that if he'd known the abuse he would have to tolerate as the "It's..." man, he never would have suggested the idea.
    • Goofs
      The Air Tube that operates Mr. Tree's mouth can be seen in the profile shot, when light starts glinting off it.
    • Quotes

      BBC Announcer: We interrupt this program to annoy you and make things generally irritating.

    • Crazy credits
      Episode 41 Michael Ellis (1974) begins with the opening theme song, followed by a screen that says "THE END," followed by the end credits, and then the show begins. This was to allow the unusual ending of that particular episode which would have been ruined by the closing credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The VHS and DVD releases by A&E contain the full-length versions of the shows. Several episodes run over 30 minutes, and were previously edited by PBS to fit into a 30 minute time slot.
    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      The Liberty Bell
      (1893) (uncredited)

      Music by John Philip Sousa

      Performed by The Band of the Grenadier Guards

      (opening theme music)

    User reviews89

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    even when you think you know all of what the show is about, a surprise comes round the bend
    I still need to see more of Monty Python's Flying Circus to make my un-official official declamatory mandated professional amateurish stated opinion on this, but this is quite the nifty little show they put on back in merry old England. A lame joke I tried for at Python humor, but really, once you see the show, and see at least a few episodes, you'll know whether it's the right kind of intelligently un-hinged absurdity for you. I didn't warm up to it at first, I thought it was maybe too smart, in a way, through its silliness to be taken much seriously, as the jokes are not of the common kind. But after getting in through the films, and seeing many a varied skit with the guys, I'm looking forward to seeing (and being able to quote to other people) the best they got.

    It's partly a stream-of-consciousness style show thanks to Terry Gilliam's spectacularly crude animations (through cut-outs mostly, and spoofing either classical paintings, architecture, movies, and of course dancing teeth), part social satire through various skits of people going into shops (Parrot), jobs, arguments (want to argue about an argument), the police, criminals, movies, sports, old ladies, politics, and other sorts of good diddies on all things in life. There's also the most random bits of comedy ever to come out of the 20th century, and I can only think of the basic things that might have you wanting to check it out. I love short skits, like the classic fish-slapping bit (there comes the BIG fish, heh), and over-the-top voices (Michael Palin, I think, does some of the best ones, like an introduction he does to a skit that reminded me of one of the voices in the Holy Grail trailer), and deranged costumes, and the richness of the silly dialog. Sure a skit might not hit the mark, but then I could them come back to it days later and be laughing about things not laughed at the first time around.

    There aren't too many, if much at all, conventional punchlines- the brilliant stuff comes in the random barbs that shoot up in the lines and the deliver, in a look that Cleese or Chapman might give at one point or another, or the lack of something that ends up coming around later in the bit, or maybe not. There's absolutely no shame in how tasteless some of this can get, be it with topical issues or just the little things everyday we tend to take for granted, but a tasteless sensibility without any net to fall on that's appealing. And, of course, the Lumberjack song and ministry of silly walks and . Bottom line, if there could ever be one with Flying Circus, if you think it's just stupid little goofy gags and skits going on, watch out for how rich the words fly out (err, in Circus-like fashion) the mouths of the Pythons. It's the mightiest heap of the inspiration-turned-ludicrous comedy to be found on any TV show. Other favorite skits: 'Most Awful Family in Britain', 'Self-Defence Class', 'Word Problem', and 'Kilimanjaro Expedition' among others.
    helpful•23
    2
    • Quinoa1984
    • Nov 24, 2006

    FAQ11

    • What is the translation of the "World's Deadliest Joke"?
    • Who was in the suit of armour wielding the dead chicken?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 2, 2018 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
      • Arabic
      • French
      • German
      • Italian
      • Mandarin
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Python (Monty) Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 30 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono
      • Stereo

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