King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsGiven the fact that this movie breaks the fourth wall constantly, many crew/equipment goofs may be deliberate. In the final scene, characters even call attention to the film crew as part of the story.
- Quotes
King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well, I didn't vote for you.
King Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
[Angelic music plays...]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
- Crazy creditsIn the Special Edition DVD, at first a film called "Dentist On the Job" starts playing, and it goes up until the end of its opening credits. Then someone is heard saying that they put in the wrong film. The film stops, a quick reel change slide is put up, and then the real movie starts.
- Alternate versionsThe 2001 special edition features alternative dialogue when Arthur and Bedevere meet Rodger the Shrubber.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Lord of the Rings (1978)
- SoundtracksCamelot Song (Knights of the Round Table)
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Graham Chapman and John Cleese
Music by Neil Innes
Performed by Monty Python
[22m]
The jokes vary from obvious visual puns (coconut halves to represent horses) and audio puns ("I am Roger the Shrubber") to more subtle and intelligent jokes ("I thought we were an autonomous collective" / the Witch-burning scene). The greatest thing about the Holy Grail is that there's something for everyone. No one is left out.
What many don't realise is the sophisticated intelligence behind the jokes that many of later generations don't understand (back in the Life of Brian - Romani Ite Domun - which wouldn't have such impact on the youngsters who never had to suffer through Latin classes) such as the witch burning scene, where it was true that any means possible was used to warp the natural and legal laws to create the desired result i.e. one less warty woman in the village, and how the mish-mash of Celtic tribes were suddenly forced to become a diplomacy ("Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!"). It always reminds me of Blackadder - how so many great jokes were wasted by bad timing or bad judgement on the audience's vocabulary.
And for those who can't keep up with historical jokes, there's the Black Knight, Tim, and Zoot to keep you occupied. They sure as hell make me laugh.
So if you like daft humour, go for it! But promise to check out the subtle jokes as well. It's worth the effort, and you'll learn a little about history too.
- jameta4all
- Feb 27, 2006
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Monty Python y el santo grial
- Filming locations
- Castle Stalker, Appin, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK(Castle of Aaaargh)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £229,575 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,562,392
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $45,487
- Jun 17, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $2,817,496