Monty Python and the Holy Grail: On-This-Day Thursday
Every Thursday, an older film released on this opening weekend years ago will be reviewed. They can be classics, or simply popular films that happened to be released to the world on the same date.
For April 3rd and April 9th, we are going to have a look at Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
It’s hard to not compare Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Monty Python’s Life of Brian because of the strengths of either feature film by the legendary comedy troupe. I may argue that Holy Grail is a funnier film than Life of Brian, yet it also is much more apparently a series of skits compared to the cohesiveness of Brian. Obviously, Holy Grail is an actual story as well, and not a literal sketch compilation (like The Meaning of Life, let’s say), but you can still see each moment as a scene of its own kind. Plus, the introductions to each zany character, as well as the moment they all branch off, can be seen as a series of their own sketches. That is far from a problem. If anything, that’s exactly what I feel like some days. Sometimes I need to laugh at Prince Herbert’s continuously thwarted attempts to start up a musical number. Some days call for the unpredictability of the questions asked to cross the Bridge of Death. Occasionally, I don’t feel like much. Just “Tim”.
The only reason why I would put Life of Brian even a smidgen ahead as the finest Monty Python feature is because of Holy Grail succumbing to its sketch-like nature and concluding the way that it does: a bit too sudden. That isn’t unlike the Pythons to do, though, and that is likely a part of the joke (see many episodes of the Flying Circus show that refuse to end on punchlines). I feel like they resolved the anticlimax of Brian a bit better, because the film’s shrug is in on the joke. In Holy Grail, the film is cut off by police officers that hijack a battle to place everyone under arrest. While hilarious, the high of watching a Monty Python feature this good hits a brick wall (again, likely a part of the joke). In Life of Brian, witnessing crucified prisoners on the verge of death singing an uplifting tune is the kind of oddity that eases you out of the film. I can see why this is a case of apples and oranges (somewhat), and why one would prefer the sudden ending of Holy Grail. Again, it’s only the smallest margin of difference between how I feel about both films, and I’d argue the funniest moments of Holy Grail remain the funniest Monty Python film moments.
Arthur and his band of insane, incompetent knights.
This cinematic hodge-podge was the directorial debuts of the two Terry Python members Jones and Gilliam. Terry Jones went on to make the comedy opus Life of Brian, and would continue to serve as the visionary behind many Python events (as he did for the Flying Circus show). Terry Gilliam simply never stopped making films, even well beyond the Python universe (outside of a moment here or there, Holy Grail was his only full on Python feature). The production was a complete and utter misery. There was barely any financing, which resulted in many of the film’s funny moments, intended to be creative work arounds (can’t afford horses? Make a running gag about clacking coconuts and skipping knights!). It rained all of the time. The brevity of short skits was now turned into a super long slog. Various Python members, including John Cleese (who has been outspoken about these shoots) have dismal memories about making Holy Grail, so maybe the film doesn’t resonate quite as well with them as it does to us. We only see the expertise of professional madmen resonate off of the screen. We only see the joy these lunatics never cease to bring to us.
One other noteworthy point is how well the Monty Python gang could translate to the movie theatre, considering Flying Circus was made for television and meant to be bitesized levels of insanity. Not once does Holy Grail feel like a chore, a headache, or the beating of a dead horse. It’s something we can take for granted now, but really consider the miracle of the situation. How many Saturday Night Live, Nickelodeon, and other sketch-based shows or channels have had their stories transition seamlessly into a film format? Is Good Burger not difficult to watch in one sitting? What about A Night at the Roxbury? I think the main difference is that Holy Grail wasn’t based on existing sketches, meant to be played in short bursts. Part of the contrast is because of how fantastic the Python crew is at knowing how long a joke should last, and what different lengths of time require comedy wise. Even as a less-structured version of Life of Brian, Monty Python know their medium inside and out enough to make all of Holy Grail a riot.
We’re keeping things Easter themed, somewhat. Happy Easter!
As they are comedy experts, it’s almost as if Monty Python — through Holy Grail and their other outputs — could predict the future state of comedy (if they didn’t have a major hand in the pool of comedy’s influence, that is). Their random, abstract forms of humour resonate much greater than the more level headed comedy of many of their contemporaries upon release. I mean, people are still referencing holy hand grenades, the Knights Who Say Ni, the Black Knight who refuses to stop fighting despite having all of his limbs chopped off, and more. The best part is most people will know exactly what you’re talking about. Also, in the age of YouTube and other digital video platforms, the sketch element of Holy Grail holds up exceptionally well, as if you can get by watching just the weighing of the witch, the tirade of Sir Lancelot, and the bloodbath of the Rabbit of Caerbannog, if you don’t have time to watch the full film. If you do, every single moment still hits its mark.
Sure, Life of Brian was a better made film through and through, and it may have been more daring (tackling the amounts of religious comedy that it does), but Holy Grail is right behind that film in terms of importance in the Monty Python lore. If anything, it was probably absolutely necessary for Life of Brian to even exist. Monty Python needed that bridge between their series of unrelated, oddball sketches and their next chapter in feature films. Life of Brian is Monty Python creating the perfect comedy film. Holy Grail is Monty Python changing pop culture permanently, and never being dethroned. For me, that’s a pair of wins for this band of misfits. In an age where attention spans have diminished and laughs are forced, Holy Grail remains a go-to for many, because of its consistency and its variety (despite it all taking place within the Middle Ages, and with the same characters). You won’t want to go back to real life after this: t’is a silly place.
It’s hard to not compare Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Monty Python’s Life of Brian because of the strengths of either feature film by the legendary comedy troupe. I may argue that Holy Grail is a funnier film than Life of Brian, yet it also is much more apparently a series of skits compared to the cohesiveness of Brian. Obviously, Holy Grail is an actual story as well, and not a literal sketch compilation (like The Meaning of Life, let’s say), but you can still see each moment as a scene of its own kind. Plus, the introductions to each zany character, as well as the moment they all branch off, can be … wait a second.
This is just the review again.
We’ve already done this! Come on now. We’re wasting the day! Get on with it!
It’s hard to not compare Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Monty Python’s Life of Brian because of the strengths of either feature film by the legendary comedy troupe. I may argue that Holy Grail is a funnier film than Life of Brian, yet it also is much more apparently a series of skits compared to the cohesiveness of Brian. Obviously, Holy Grail oh hang on a second
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Right. One more time and we’re firing the writer. We were doing so well. Last time, we started off the article badly. This time, we have no idea how to wrap this thing up. This is embarrassing, folks, and we do apologize. Do you want that review of Baby Geniuses again? No? We don’t blame you, and we apologize for that half-hearted April Fool’s Day joke as well.
Okay. Let’s try this again. Come on, John Cleese in JPEG form.
One of the greatest stories in absurdist film history is when Eric Idle discussed the latest Monty Python film in the works to his good friend George Harrison. It was to be a religious satire where a, oh for crying out loud, this is just the Life of Brian review now!
GET ON WITH IT
There we go.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.