Holy Grail ve Life of Brian

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 1:37 pm

I watched Holy Grail last night for the umpteenth time and loved it as always

Will be watching Life of Brain again soon and got me thinking which of the brilliantly funny Monty Python films I like the best

If push comes to shove I would say that for me Life of Brian just about shades it

Woderwick

No Ney Never · Post by **No Ney Never** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 1:43 pm

Life of Brian.

moaninclaret · Post by **moaninclaret** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 1:55 pm

LOB for me, classic, Holy grail is ok though, LOB is so funny from the very start, blessed are the cheesemakers, brilliant.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:03 pm

Airplane

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:12 pm

LoB for me, but I do enjoy Meaning of Life too

Pstotto · Post by **Pstotto** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:23 pm

Cambridge Kim Philbys.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:45 pm

I can't decide between the two, there are moments sheer comedy brilliance in both, particularly 'what have the Romans ever done for us' scene and of course the 'come back and fight you coward' in the Holy Grail.

Never did quite get with The Meaning of Life though, a bit gross in parts and a bit tired, but that's just my opinion.

Coincidentally yesterday I was reading up on that brilliant influence on the Pythons, the Goon Show. This was indeed comedy genius at it's best, groundbreaking in it's day. Without it there would have been no Python, alternative comedy or surreal comedy (Vic Reeves etc). I still have a (now quite rare and out of print) copy of part one of the Goon Show scripts that I have had since the early 70's and I still fall to bits if I read it.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:47 pm

Life of Brian just. Two extremely brilliant and funny films.

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 2:58 pm

Life of Brian by a country mile. It's what I base my religious knowledge on

karatekid · Post by **karatekid** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:00 pm

Life of Brian. Could live without the alien bit tho.

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:02 pm

karatekid wrote:Life of Brian. Could live without the alien bit tho.

You lucky Blackburn fan..

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:15 pm

I love both, Holy Grail used to be my favourite film in my teens, but as I’ve got older, understood the world a bit better and especially after staying with religious crackpots in Israel, it’s Life of Brian, hands down.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:16 pm

LofB. Never liked holy grail. Mof L is brilliant but spoilt by the first and last two sketches, they are not up to scratch. I don’t complain though. Geniuses become geniuses by trying stuff others wouldn’t.

martin_p · Post by **martin_p** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:20 pm

NI!!

It’s Grail just shading it for me. But only just. Numbers 1 and 2 in my all time favourite comedy films.

claptrappers_union · Post by **claptrappers_union** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:23 pm

houseboy wrote:I

Coincidentally yesterday I was reading up on that brilliant influence on the Pythons, the Goon Show. This was indeed comedy genius at it's best, groundbreaking in it's day. Without it there would have been no Python, alternative comedy or surreal comedy (Vic Reeves etc).

I still have a (now quite rare and out of print) copy of part one of the Goon Show scripts that I have had since the early 70's and I still fall to bits if I read it.

Of course Spike Milligan has a cameo in Life of Brian, he plays the guy who call everyone to pray after Cleese declares that they must follow Brian by removing their shoe.

He was on holiday in Tunisa at the time and agreed to spare some of his time, they got the first take but he disappeared by the time they reset for a second take. But I think the gag works brilliantly just being the one shot.

In regards to your script I’ve met a guy who inherited the Goons archive. He might be interested in what you have, I can try put you in touch if you like?

Rick_Muller · Post by **Rick_Muller** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:28 pm

both Holy Grail and Life of Brian on Netflix at the moment... just in case people wanted to watch again

BennyD · Post by **BennyD** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 3:37 pm

karatekid wrote:Life of Brian. Could live without the alien bit tho.

Likewise, but it wouldn’t be Python without some banal stupidity.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:06 pm

claptrappers_union wrote:Of course Spike Milligan has a cameo in Life of Brian, he plays the guy who call everyone to pray after Cleese declares that they must follow Brian by removing their shoe.

He was on holiday in Tunisa at the time and agreed to spare some of his time, they got the first take but he disappeared by the time they reset for a second take. But I think the gag works brilliantly just being the one shot.

In regards to your script I’ve met a guy who inherited the Goons archive. He might be interested in what you have, I can try put you in touch if you like?

Thanks for the offer mate but I'm gonna keep it. Love it to bits. Milligan was a true genius (complete with bi-polar problems in the days when if you had it you were 'mad'). One of the funniest things I have ever read was the first book of his war memoirs, Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall. I remember buying it at a shop and starting reading it on the bus, before the end of the first page I was laughing out loud and people were staring at me. It is absolutely hilarious, even in it's serious moments (and there are quite a few) it is still tinged with his humour.

Who else could have come up with programme titles like:
The House of Teeth
Fear of Payday
The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea
Through the Sound Barrier in an Airing Cupboard
The Collapse of the British Railway Sandwich System
The list goes on and on, and the characters are just ridiculously amazing:
Bluebottle
Hercules Grytpype Thynne
Major Denis Bloodnok
And of course 'the famous' Eccles.

Marvelous.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:15 pm

Life of Brian (Brain

) for me over Grail but beating both is Yellowbeard... It still makes me laugh like a bloody drain every time I see it ...

Yellowbeard (1983) - IMDb
https://m.imdb.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; › title

Cast includes ..... most of the Pythons, The Young Ones, Spike Milligan, Cheech and Chong ... alongside greats like Michael Hordern and James Mason etc. A cracking Pirate spoof that is a total hoot.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:37 pm

Rick_Muller wrote:both Holy Grail and Life of Brian on Netflix at the moment... just in case people wanted to watch again

Yes I watched Holy Grail on Netflix late last night and I will watch Life of Brian some other time

Do people know you can get Netflix free for 1 month as I have done?

blsclaret · Post by **blsclaret** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:41 pm

Yes, we are all individuals

Life of Brian please

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:42 pm

Claret Till I Die wrote:You lucky Blackburn fan..

Subtle, very subtle.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:46 pm

Bosscat wrote:Life of Brian (Brain ) for me over Grail but beating both is Yellowbeard... It still makes me laugh like a bloody drain every time I see it ...

Yellowbeard (1983) - IMDb
https://m.imdb.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; › title

Cast includes ..... most of the Pythons, The Young Ones, Spike Milligan, Cheech and Chong ... alongside greats like Michael Hordern and James Mason etc. A cracking Pirate spoof that is a total hoot.

Never seen it but with that cast I'm gonna have to look it up.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:49 pm

houseboy wrote:Thanks for the offer mate but I'm gonna keep it. Love it to bits. Milligan was a true genius (complete with bi-polar problems in the days when if you had it you were 'mad'). One of the funniest things I have ever read was the first book of his war memoirs, Adolf Hitler, My Part in His Downfall. I remember buying it at a shop and starting reading it on the bus, before the end of the first page I was laughing out loud and people were staring at me. It is absolutely hilarious, even in it's serious moments (and there are quite a few) it is still tinged with his humour.

Who else could have come up with programme titles like:
The House of Teeth
Fear of Payday
The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler of Bexhill-on-Sea
Through the Sound Barrier in an Airing Cupboard
The Collapse of the British Railway Sandwich System
The list goes on and on, and the characters are just ridiculously amazing:
Bluebottle
Hercules Grytpype Thynne
Major Denis Bloodnok
And of course 'the famous' Eccles.

Marvelous.

Do you know the Duke of Norfolk?
Well I'm Eccles

And on Spike's gravestone in Gaelic
I told you I was Ill

And I too have Spike Milligan's book Adolf Hitler My Part in his Downfall

I loved Spike's crazy humour

And didn't he due to his bipolar once try to stab Peter Sellars?

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 4:53 pm

Tie for me!......Both brilliant, Meaning of life is also fantastic!

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:24 pm

mkmel wrote:Do you know the Duke of Norfolk?
Well I'm Eccles

And on Spike's gravestone in Gaelic
I told you I was Ill

And I too have Spike Milligan's book Adolf Hitler My Part in his Downfall

I loved Spike's crazy humour

And didn't he due to his bipolar once try to stab Peter Sellars?

Sellers once turned up at 3am at Spike Milligans place stark naked... knocked on the door and asked if he could recommend a good Tailor

Jeffbfc · Post by **Jeffbfc** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:13 pm

Holy Grail.
To use coconuts because they couldn't afford real horses due to the budget of the film.
Comic genius.
Now I'm off to get a shrubbery.

giveusaB · Post by **giveusaB** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:35 pm

Just had a look and Yellowbeard is on YouTube.Its had 1m views.

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:48 pm

Jeffbfc wrote:Holy Grail.
To use coconuts because they couldn't afford real horses due to the budget of the film.
Comic genius.
Now I'm off to get a shrubbery.

"One of these days son all of this will be yours"

"What... The Curtains"

Claret-On-A-T-Rex · Post by **Claret-On-A-T-Rex** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 7:13 pm

Life of Brian

martin_p · Post by **martin_p** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 7:16 pm

Help help, I’m being repressed!

Cirrus_Minor · Post by **Cirrus_Minor** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 7:30 pm

ceborame · Post by **ceborame** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 7:31 pm

' It was around this time that I received a cunningly worded invitation to take part in world war 2' S. Milligan

Perfect

Cirrus_Minor · Post by **Cirrus_Minor** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:47 pm

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!

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:21 pm

"Oh you're not so bad yourself conkface. Where are you two from? Nose City?"

"One more time mate, I'll take you to the f***ing cleaners!"

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:34 pm

houseboy wrote:Subtle, very subtle.

Always

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:23 pm

"Oh come on, let's go to the stoning"

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:46 pm

I love both but for sheer Python surrealist silliness it's the Grail every time.

"How do you know she is a witch???" An awesomely hilarious scene that builds to the punchline.

Tim the magician, the French Kerniggits, the wedding, Denis the revolutionary dark ages peasant, the bridge keeper, the Knights of Ni, the running gags (1, 2, 4 - 3 sir, 3; the coconuts, the swallows). It's brilliant. the story is better in LoB and the Latin lesson is achingly funny but the sketches in Grail are just dafter and funnier

And don;t get me started on the Goon show - comedy gold. Milligan was a genius. the missus met him at a book signing getting me a Christmas opresent and our eldest son was only 2 at the time and getting all over the place. Spike was going "where is he know? how many are there?" And then turned to my wife saying - tell him to tie a knot in it

Wish I'd been there

CaptainKirk · Post by **CaptainKirk** » Sat Oct 20, 2018 12:05 pm

1, Life of Brian
2, Holy Grail
plus:
3, Airplane
4, Gregory's Girl

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:21 am

mkmel wrote:Do you know the Duke of Norfolk?
Well I'm Eccles

And on Spike's gravestone in Gaelic
I told you I was Ill

And I too have Spike Milligan's book Adolf Hitler My Part in his Downfall

I loved Spike's crazy humour

And didn't he due to his bipolar once try to stab Peter Sellars?

Yes, I watched a programme about his breakdown years ago and he admitted that he walked through a glass door (literally) with a knife and shouted I have come to kill Peter Sellers. He said he knew he wouldn't have done it because if he had really meant it he would have shouted 'I have come to kill you Peter' 'because he was my friend'.

The gravestone thing is true but apparently it had to be written in gaelic or the church wouldn't have allowed it, and they only granted permission 2 years after his death.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:35 am

ceborame wrote:' It was around this time that I received a cunningly worded invitation to take part in world war 2' S. Milligan

Perfect

“The die was cast. It was a proud day for the Milligan family as I was taken from the house. "I'm too young to go," I screamed as Military Policemen dragged me from my pram, clutching a dummy. At Victoria Station the R.T.O. gave me a travel warrant, a white feather and a picture of Hitler marked "This is your enemy." I searched every compartment, but he wasn't on the train. At 4.30, June 2nd, 1940, on a summer's day all mare's tails and blue sky we arrived at Bexhill-on-Sea, where I got off. It wasn't easy. The train didn't stop there.”

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:11 pm

Here now. Enough of that.

Cleveleys_claret · Post by **Cleveleys_claret** » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:44 pm

No matter how many times I watch it I am always in tears

https://youtu.be/kx_G2a2hL6U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CJW · Post by **CJW** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:39 pm

Holy Grail.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 2:43 pm

I liked Monty Python at the time and enjoyed the films but soon got fed up of every conversation about Python ending up by everyone quoting verbatim lines from their favourite sketches. Didn't take long for this thread to end up in the same way.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 2:59 pm

Chobulous wrote:I liked Monty Python at the time and enjoyed the films but soon got fed up of every conversation about Python ending up by everyone quoting verbatim lines from their favourite sketches. Didn't take long for this thread to end up in the same way.

But that's what makes it great, you don't quote things you don't like. I bet not too many people go around quoting lines from Eastenders.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 3:07 pm

houseboy wrote:But that's what makes it great, you don't quote things you don't like. I bet not too many people go around quoting lines from Eastenders.

Be a bit boring everyone going round shouting "get out of my pub"

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Tue Oct 23, 2018 3:24 pm

Chobulous wrote:Be a bit boring everyone going round shouting "get out of my pub"

Or even worse 'Rickeeeeeee'.