Friday, October 5, 2012

Monty Python's Flying Circus Boys Hit 42

From the October 18, 2009, Chicago Tribune "Flying Circus hits 40" by Robert Lloyd.

Definitely one of my all-time favorite shows, "Monty Python's Flying Circus," essentially six guys being as silly as they could...and, funny.  Now, it has been 42 years since "five young British lads and a young American animator" got together in 1969 and searched for a name, considering "Owl-Stretching Time" and "A Horse, a Spoon, and a Basin" before settling on the one we all know.

Back in 2009, the five remaining ones got together for an excellent six hour documentary series, "Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut).  I saw it and did it ever bring back memories as well as made me laugh all over again.  I'd forgotten some of the skits, "Hey, 'No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition!!!'"

Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam are still alive.  Graham Chapman died of  throat cancer in 1989.  Their creative life-span was from 1969 to 1983, and, of course several have gone on to other movies and TV shows.

Then, there was that great movie, "Holy Grail."  I still "Run-away" and say "Kneep." 

I didn't see it until the 70s when PBS showed it.  Much would have been censored on regular TV because of the nudity "And now for something completely different."  I rarely missed it.  And, the flying sheep and foot-squashing animation of Gilliam.

That Was Just Mighty Funny Stuff.

John Philip Sousa would eb so proud.

Thanks Monty.  --Cooter

No comments: