Monty Python is a popular British comedy group that created the widely popular television show Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Monty Python’s Flying Circus aired on BBC from 1969 to 1974 and spawned other mass media projects for Monty Python. In between the third and fourth seasons of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Monty Python began developing materials for a film. Perhaps, the most popular of Monty Python’s films is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As with other Monty Python projects, Monty Python and the Holy Grail was written and performed by all Monty Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is essentially a parody of the legend of King Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was shown in theaters on 3 April 1975 in the UK, on 10 May 1975 in the US and on 14 August 1975 in Australia. Monty Python and the Holy Grail grossed close to USD128 million during its entire theatrical run.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed in location in Scotland and was directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. The main cast and their roles are Graham Chapman as King Arthur, John Cleese as Sir Lancelot, Terry Gilliam as Patsy and Old Man (Soothsayer), Eric Idle as Sir Robin, Terry Jones as Sir Bedevere, Michael Palin as Sir Galahad and Neil Innes as Sir Robin's Minstrel.
In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is essentially composed of a series of sketches, the funniest of which is difficult to single out. Some would probably say that Monty Python and the Holy Grail is for Monty Pythons fans only but even those not familiar with Monty Python’s brand of comedy will find it difficult not to find this movie hilarious. The movie is silly, absurd, and hysterical – very Python-esque.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is ranked by many as one of the best films of all time. The following are some of the polls that include Monty Python and the Holy Grail: ranked number 41 in Bravo’s poll of "100 Funniest Movies", fifth greatest comedy film of all time in 2000’s readers’ poll of Total Film magazine, sixth in a similar poll of Channel 4 viewers in 2005. And a 2004 poll by the UK arm of Amazon and the Internet Movie Database named Monty Python and the Holy Grail as the best British picture of all time. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is indeed a cult classic.
