'Tis but a Scratch

The Black Knight Rises. On his bloody stumps, if necessary.

graham chapman's memorial service

If you've been within spitting distance of me in the past few days, (sorry about that, btw) you've been lucky enough to hear me ranting about a monty python retrospective i've been watching on on demand. Terry Jones' son directed it, and it's a really cool glimpse into the lives of these amazing guys whom (who? i never can tell) i have admired since i was like 13 and stumbled across 'Holy Grail' on some late night tv station.

Anyway, i believe it's an IFC channel production. Look for it if you have any interest in them. Lots (but not enough) backstage chat, old footage, and contemporary interviews.

At any rate, i happened to see this was posted on videosift, and thought i'd share it with you. it is the most fearless, honest, sweet, and horrible eulogy ever in history, delivered by john cleese. thank god someone had the poor taste and good sense to shake up the grim ceremony.

when i die, if you happen to attend a service for me (and frankly, i hope there isn't one--just a party and some umbrellas a la a new orleans jazz funeral) please please have the poor taste to say something equally awful. :)



and, now for something completely different. This still makes me laugh.



and a sketch that is underappreciated, the four yorkshiremen. reminds me of every family reunion i've ever been to. :)

python bonus

I read that during this scene, the extras playing the centurions were not told that Michael Palin was going to be speaking with his famous speech impediment as Pontius Pilate. These poor fuckers were actually trying very hard not to crack up, and Palin was working equally hard to get them to.

The real torture begins around 2:45.

Naughtius Maximus indeed. :)

python - life of brian

This is fantastic. When 'Life of Brian' came out in the mid-70s, it created a firestorm of controversy. It was even banned in several countries, sparked outraged demonstrations, and drove church leaders to denounce it as the worst kind of filth. There was a documentary put together that appeared on the deluxe version of the DVD, featuring archival footage of protests, and contemporary interviews with various Pythons. It also features clips from a BBC programme on which Michael Palin and John Cleese appear with an Anglican bishop and some other sour, angry man.

It is hilarious to see these men talking down to them, referring to the 'tenth-grade humor' he says they used in the film--especially considering that most of the Pythons were educated at Cambridge, a fairly decent little school, if I understand it correctly. Graham Chapman, who played Brian in the film was actually a medical doctor.

At any rate, these are longish clips, but for an amazing perspective on what artistic suppression based on religion was like even as recently as thirty years ago, and in an 'enlightened' Western country, they are invaluable.

As Terry Gilliam says in one clip, "What ever happened to the idea of 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?'"

Or as I say when I wear my smart-ass, anti-religious t-shirts, if your religious beliefs are so fragile that they can't stand up to a dim-witted slogan on a shirt, you are in trouble indeed. I think if there's an omniscient god, he probably has better things to worry about.

The great ages in history, when mankind has moved forward with new discoveries and new knowledge have been seething cauldrons of opposing ideas battling it out until the truth won out. The problem with religion is it is always treated as a taboo subject that can never be questioned or even discussed, and it holds us back.

This is a unique behind the scenes look at the making of one of the finest, cleverest religious parodies ever written.


Part 1 (under ten minutes)


Part 2 (under ten minutes also)

'Romanes eunt domum? People called Romans, they go to the house?'

'It says 'Romans go home!'

'No it doesn't.'

Enjoy.

ADDMENDUM:

I posted two interesting clips, but this is part of the BBC interview show and commentary on it to which I referred.