3 April 1975
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film inspired by the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group (Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones, and Palin), directed by Gilliam and Jones. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their BBC television series Monty Python's Flying Circus.
While the group's first film, And Now for Something Completely Different, was a compilation of sketches from the first two television series, Holy Grail is an original story that parodies the legend of King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail. Thirty years later, Idle used the film as the basis for the 2005 Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail grossed more than any British film exhibited in the US in 1975. In the US, it was selected in 2011 as the second-best comedy of all time in the ABC special Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time behind Airplane! In the UK, readers of Total Film magazine in 2000 ranked it the fifth-greatest comedy film of all time; a similar poll of Channel 4 viewers in 2006 placed it sixth.
Storyline
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.
Also See
- Monty Python's Flying Circus
- And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
- Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
- Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
- Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
Sound Effects Used
Original Mix
- CINESOUND - EXPLOSION TYPE 2
- CINESOUND MALE SCREAM 02 (slightly sped up and high pitched)
- DePatie-Freleng Blowing Sound
- Robert Hall, Say, This Car Needs Work/Sound Ideas, Electronic - Synthesized sound of an old car having trouble starting
- Robert Hall, Say, This Flying Saucer Needs Work/Sound Ideas, COMEDY, CONFUSION - WHACKY CONFUSION/COMEDY - MONTAGE OF VARIOUS COMEDY EFFECTS 02
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, CAT - TOM CATS, FIGHTING, HISSING, GROWLING
- Sound Ideas, ARCHERY - ARROW SHOOT AND BOUNCE OFF SHIELD
- Sound Ideas, FILM CLAPPER BOARD
Remastered Mix
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Crow Caws CloseP PE020401
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Hawk Single Scre PE020801/Hawk Screech Single AT082901
- Hollywoodedge, Birds Geese Quacking PE020701
- Hollywoodedge, Cats Fighting Loud Sc PE917007/Cats Two Angry YowlsD PE022601
- Hollywoodedge, Explosion Large Shar PE097801
- Hollywoodedge, Gusts Heavy Cold Wind PE031601
- Hollywoodedge, Sheep Baa Medium Pers PE027001