If you post opinions at a site that allows comments, or you read enough of other's posts, sooner or later you may be puzzled by references to the legendary walking tree of Dahomey, E. Henry Thripshaw's Disease or Mrs. Betty Teal and her lover in Boulton.
PRESENTER: Hello, sir, hello, yes. No sir, no. I'm sure you didn't. No, it's all right sir, we don't morally censure, we just want the money... Yes, and here's the address to send it to:
(caption read in voice over)BLACKMAIL
BEHIND THE HOT WATER PIPES
THIRD WASHROOM ALONG
VICTORIA STATION
Perhaps you see a plea for the words to "The Lumberjack Song", but by the time you've fired up your VCR, fast-forwarded through the wrong 18 episodes to find it, transcribed the words and got back to your computer, six other people have already answered.
Dear Sir, I wish to complain in the strongest possible terms about the song which you have just broadcast, about the lumberjack who wears women's clothes. Many of my best friends are lumberjacks and only a few of them are transvestites. Yours faithfully, Brigadier Sir Charles Arthur Strong (Mrs).
P.S. I have never kissed the editor of the Radio Times.
Help is here in the two volumes of Monty Python's Flying Circus: All The Words. Here is the complete dialog of the "Parrot Sketch", the entire menu recitation that sets off the Vikings in the "Spam Sketch", the five Bruces of the "Philosophy Department of the University of Woolahmooloo".
Fourth Bruce: No. Right, well, gentlemen, I'll just remind you of the faculty rules. Rule one—no pooftahs. Rule two—no member of the faculty is to mistreat the Abbos in any way whatsoever if there's anyone watching. Rule three—no pooftahs. Rule four—I don't want to catch anyone not drinking in their room after lights out. Rule five—no pooftahs. Rule six—there is no... rule six. Rule seven—no pooftahs.
The books include a cross-referenced index; items in the second volume appear in italics in the index of each book. What isn't in these volumes is the brilliant cartoonery and illustration of Terry Gilliam, nor the bizarre credits that sometimes reflected the insanity that went before. (Some of Gilliam's graphics are described, where they are essential to the story or critical to the joke.) An insert of photos from the well-known episodes is also included in each volume.
Cardinal Ximenez: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
I've been enjoying these volumes for years, and find them essential to my reputation as a Python-quoter. I recommend them for any Flying Circus debater who wishes to reach the next level.
Q: What would it take to get Monty Python back together?
A: Well, since Graham Chapman has already died, I'd imagine a couple of bullets each would do the trick.
Article comments
1 - diane
I love MP! My husband just doesn't get it, but he doesn't mind watching with me because he likes to hear me laugh at it......weird, I know.
2 - DrPat
I have never been in a techie group that didn't have at least one person who apparently knew every line of every MPFC sketch, including those performed at The Secret Policemans' Ball, The Secret Policemans' Other Ball and all the movies.
The only thing you can do, I suppose, is pat your husband condescendingly upon the head, and love him for his loyalty. And don't ever let him go out of the house with a handkerchief knotted on the top of his head...
3 - Natalie Davis
Thanks for spreading the word about this delightful duo of books! I have had them for years and they bring this Python addict often incessant laughter and infinite joy.
4 - DrPat
There are other books out there, put out by individuals of the Python crew. I even own a couple - but none are as hilarious as the original words.
5 - Eric Berlin
I always found the original episodes of MP to be superior to the films. I used to watch marathons of the show, trying desperately to stay awake deep into the night, on WPIX-11 in New York. This must have been just before VCRs were widely available, or I would have snapped up everyone that I could.
The only problem is that with the Brit-centric terminology, 70s cultural references, heavy UK accents, and loud studio audience, it was at times hard to pick up on what was going on. But it didn't really matter: it was all (mostly) brilliant absurdist outlandish wonderful comedy. Those guys are are the gold standard of sketch comedy.
Thanks for this review, DrPat.
6 - Bill
I'm looking for details on a sketch which I think came from MP in the 70's where the gang sat around reminiscing about their poverty stricken childhood (we used to live in a cardboard box on side of t' motorway - oh ah - that were luxury for us) to reaching the heights of sipping chateau Wakefield as successfull men. Can anyone supply more details and , if not MP, which BBC show it came from?
Thanks
7 - DrPat
Bill, that sketch is either from The Secret Policeman's Ball or The Secret Policeman's Other Ball.
"YOU were LUCKY!" The tagline of the one-downmanship...
8 - Warren
It's the "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch from "The Secret Policeman's Ball." Rowan Atkinson is also in the sketch.
9 - Warren
oops -- it was also done in MP Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
10 - Warren
AND interestingly it was originally part of "The 1948 Show" which was pre-Python (1967). Cleese wrote it and took it with him, I guess.
Now I'll shut up.
11 - Kevin Philips Bong
Thank you Dr. Pat. That review made my day.
Terry Gilliam is my Warhol, and Eric Idle is my John Cleese. Lets end with a prayer:
"This is the wattle, its the symbol of our land, you can stick it in a bottle or you can hold it in your hand. AMEN!"
12 - gypsyman
To this day my mother swears she never has to see a Monty Python Movie or show because she's heard every line repeated ad nauseum by her two sons. Which two I don't know, but I do know that my brother and I were able to recite great chunks of the tv sketchs in our younger years...(my brain hurts seemed so appropriate to yell in the others hung over ear on a Sunday morning) Given the nasy stuff that time and other abuse does to ones brain pan, I'm afraid much of it has faded away. The news that someone has gone to the trouble of writing it all down is wonderful.
Nothing quite beats those sunday morning walks past well dressed church goers, singing quietly to oneself "Every sperm is sacred...
13 - Natalie Davis
Oh god, I still do that. I'd wager God gets quite irate...
14 - The Theory
and now for something completely different...
I recently bought the entire flying circus DVDs on ebay for some insanely low price and it may just be my best purchase ever.
I may have to check these books out.