Agatha Christie Sketch (Railway Timetables)

[@gmaasry]

The sketch is brilliant, but this clip cuts out too early -- an important part of the joke is where it cuts away to the author, who is a lunatic train buff.

[@clickrick]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJnGYpuNja1of68 :)

[@markh.6687]

I'm commenting to protest in the strongest possible terms about describing the author as a lunatic. He is, in fact, a devoted fan of British railways. Signed, the Rt. Hon. Adm. Sir Horseless Carriage--Pullman Car (Mrs.)(Retired)(Deceased).

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@markh.6687 We interrupt our regular program to apologize for the previous inappropriate protest. Signed Inspector Tiger, superintendant.

[@markh.6687]

@@u.v.s.5583 Tiger??!

[@SylviaHardy-g7q]

@@markh.6687 Where?!!

[@luisreyes1963]

Only Monty Python can fuse together British railway palaver into an Agatha Christie-style mystery story and make it funny in a surreal sort of way. 😁

[@davidfisher5599]

Having lived in the UK and taken "British Rail" now, "National Rail", many times, I can vouch for the fact that, while obviously embellished, the Brits knowledge of train schedules and the the amenities on the various trains isn't too far away from this.

[@lymehausdj8]

Try catching a train here now. Timetables are gobbledegook, passengers treated like cattle and if there is any coffee it tastes like shit.

[@u.v.s.5583]

On the bright side, many a father will survive the next morning as his son will not be willing to shoot the father for the ticket reservation.

[@andersonsmith979]

I think only older Brits hang on to the somewhat narrow speciality of an encyclopedic knowledge of train schedules. While staying with a sponsor family while attending Richmond University a few years ago, I recall being baffled by all the options offered up by them-and neighbours-for a simple trip from London to Bath, Portsmouth, et cetera. Even "simple" trips to St. Pancras International to get home to Lille, France seemed quite complicated after a few minutes with them! :D

[@markfryer9880]

​@@andersonsmith979I'm not surprised. My head is spinning after this sketch! Way too many trains and times for me and I like trains. 😢 As for memorising schedules, well I took buses and trams to school, so it was a case of waiting until the right bus or tram came along. Then there were the wildcat strikes by the tram workers that made getting home tricky. Still we love our trams here in Melbourne. Mark from Melbourne Australia

[@TheAlmightyAss]

How else are shareholders and executives meant to make silly money?????

[@monkeyboy92able]

Looks like the pythons beat the Californians on SNL with this sketch about travel arrangements by more than a few decades. Very funny

[@LucySharkeyart]

And this has the bonus of the audience laughing, as opposed to the actors constantly cracking up. Makes it funnier and less self indulgent.

[@miggseye]

I imagine someone at SNL saw this and dreamed up “The Californians” series of skits in which they discuss routes navigating through LA.

[@RodericSpode]

It reminded me of The Californians too. Not sure this was the inspiration though. I saw a video of Bill Hader explaining how The Californians began and this wasn't mentioned, but it's possible it was floating in the back of the minds of the SNL cast members who came up with the bit.

[@gaymasterjay]

One of my favorite Python sketches. Damn underrated as well.

[@dickrichard626]

Every video has this same comment... Who cares which one is your favorite? for all I know, You spammed the same $#!+ on every sketch. 😅

[@mechanicaldavid4827]

And just look at the state of Murder for British Railways ever since!

[@russiane.lection-hacker2057]

I like that inspector's train of thought.

[@MrEAus]

Thank you RePUNzel

[@clickrick]

And the points go to...

[@happiness4812]

Bravo😂

[@cosycleaner]

Sadly overlooked splendid sketch from the mighty Pythons.

[@tv2109]

this was one of my favorites. True genius. I think what makes their skits so Damn funny is they cram an overwhelming amount of detail into a very short amount of time.

[@mikebutler3263]

Wish there were more "Agatha Christie " sketches, this is a gem.

[@danielstewart8106]

There is at least one. Where everyone from Scotland Yard ends up dying while trying to investigate a "murder" that never actually happened. Just type "Nobody leave the room" and you will find it.

[@paulsenkans3401]

Never seen this sketch before. Definitely one of their best!

[@amadeosendiulo2137]

Monty Python, Agatha Christie and railways are awesome.

[@samguberman2288]

Another genius script from Python, must have been hilarious working on these sketches.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Most likely not. Constant rewrites to refine funny bits and then whole sketch has to be sold to others by amusing them. Comedy is very hard craft to study and ecen harder to master.

[@GtownCaniac]

I feel like this sketch didn't get the laugh from the audience it deserved! They're geniuses, because their sketches contain so many layers of funny. You laugh immediately at how funny it is, then days later you're still laughing because it turns out it was even funnier than you realized - the more you think about it, the funnier it gets.

[@PaulMurrayCanberra]

Especially if you are familiar with Agatha Christie.

[@joestrike8537]

YOU CLIPPED OFF THE PUNCHLINE!!! the whole sketch builds up to the play's utterly looney author at his typewriter. I was about to link this to a train buff I know, but now why bother?

[@WNSCProductions]

"don't do it tony, the 10:12 has the new narrow traction bogies, you wouldn't stand a chance!" that line cracked me up so bad, just the way he said it!

[@u.v.s.5583]

Tony: You underestimate my power!

[@sct913]

Tony's reply 'Exactly!" was perfect.

[@RaminNazer]

0:11 My hat, Sir Horace!

[@KryssLaBryn]

I've been watching Ian Carmichael's version of Dorothy L. Sayers' "Five Red Herrings" and keep being reminded of this, lol. Couldn't help but pop over and watch it again.

[@tapeduk]

how could anyone shoot himself and then hide the gun without first cancelling their reservation??????

[@NeidalRuekk]

Such silliness! Has it been...?

[@blakeyonthebuses]

such a simple sketch and not one that many people know of, but it don't half show how talented they were

[@nineofclouds]

Ah yes, the sketch where I realized Michael Palin was my favorite Python.

[@Kris.G]

He's objectively the best one in this sketch. His little "ooh aah" at 2:19 is simply adorable.

[@paulmayer6715]

"Oh- but surely, he simply shot himself and then hid the gun." is a very underrated line.

[@kaewonf8]

Very funny and underappreciated sketch, probably because it's so short. Classic Python.

[@miriamgreen3973]

This must be where SNL got their Californians sketch from

[@gettyz]

Was gonna comment the same.

[@caresnomore]

After inspector explained how he got there, I immediately thought of Californians on SNL.

[@patchbunny]

Years ago I read a British murder mystery from the 1930's in which the whole story revolved around a similar storyline.

[@johnheart6890]

This reminds me of a SNL sketch called the Californians!

[@petescafidi]

Murder By Death....great movie.

[@JimTLonW6]

Very funny and one of my favourites; I'm not sure if Aspergers was recognised as a condition when this was written, but there are people around with an in depth knowledge of railway timetables; we had one where I used to work and we didn't dare to ever mention going anywhere on a train in case it set him off! This is a common symptom of Aspergers.

[@pothos9913]

Ah, so SNL stole this idea for their "Californians talking about the freeways" skits

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Ideas are copyright-free.

[@billxysdd003]

From 1969 to the present, the Monty Python troupe has decreased by one. Whereas, in 2015, 8,256 students joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. I am just saying.

[@bradster1708]

And we all know what Accountancy does to people 😀

[@anthonyguter]

And there are four million cats in the Greater London area. Get out of that one, Rommel.

[@peterturley2960]

God Bless dear Graham Chapman- travelling on the Astral 3.56 via Tooting Meadow and Gladstone!!! X

[@batmanofni]

I just performed "The Importace of Being Earnest" for my GCSE Drama. My costume looked just like Palin's, I was Algernon, it was great fun.

[@dars5229]

Ha, they're outta their minds! The annual point maintenance at Wisborough Junction is only done on the second Wednesday of April. Man, I hope somebody got fired over that one.

[@cosminxxx5287]

is something to admire how they memorized everything they said. None of them lost their train of thought..

[@LouisEmery]

That was clever. I understand why it's funny, especially the special days. I grew up in a town with extensive bus service, whose timetables were stable year to year. When I travel to Europe, I memorize parts of the timetables before leaving. ;)

[@Revictus13]

Me and my friends decided to act this sketch for a competition, but it didn't take us long to memorize this... I just watched it few times a day and after 2-3 days I remembered all the lines, not just mine ;)

[@Boegea]

This IS The most best sketch from Monthy Pyton, and the others are just amazingly great

[@leroneblake3836]

Has he been?..... yes after breakfast

[@mookie2637]

The algorithm's on point - got a South West Railways ad before this.

[@Heatmat-y5p]

When they were giving out brains I thought they said trains and I said ‘’ I’ll have slow one please ! ‘’

[@mjpj189]

I never realized it before, but it's funny how after Palin pushes Jones aside at 3:02 to reach the door, and the scene ends with the "freeze" at 3:14, Jones is not there anymore XD.

[@TheChowitzer]

"Has he been...?" "Yes, after breakfast..."

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

The genius of cramming in a recurring joke in a three and a half minute sketch.

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 And right after breakfast!!!

[@AnimeFanatic5602]

I was able to show my Japanese Literature professor this sketch after she mentioned them.

[@batmanofni]

Connie (the woman) says "has he been..." and she ment dead, but Eric throught she ment "to the toilet". So her dad went to the loo asfter breakfast. Understand?

[@oscargrainger2962]

The U.K 19th century citizens were absolutely obsessed with train timetables.

[@TheBellTolls666]

'how can any'one first shoot himself and then hide the gun without cancelling his reservation??' xD

[@JeffWorthington]

This seems like an inspiration for the SNL "Californians" sketches.

[@daviddunn1377]

Trains are so integral to British society

[@Revictus13]

Not exactly,we only received an award for being both funny and entertaining(that's what they told us) ;p Anyway, I was pretty satisfied with our performance...

[@miceric59]

This sketch typifies MP, clever inventive, surreal, this is what separates good comedy from Great comedy, a sketch that has stood the test of time.

[@lsdmadman]

Whenever someone gets murdered in the same room I too forget about the new 10:15 express reservation schedule

[@lemoncurry19]

Hehehehe... I think this is one of my al time faves... And it really is a lot like many of A.C.'s British drawing room murder mysteries!! Thanks for posting, though it's too bad we don't have the analysis with Gavin Milla-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[@cartmann94]

2 people shot themselves and hid the gun before canceling their reservation lol

[@allonszenfantsjones]

Yes it is definitely "thwow" and "wedding". ❤ but kept thinking where's Cleese. Now I know.

[@TwistedAnvil]

Very good :P loved the way they knew everything about every train :D HILARIOUS!!!

[@Vidrinskas]

Some people have made the mistake of seeing Shunt's work as a load of old rubbish about railway timetables but clever people like me who talk loudly in restaurants ...

[@frumpymummy]

Has he Been?

[@Kris.G]

yes, after breakfast

[@MrEAus]

The inspector could have solved the case much more quickly ... ...all he had to do was _look out of the yard_

[@monkeytrousers]

My hat Sir Horrace!

[@batmanofni]

Glad to be of service.

[@TheSpyFairy]

He must be the odd one out in the house- he's the only one who hasn't memorized the timetables.

[@studiobencivengamarcusbenc5272]

Bloody brilliant !

[@JohnSmith-zq9mo]

I wonder if they are not parodying Freeman Wills Crofts more than Agatha Christie, he was more fond of railway timetables.

[@sumazdar]

Dziękuję

[@pachy444]

Brilliant from start to finish but wait. .... was the revelation right at the end that the author of the play was obsessed with trains due to growing up with the name 'Shunt' a break from the usual python material in that it had a punchline. Shunt was the very last word of the sketch but when delivered it made the entire script a genuine real life possibility. The author is pictured surrounded by train stuff right at the end at 3.31 but blink & you will miss it.

[@thecapricorn11]

the californians on SNL brought me here

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

I wish you included the part after this showing the author Neville Shunt!

[@lewisdye5627]

if we had renationalisation of the railways this sketch would be more beliveable

[@AsbestosMuffins]

in america is basically the same except replace all the train stuff with highways and delays with road construction.

[@benjiskhan]

how'd it go? did you win?

[@Robmgwan]

Pure class....

[@quizmaster85]

"Yes, after breakfast."

[@williamcrowe2576]

There then follows review by theatre columnist Calvin Miller (John).

[@jackson76724]

Brilliant

[@SuperDuus]

This is to good!!!!

[@jeffcarroll6553]

Did he weallly say Wredding? Oh Mr Pilate

[@Andris1024]

"I'm going to throw myself under the 10.12 from Reading!" (as in the city of Reading, pronounced "redding")

[@mundanest]

I still can't take the bus

[@felineV]

2:55

[@180digi]

Could someone explain the Has he been-Yes, after breakfast part to me? I'm afraid I don't understand.

[@bordeauxhouse]

Has he been = has he had a bowel movement.

[@Kris.G]

Is it me or does Michael say: " I'm going to THWOW myself under the..."?

[@jeffcarroll6553]

And Wreading

[@QHarefield]

Wedding!

[@Andris1024]

"I'm going to throw myself under the 10.12 from Reading!" (as in the city of Reading, pronounced "redding")

[@bezzaderbane9890]

No mention of Thames Ditton, disappointing....

[@nskimharris]

so as long as you use this google function they can boost your battery power from space? cool

[@nskimharris]

(add I saw)

[@hegyitaho]

those are written for different audience. this would be way too high-brow for those demographics.

[@ImperatorPenguin]

Don't mean to alarm, but TVtropes has a link to this video. It's on the page 'Rail Enthusiasts'.

[@kerryedavis]

Boo for cutting off the last bit with the author.

[@carztendk]

Have anyone ever thougt about where this sketch is supposed to take place ? They mention a bunch of places and trains, so I would think it would be possible to pinpoint where this is. Since Im not living in the UK, I dont know the places / trains thou, and I guess its possible, that they just mention a bunch of names, which dont make sence, like the funniest joke in the world is gibberish.

[@merrylegs234]

The stations mentioned are located in suburban London or southern and eastern England (apart from Colmworth, which, as far as I am aware, has never had a railway station - and Fen Ditton's station had closed by the time this sketch was shown, although it had still been open when Chapman and Idle were up at Cambridge nearby). But the services are clearly fictional ones with no real world grounding. No timetabled service could serve all those stations, which are mostly on different lines, and Tooting Bec is on the Northern Line of the Underground.

[@carztendk]

Thank you very much for your answer, now I don't have to think about that anymore .... :-)

[@skidude13us]

two people missed the 7:98 stopping train

[@NeidalRuekk]

Ah, but you have all made one fatal mistake! British trains do not run on time

[@htgnef]

@teencomment That's the one part of this sketch I still can't understand. :(

[@TheSeafordian]

The strikes would make this pointless.

[@murielsartre]

Tony!

[@kenns9]

@Revictus13 they just dont get Brit humor!

[@minestrone3]

how intelligent! you sound like EXACTLY the kind of person who'd prefer "summin else" to Pythons. Why are you posting here under this video anyway?

[@cube2fox]

How could anyone shoot himself and then hide the gun without first cancelling his reservation?

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

That's why Americans don't reject Trump as being ridiculous.

[@donsurlylyte]

take doheny to cahuenga, then the 405

[@ghodium]

i had a about 50 of these monty python sketches in my quicklist... after watching about half of them over a couple of days, i had an overwhelming urge to delete the rest and get on with summin else

[@sandwedge]

This is basically the British version of the SNL Californians sketch

[@ArtyFactual_Intelligence]

Errrm. SNL came later. As did all American efforts at copying Brit Humour. It doesn't travel.

[@deployedkitty]

This is so English.

[@micahwest3566]

Has anyone bothered to work through it all and see if it’s self-consistent?

[@bezzaderbane9890]

I was looking to see if some obsessive had but nobody actually has lol

[@minestrone3]

who cares????