Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) // FIRST TIME WATCHING // Reaction and Commentary

Watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail was on the docket for this week and I'm SO glad I caught it! Meet me below to talk about it!
PS. I got hit with so many copyright claims making this one, so sorry if it appears more fragmented than usual!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intros
02:38 - Start Watching!
15:35 - Recap and Trivia
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[@namelessjedi2242]

Note that Arthur and his men can’t be guilty, the murderer was riding a real horse.

[@0okamino]

But where did he get it? There only seems to be migratory coconuts around.

[@WisteriaDrake]

@@0okamino Remember, the first guards thought it was ludicrous that Arthur was "riding" without a horse, implying that real horses do exist in Britain. Camelot is just a silly place. Edited for spelling.

[@oscarsusan3834]

Ahh but the horse was wearing a coconut based lotion🤯

[@voxorox]

@@0okamino Perhaps it was carried to him by a series of swallows acting in a tandem?

[@FrancoUnAmericano]

Fuck me, i have never thought about that...

[@hgman3920]

Monty Python has set the standard for sketch comedy for 60 years now. Glad that you've been introduced.

[@Pssybart]

Monty Python started in 1969, that's a little over 50 years.

[@daedalusi315]

@@Pssybart of course it was '69 ...

[@Pssybart]

@@daedalusi315 Life can be fine if we both 69 When we sit on our faces in all sorts of places And play, 'til we're blown away

[@FrancoisDressler]

Spike Milligan before them

[@ebashford5334]

"I love a narrator" (2 seconds later, watches him have his throat cut)

[@nelwoltz7]

This movie is a masterclass on using pauses for comedic effect. They don’t rush the jokes. They wait for it to have maximum impact. Perfection.

[@seimen4348]

And for using budget restrains to your advantage!

[@hughdavidvisor1769]

The real trick is having the discipline for those pauses, & still averaging a joke around every ten seconds.

[@seimen4348]

@@hughdavidvisor1769 Sadly, so many people think that pauses arent important or even hurt a gag. But with comedy pacing is the masterclass.

[@bluelagoon1980]

In the witch scene you can see Eric Idle bite his knife to keep from laughing during a long pause.

[@brianfantanamcsexpanther9290]

Give The Life of Brian a go!

[@corystanish]

I laughed when you speculated at the beginning: "It's either gonna be slapstick, or it's gonna be very 'who's on first?'," because it's BOTH

[@luckymustard]

She also mentioned "nonsensical" in the intro, and "absurd" in the end... both very accurate. Combined with some slapstick at times, not constant. This is one sketch (kzbin.info/www/bejne/imm7lnesgNZ8aqc), that some find to be too slapstick and absurd, and I agree that it is probably their most like that, I still love it.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

YES !! haha I love when my predictions kind of work out--makes me look good 😂

[@jmwild1]

I love when non sequitur jokes are done right, and the Python boys are masters at it.

[@Isleofskye]

@@ShanelleRiccio Good knowledge and reaction. " The Life Of Brian" is the natural progression by these Guys. ENJOY Shanelle :)

[@tycol322]

"Whose slapped first" lol

[@simondawe8774]

You could say the ending is a literal cop-out.

[@greenpeasuit]

You COULD... not the same as SHOULD!

[@SoloJona]

If you're not gonna see yourself out, I will

[@marconatrix]

That comment had me literally LMAO :-)

[@michaelhackfeld9725]

@@SoloJona I just walked outside with a mirror. :D

[@SoloJona]

@@michaelhackfeld9725 DID YOU JUST--

[@Eidlones]

"This has gotta have some really crafty wordplay" Holy Grail: "He's got huge, sharp... can leap about.... look at the bones!"

[@danhalstead705]

"We are the knights who say... NI"

[@scienceandponies]

She's got HUUUGE....tracts of land!

[@realburglazofficial2613]

Tis but a scratch!

[@TheMKCrab]

"Do I have subtitles on?" Monty Python: "well no, but actually yes"

[@thatpatrickguy3446]

"You don't, but we do." :-D

[@williamozier918]

According to Terry Gilliam, I believe, their goal was to be as unpredictableas they could in their narrative structures, and according to Gilliam the fact that "Pythonesque" is in the dictionary shows how utterly they failed.

[@voxorox]

Much as I love him, I disagree with Gilliam on that one. They succeeded so thoroughly, people had to make up a new word to describe it.

[@chairmanofthebored6860]

@@voxorox I also agree. Monty Python was so overwhelmingly classist/ dumb/ topical/ absolutely brilliant that it will always hold up. The references are spectacular and the self-awareness is timeless. Monty Python is a great example of how to be happy whilst taking nothing seriously. A lesson we all need to learn these days.

[@orthochronicity6428]

Not skipping the opening credits deserves an automatic like.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Signed, Richard M. Nixon

[@whovianhistorybuff]

And 5 free Ecuadorian jumping Llamas 🦙🦙🦙🦙🦙

[@SGlitz]

"A Fish Called Wanda" cleese, Palin, Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis....so good.

[@OblivionGate]

A Fish Called Wanda is an excellent movie.

[@kbe2176]

Everyone always mentions a Fish called Wanda. But I also mention it's slightly older sibling - Clockwise.

[@OblivionGate]

@@kbe2176 Clockwise is also a great film.

[@SGlitz]

But Kevin Kline won an Oscar for Wanda. ;) (is that a spoiler? Or an incentive)

[@OblivionGate]

@@SGlitz It's a bloody miracle!! A miracle all 4 of them didn't win an Oscar!

[@alexhartman6144]

I really love that you do a movie trivia segment. Maybe my favorite part of your reactions, and I can't really think of any other channels that do that.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

OH yay, A happy accident. I always do this after I watch movies and filmed it for the channel -- people seem to like it!

[@alexhartman6144]

Absolutely! It's always interesting and can help shape how I feel about a film overall :)

[@Psilocybin77]

The mere sight of that bunny makes me laugh hysterically to this day!

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Every time Tim says “Big, sharp, pointy teeth” I crack up

[@thatoneguyagain2252]

Tale from my parenting days: When she was three or four our younger daughter was afraid of monsters in her closet (thanks, Pixar). We set up a defensive ring of plush bunnies around her bed, on the theory that monsters are afraid of bunnies. Then we showed her ten-year-old sister the rabbit scene, to demonstrate why they're afraid.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@thatoneguyagain2252 That's so cool. " Smart. Very smart. " - Federale Lieutenant in " The Wild Bunch "

[@Archipelington]

When I was a kid, my dad would always say “what, the curtains?” When drawing them. Years later I got the joke. Life of Brian next.

[@the.seagull.35]

No not the curtains lad!

[@simondawe8774]

Next one? Life of Brian

[@oaf-77]

Time Bandits

[@adorkability]

In the "Kill the Witch" scene, the witch is played by John Cleese's then wife Connie Booth. The couple would go on to star together in the classic TV series "Fawlty Towers."

[@richardsturges2736]

Still some of the funniest TV I've ever seen!

[@ShanelleRiccio]

The witch bit KILLS ME. That logic!! I wish I could've included more in this video

[@Clarinetboy82]

@@ShanelleRiccio Until the first time I saw this years ago, I had no idea churches floated on water. Throwing her into the bog was reference to the bog people (people accused of sins, crimes, or being in league with the Devil were thrown into the bogs).

[@johncampbell756]

@@Clarinetboy82 Nor very small rocks.

[@PJCLongbeard1979]

@@ShanelleRiccio Fawlty Towers is arguably a better example of high-quality British comedy of the 1970's. You'd love it. Could you please react to it for us? It only has 12 episodes. It's one of our best sitcoms.

[@ennuieffect]

I was a huge Monty Python fan, having seen Flying Circus on PBS reruns in the 80s when I was a kid. I got around to the Holy Grail when it was available on VHS when I was in high school. They changed my view of what comedy could do, beyond just the all important laughs.

[@kevinhegwood615]

I was not alive when this movie came out, but I guarantee this was still the most quoted movie ever when I was in high school.

[@danielg6566]

You have to know the quotes! Such a quotable movie. "NI!"

[@Caseytify]

This is true. I have no idea where Kevin went to high school, but it was the same where I grew up as well. (Class of 77) Just mentioning the phrase "killer rabbit" by itself was sure to raise a smile. 😏

[@trekkiexb5]

Heck, I graduated in '90 and it was still the most quoted...the secret language of all us Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D nerds. It wasn't until the mid '90's when The Princess Bride took that spot.

[@christopherconard2831]

In the 80's it was a sort of touchstone. A way for geeks to identify one another.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Class of 82. "Tracts o' land" was a codeword for us.

[@DeathToTheDictators]

The catapulted cow was meant to make fun of a real life plague time tactic where an enemy army would catapult a dead plague infected animal or human to infect those within a walled city or fortress (basically, early germ warfare).

[@namelessjedi2242]

You can see that done in the movie Flesh+Blood directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Rutger Hauer.

[@Brirend]

Diseased bodies could start an outbreak inside fortifications though that is the slow way to end the siege. If they didn't have diseased bodies, any dead body or carts filled with dung would be catapulted over the walls in the hopes of hitting the water supply, once the water supply is tainted, the siege usually ended quickly.

[@3DJapan]

Wow that's right, I have heard of that but forgot all about it.

[@constantdvdcollector]

@@namelessjedi2242 the army of Mordor does that in Return of the King.

[@Greenwood4727]

dont you mean Cattlepulted;)

[@paulwagner688]

This movie is THE breakthrough of the Monty Python troupe into America. After this, PBS started showing episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus on their Sunday Night shows. I grew up watching the TV show on my local PBS station in the 70s and early 80s. Their sketches are still the stuff of legends and memes to this very day.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

“I’m a lumberjack, I’m ok”😏

[@AubreySciFi]

Actually the first Python material seen in the US was "And now for something completely different" which was a feature length (90 minute) theatrical compilation of the best sketches from the TV series first 2 seasons. The sketches were recreated for the film without a studio audience and featured John Cleese in his recurring narrator role coming in to say "And now for something completely different!" off and on. It was screened in the U.K. in 1971 and in limited release in the U.S. in1972. That got interest up to show the series over here, and then built an American audience for this film when it came out in 1975. There's a great Monty Python documentary that discusses the whole thing.

[@Atlas_Redux]

@@susanmaggiora4800 I work all night and I sleep all day!

[@kevinramsey417]

*musical sting* Noooooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise and fear--fear and surprise. Our TWO main weapons are fear, surprise and ruthless efficiency--AMONGST our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope......I'll come in again.

[@troidva]

Actually, I was watching reruns of Monty Python's Flying Circus half-hour TV show on PBS at least a year before the Holy Grail came out

[@krypticeye2126]

Cleese's French guard's banter was some of the best parts of the film. Remember talking to someone who loved the movie but he could never figure out what a "Silly English Cannigit" was, had to explain the bad phonetics of Knight! Gave himself a head smack over that one! ;)

[@paulobrien9572]

I saw this in the theater when it came out and remains one of my favorites to this day/ My brother and I have a tradition of watching this together every year. One year my teenage nephews wanted to join in. They thought no way a movie this old would be funny so I bet them $10 each they could not last 20 minutes without laughing. They lasted till the llama joke in the opening credits

[@ruthfoley2580]

The llama stuff is a throwback to a sketch they performed during the TV show. "They have long noses fore spearing fish & beaks for eating honey. If you should see one where people are swimming you should shout 'LOOK OUT! THERE ARE LLAMAS!'"

[@andydorman2119]

I literally just laughed out loud to this comment!!! Wiping tears out of my eyes. So many young people don't know that anything before they were born even exists. SUPER glad they lost the bet. 🤣

[@randallshuck2976]

They were a British comedy troupe who were big on BBC in the early and mid 70s. They were mainly sketch art. Very sarcastic. A bank on the block adjoining their studio was robbed and although the police were called they refused to come because they were certain it was the Monty Python crew screwing around.

[@WisteriaDrake]

@@yt45204 Unless you're not in the US, any practical jokes involving the police should be banned by the university. They already have itchy trigger fingers as it is, I don't want to find out that a practical joke led to an accidental shooting or worse.

[@andydorman2119]

😭😭😭

[@The_Dudester]

Shanelle, now that you have entered the Monty Python realm, you should see 1) Monty Python-Life of Brian 2) Monty Python-Live at the Hollywood Bowl (a best of their skits)

[@ThreadBomb]

Life Of Brian, yes. But Hollywood Bowl is only really for the hardcore. She would be better off watching The Meaning Of Life.

[@The_Dudester]

@@ThreadBomb Meaning of Life is a VERY dark film. On another channel, she's watching the skits one by one.

[@NakanaiJP]

@@The_Dudester Is there a sister channel I should be subbed to?

[@cornishgiant]

And Now for Something Completely Different....

[@dupersuper1938]

@@The_Dudester Another channel?

[@merkerb]

I used to watch this all the time when I was little. My parents thought there was something seriously wrong with me quoting this all the time! Falls off the jungle gym and bounce up “tis but a scratch!”

[@WisteriaDrake]

Apparently, it's common for people to misquote that as "Tis but a flesh wound", but I've never heard it that way. "Tis but a scratch" and "Its only a flesh wound" are such famous lines that I can't seriously believe that anyone would mix them up.

[@fightscrimewhilesleeping4024]

If you're disappointed that Herbert didn't sing, you should try to track down a filmed recording of Spamalot XD

[@JeromeViolist]

The local theater group in my town did Spamalot a few years ago. It worked so well because it’s supposed to look cheap and thrown together.

[@kirbywilliamson2942]

There is a long heritage of this kind of humour in England, that never crossed the pond. The Goon Show comes to mind, Peter Sellers was a famed member.

[@ThreadBomb]

Spike Milligan did most of the writing (and many of the voices) for the Goon Show. He influenced the "satire" comedy movement of the 60s that grew out of university clubs putting on shows at the Edinburgh festival. Monty Python followed on from these two influences.

[@FrancoisDressler]

@@ThreadBomb Milligan's wave of influence from Python to Mike Myers is quite underappreciated nowadays.

[@barkingmonkee]

"Never crossed the pond"? Um, Ernie Kovacs was doing this brand of absurdist humor in the US almost a decade before Python got launched... I'll agree that it's never been as popular here though.

[@jimspink2922]

The Goons were Peter Sellers Spike Milligan who did a lot of the writing Harry Secombe and at the start Michael Bentine

[@OptimumPx]

Thing is, Arthur and his men are _innocent_ of killing the historian! The killer was on an _actual horse!_

[@MP197742]

If you want more Monty Python, you should watch The Life of Brian. They risked being arrested and prosecuted in England over it, and it was banned in several countries. You’ll find lots of good trivia on that one too, including the unusual way it was funded.

[@marconatrix]

Yep, love to see her analyse Life of Brian ...

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

Please, describe the risk of arrest and prosecution.

[@marconatrix]

@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t I'm guessing we still had some old blasphemy laws on the books back then ???

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@marconatrix On the books, yes. But in 1949, the Master of the Rolls, Lord Denning had opined that the blasphemy law was a 'dead letter'; even then, it had not been enforced since 1921 (the defendant in that case initially arrested under a charge of obstruction, later raised to blasphemy). So far as I can find, it's also the last public prosecution for blasphemy. It's true, Mary Whitehouse did successfully bring a private prosecution against the Gay Times in 1976/77 over the publication of a poem which relates Jesus having a whole lot of sex with dudes, including (but not limited to) a Roman Centurion after the crucifixion, the other disciples (consectutively and concurrently). By the time that poem was published, the Pythons had already decided that they couldn't make a film about Jesus ("He's not particularly funny, what he's saying isn't mockable, it's very decent stuff" - Eric Idle), but someone born next door to Jesus, who would have no desire to be the Messiah, but would be treated as one against his will. To paraphrase Terry Jones, it might well be heretical, but it's certainly not blasphemous.

[@Richard_Ashton]

@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t Blasphemy!

[@HenryCabotHenhouse3]

Saw it in original release. Loved it. But only saw it the once. Life of Brian, however, saw 11 times in original release. It's even funnier and has a plot. Favorite line from Holy Grail: Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. Which is metaphorical way of saying; Your mother was a tart and your father a drunkard. One of the most creative insults ever.

[@mike-xn1qj]

The only real horse was used by the Knight that killed the historian on camera

[@onearthonelegion]

European or african horse?

[@mike-xn1qj]

@@onearthonelegion Would have to measure his velocity or "airspeed" to be sure.

[@byronlee8745]

If you pay careful attention while watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the main actors portray more than one role in the movie! I've been a fan of this movie since I was young!

[@ShanelleRiccio]

had no idea! Only found this out in the trivia

[@mattsnow9273]

The exception to the rule is Graham Chapman played King Arthur only.

[@jb888888888]

@@mattsnow9273 GC is also the middle head of the three-headed giant.

[@jvgreendarmok]

@@jb888888888 And the hiccupping guard.

[@brom00]

John Cleese, fairly funny?? Just a bit of an understatement, Miss Riccio. 😂 For pennance you now must react to the rest of their films. 😊

[@luckymustard]

I hope she does "Life of Brian" and "Meaning of Life".

[@OblivionGate]

John Cleese was born in the same town as me Weston-super-Mare England. Life of Brian should be next.

[@jvgreendarmok]

I think Michael Palin was the funniest (and John Cleese would probably agree).

[@SGlitz]

Look up "Pythonesque " in the Dictionary. They are THAT famous and influential.

[@timhibbard4226]

Shanelle is watching Python! Yay!!

[@davidmc1489]

Watch it while wearin one next time

[@jenniferri7735]

i first saw this in '95 at an end-of-school party with about 20 people who had seen it and were constantly quoting back at the screen, and a good 10 or 15 of us who hadn't seen it and were literally crying and rolling around on the floor with laughter. good times, good times.

[@thatpatrickguy3446]

That's awesome! :-D

[@gregmcdonald8962]

I was vaguely aware of Monty Python when this came on tv one Saturday afternoon in about 1987 when I was 12. The clapping coconuts as King Arthur came over the hill killed me. Brilliant film, I've lost count of how many times I've seen it and it still delivers.

[@tycol322]

The ending always felt to me like this was a d&d game of growing absurdity, so much to the point that the DM finally said "Screw it. Rocks fall. Everyone dies"

[@ktotheramer]

PLEAAAAAAASE watch Three Amigos if you’ve never seen it!

[@mena94x3]

YES!!! I’ve been asking so many reactors for Three Amigos and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!!

[@DMichaelAtLarge]

I first saw it in the theater with my friends when I was in college. We absolutely loved it. I've been a Monty Python fan ever since.

[@robertpearson8798]

The fact that you enjoyed this film gives me hope for the future.

[@corrob]

i laughed quite a bit when you were checking if the subtitles were on at the beginning, Ha!

[@ShanelleRiccio]

THEY GOT ME! I'm so happy haha

[@Greenwood4727]

@@ShanelleRiccio Its as if the pythons knew it was going to be streamed at a future point.. i wouldnt be surprised if they didnt think like that ;)

[@tremorsfan]

The 2008 special edition is a great introduction to the type of humor the Python's use. Instead of the movie we see the opening credits to a film called "Dentists on the Job". After the credits roll you hear a projectionist muttering about how he has the wrong film canister. You then see a sign which says "One moment while we change reels.

[@mythdusterds]

The killer bunny, Flesh Wound is one of my favorite scenes.

[@leeskinner9627]

Looking forward to your now-inevitable "Life of Brian" reaction!

[@OblivionGate]

It's their best movie... Easily!

[@curtisbrack3398]

Here's your budget factoid. All the different castles you see throughout the movie are all the same ONE castle that they filmed in different spots and from different angles. Monty Python tried to get the British Government to let them film in more castles, but the government wanted nothing to do with them and finally relented and let them use ONE castle. You can still visit the castle to this day and their gift shops sells all kinds of Monty Python knick-knacks, including pairs of coconut halves!

[@MrZanekotn]

Slight correction. When I went about 6 years ago, one of the first things I did was go to the gift shop and tell the clerk that I had heard I could buy coconut shells there. She told me that the information I had received was false, and they did not sell them. She paused for a while after that, just taking in my crestfallen face before saying "but we do have a set that we loan out to people who ask nicely". My sister and I spent the next hour being each others Patsys, much to the chagrin of her husband and our parents. Also, there are two different audio tours that are available, one that is hosted by a historian talking about the castle itself, and one hosted by Terry Jones that gives information about the filming locations that they used.

[@WisteriaDrake]

@@MrZanekotn If I recall correctly, there's still a sliver of Lancelot's sword stuck in the castle wall from when he hit it with his sword. They might have removed it, but I hope they kept it, that's hilarious.

[@Gravelgratious]

The castle Lancelot raids in this movie, is the same castle used in Netflix's "The Outlaw King " as Castle Douglas.

[@dmbassett]

“John Cleese, he’s kinda funny” - wow that was brave!

[@donaldball3245]

And remember the tagline for this movie: "Monty Python and the Holy Grail makes Ben Hur look like an epic!"

[@gregharker1600]

I saw this movie as a kid when it first came out. The animation is done by Terry Gilliam, who is one of my favourite directors. He did Brazil and The Fisher King. Also, you can get a killer rabbit stuffed toy.

[@robertpearson8798]

Brazil is one great and misunderstood movie.

[@davidebele1284]

Of all the reactions to this movie that I've seen, you were the only one to realize that the Bring Out Your Dead scene had to do with the plague. This is the 5th reactions of yours that I've seen. I've enjoyed them all. Thank you.

[@cheesepie72]

Makes the whole Castle Anthrax thin even better when you remember he is Sir Galahad THE CHASTE

[@jeffphillips9588]

One of my favorite comedies ever! MP are sheer geniuses in this film. So glad you were able to react to this classic! Thanks again Shanelle!

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

I first saw this movie on VHS in middle school. Two scenes that almost made me pee my pants were the cow being catapulted and the bunny killing the knight.

[@bfdidc6604]

Kudos to you for looking into Gilbert and Sullivan.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

for better or worse I did The Mikado in high school...

[@ruthfoley2580]

I was brought up by my mum & my extended family in my grandparents house. My grandad was a big G&S fan & my mum & her siblings were Python fans. I could quote both before I could form sentences of my own. I still listen to G&S & sing along. Badly.

[@TravelerZ24]

Monty python defined comedy for decades

[@ChicagoDB]

The Constitutional peasant scene is one of the most famous scenes…hilarious.

[@ericmarley7060]

The ending is a LITERAL cop out. I love it.

[@BenjWarrant]

Friends of mine were in Moscow studying Russian when _Holy Grail_ was released. As well as the cod-Norwegian subtitles, there were real Russian subtitles, which only dealt with the real credits. The combination of the joke credits and the Russian credits had my friends rolling about laughing, while the Russian audience were mystified by what was so funny.

[@phantomracer1050]

This and the Life of Brian are the two movies I have genuinely watched the most repeatedly over the years. It doesn't matter how many times you see them, you still get huge enjoyment every time you click that play button.

[@XcaptainXobliviousX]

i'll never get tired of the way chapman screams JAEEEESUS CHROIST

[@FeaturingRob]

I am writing this when you got to the first song in the film...In 2004, Eric Idle (Brave Sir Robin...and the primary songwiter of the Pythons) turned this into a Broadway musical with Tim Curry (as Arthur), Hank Azaria (as Lancelot), David Hyde-Pierce ( as Sir Robin), and Sara Ramirez as The Lady of the Lake (Sara won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical). It was directed by Mike Nichols (multiple Oscar and Tony-winning director) and it was Best Musical of the 2004-2005 Broadway Season. The show included one of the best songs of the Pythons that was in 'Monty Python's The Life of Brian'..."Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life". Knowing your love of musicals, I figured that you'd get a kick out of this. The cast album is still available and there may or may not be a rather poor quality video of the original Broadway cast on stage here on KZbin...I can neither confirm nor deny such a thing exists. The Pythons have all had rich and varied careers since their time together. Graham Chapman (Arthur) passed in the early 80s of AIDS, Terry Jones (Sir Bedevere and the co-director of this film) passed a few years ago of dementia. John Cleese (The Black Knight, Sir Galahad) is probably the most successful actor of the Pythons with 'A Fish Called Wanda', the replacement Q in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films, and many films and TV roles. Michael Palin, also a successful comedy actor post-Python, now writes Travelogue books and presents Travelogue TV shows. And the sole American Python, Terry Gilliam co-directed this and has been a successful director of weird and brilliant films for decades...'12 Monkeys', 'Time Bandits', 'The Fisher King', 'Brazil', and 'Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas'. He is also the one responsible for any and all animations in the Monty Python films and the show 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'.

[@movieswithsammykitty]

I’ve been watching this movie since I was a kid. It still cracks me up. I got to meet Michael Palin when I was working at a museum in NYC. Definitely a highlight of my life lol

[@drakeloki4214]

Talk about make lemonade out of lemons, since they couldn't use horses they opted to use the coconuts as a visual gag, but then that also set up the swallow bits, and any gag involving the servants being used as horses. That was both clever and resourceful.

[@legionkahn]

People love this one, but to me The Life of Brian is Monty Pythons funniest movie.

[@hunterjames4915]

Loved your reaction to this movie. If you'd like to see more in this vein I'd recommend Terry Gilliam's Imagination Trilogy: "Time Bandits" (1981), "Brazil" (1985), and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1988).

[@paulwagner688]

I LOVED Munchausen. So underrated. Drags in places, but such heartwarming.

[@hunterjames4915]

@@paulwagner688 Munchausen is one of my favorite movies. It really deserves more attention.

[@ThreadBomb]

@@hunterjames4915 I agree, Munchausen is amazing! One of the best fantasy movies of the 80s (or perhaps just the best?), but somehow gets overlooked.

[@supensa]

I came here just to recommend Baron Munchausen.

[@izzonj]

The sudden non- ending was a bit of a Python trademark. Often on their show they'd get into a tangled plotline when someone, often a official of some sort, would step in and stop things for being too silly or something like that.

[@ThreadBomb]

Thankfully their other films didn't do that.

[@maliciousclouds1614]

Okay, the swallow question at the bridge is such an underrated part of the movie lol. It kills me every time because of the swallow conversation in the beginning of the movie. Genius 😂😂😂

[@realburglazofficial2613]

Monty Python: the *_ART_* of the callback punchline, 4th wall break and non-sequitur sketches.

[@tbmike23]

Interesting take, the preview take, I mean. Surprised. As a young, but long-time python fan, the one thing I could never accuse them of was being simple. They continuously surprise me with their depth. You'd swear the slapstick and silliness was just a front meant to disarm you. This movie is, if anything, a silly/low key brilliant deconstruction of the entire movie- making process. Brazil is next level brilliant by Terry, as well as 12 monkeys, etc. Brian was hilarious. Love your channel.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I think the comedy is wildly complex and layered, I think when I said simple i was referring to the linear plot -- just find the holy grail, but yeah there was probably 100 jokes I missed!

[@danholmesfilm]

Shanelle AND Shan Watches Movies BOTH uploaded Monty Python and The Holy Grail reacts today!!! Crazy 😜

[@karinkad1130]

I like him, too! I’m picky about who I spend my time on.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

no way!!! Wild!! I've been holding this one for a while!

[@danholmesfilm]

@@karinkad1130 Yes he's great, just finished his LOTR series which was amazing!

[@danholmesfilm]

@@ShanelleRiccio Love you Shan! :) Check out Life of Brian if you get a chance

[@AubreySciFi]

The Monty Python troupe had their own sketch comedy show which started in 1969. Their first feature film was actually "And Now for something completely different" which was composed of some of the best sketches from the TV show. This was their first original movie idea. They did two more original Python films after this "Monty Python and the Life of Brian" and "Monty Python and the Meaning of Life". Both have very memorable parts to them, and both used the same brand of irreverent humor. They also produced several records which included new material and songs. And they appeared at the Hollywood Bowl in 1980 for "Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl." The stage show combined classic sketches from their TV series and new ones written just for that performance, and is hilarious! I highly recommend checking it out as it was filmed and released on VHS and later DVD.

[@brewswillis9783]

Anyone notice Sir Bedivere's visor having bars over each eye so he had to keep lifting it up so he could see? Took me about 4 viewings before I caught on. LOL

[@walkingwounded3824]

You would love "Life Of Brian" by them!

[@GF_Baltar]

They all should have been more worried about the airspeed velocity of killer rabbits than the velocity of unladen swallows 🐰

[@SGlitz]

African or Europen rabbit?

[@GF_Baltar]

@@SGlitz Eh? I don't know that - YEEEAAAAARRRRGGGHH...

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

How do you know so much about swallows?

[@JokeCubed]

Best joke in the whole movie is: "He must be a king." "How do you know that?" "He hasn't got shit all over him."

[@Kae6502]

Around 1978, when I was in high school, I got a call from a close friend one night who told me to quick turn on PBS, there was a movie I HAD to see. Then she she hung up. After about 10 minutes I called her back, "What the hell is this?", I asked. "I don't know.", she said. "Isn't it great!" We spent the rest of the movie on the phone watching Monty Python for the first time. In the early 2000's she went on a trip to Scotland and got to visit Dunn Castle and took lots of pictures. Love your reaction. Glad you liked it! :)

[@matthawkins8880]

You need to watch their movie The Life of Brian. It is just as funny, but it has an ending with a Musical number.

[@ThreadBomb]

Yes, if she wants singing, she'll love that finale .

[@ShanelleRiccio]

MUSICAL numbers are everything to me!!

[@FireflyPDP]

If you love surprises, watch The Sting! (1973) You'll be surprised how great it is :)

[@MikeTaffet]

One of my favorite movies!

[@Umptyscope]

Yes The Sting, please!

[@texashookem22]

An underrated part of this movie is played out during every react vid I’ve seen lol, the pausing of the video during the opening credits to check and see if they have subtitles turned on. 😂

[@thatoneguyagain2252]

It always surprises me when anyone, particularly anyone with a more-than-casual interest in movies, hasn't seen the Grail. I saw it in its original release, and the showing was one of the distinctive I've ever seen. Audience members who were familiar with the TV show were hysterical during the opening credits, but everyone else was just confused. By the time the Black Knight appeared, the whole audience was rolling.

[@drewc981]

“I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal-food-trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries.” Best comedic movie dialogue ever!

[@byronlee8745]

One of my favorite lines in the movie!

[@monsterlair]

My favourite is "you cheesy lot of second hand electric donkey-bottom biters." 😂

[@chiefaberach]

It was pointed out to me recently that hamsters are known for breeding like rabbits and elderberries were used to make wine, so 30 years after seeing it, I found it actually does make sense!

[@WisteriaDrake]

Two things I love about that scene: 1. He farts in their "general direction" meaning he isn't even taking the time to aim, they mean so little to him. 2. After all that, the knights are just confused instead of insulted. Galahad: "What a strange person."

[@nomiau]

The life of Brian should be your next Monty Python watch!

[@skapunker21]

"it's not a question of where he grips it. it's question of weight ratios." one of the smartest and funniest lines in any movie.

[@mrlol2238]

Soo…they got you. Lol. As a streamer today. Before turning subtitles on was a thing. That’s wild, no offense to you, and yet without even trying…years later they “got” all of us. That is impressive. Nothing else like it.

[@patriciaburke6639]

I always enjoy seeing the scene in the castle bedroom, when the father, gazing out of the window, says to his son: “0ne day lad, all of this will be yours.” To which his son replies: “What, the curtains!” As for the end of the film, I always thought it was a bit of a ‘cop out.’ ‘Life of Brian’ next....

[@maxducoudray]

I grew up on Monty Python, especially the sketch show, and am a lifelong fan. I always recommend new American Python viewers use subtitles because the accents make the jokes harder to process than you realize. You’ll get a LOT more out of the jokes that way.

[@brandonflorida1092]

The first time most people heard of Monty Python was in 1969 when their TV show "Monty Python's Flying Circus" came on the air. It ran until 1974, just before this movie. The other really good movie is "The Life of Brian." After Python, John Cleese and his wife, last seen as the "witch" in this film, wrote and starred in a comedy series "Fawlty Towers" about an incompetent hotel in rural England. You really need to see it. It's fabulous.

[@adamantyr]

Love this film, it's one of my favorites! I enjoyed your professional reaction on this one, and how you nailed the filming style. A lot of other reactioners are just confused by this one, especially the ending. Some additional trivia: * This was a popular film in tabletop gaming circles; more often than not while playing D&D you'd hear "Run away! Run away!" * The "Intermission" scene is due to Graham Chapman having severe delirium tremens, a side-effect of his alcoholism, causing him to freeze on the bridge. * If you get this one on disc, it has a number of great specials on the film, including the Terry's going back to Scotland to find all the filming locations again.

[@AdamFishkin]

Me before the reaction started: Shanelle is not prepared for this. Me by the time Castle Arrrghhh happens: Shanelle expresses her surprise much more realistically than other reactors.

[@danhalstead705]

Does this mean you don't think she was genuinely surprised, or you do?

[@AdamFishkin]

She was surprised, but in a more appreciative and constructive way.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

haha sometimes, I'm watching so intently on a piece of the frame, or analyzing what I think might come, that I truly don't laugh or smile until seconds later when the joke has kind of gone by that point--- it's wild being in my head! There were parts of this in the edit where I'm like stone-faced and I realized I was probably timing how long a take was 🙃

[@danhalstead705]

I think you'd really enjoy this video essay on all the cinema tropes and rules that this movie breaks! It's a little long but made me appreciate the movie even more, pointing out so many other things it was mocking that I didn't even realize! "Monty Python and the Holy Grail - The anti-movie movie (film analysis) " - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYWncn-raMtnY8k

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I'll check it out!

[@danielsmith5088]

My brother and I were all about Monty Python growing up. They used to show Flying Circus on PBS in the late 70s and early 80's and once we started watching, we consumed all things Python. This was not as easy as pulling up KZbin or a streaming service. Fortunenately, we found All the Words, a book of transcripts from all the TV shows. Didn't take us long to have the entire series memorized.

[@rhoward9302]

Monty Python is this wonderful mix of highbrow humor, lowbrow humor, and plain absurdity. Some people love it; some don't. Happily, you enjoyed it. This is just a really fun movie and I love how much of the humor came out of just not having much of a budget and having to get creative.

[@briefmortal11]

Such a great reaction and review! Just as a side note, their third film, The Meaning of Life, has more musical numbers!

[@OblivionGate]

Yeah but the film is utter garbage!

[@kermitlacock5930]

I died laughing watching this movie at 1 a.m. on the CBS Late Movie( pre-cable). I couldn't be too loud as my brother was asleep in the same room. This makes the viewing even more memorible.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

E dry time Arthur screams “Jeeesus Christ” I lose it. It never gets old, no matter how many times I see it.

[@debbie541]

A couple of friends and I watched this movie in 1975 when we were teenagers, we roared with laughter, laughed our brains out.

[@Thundarr100]

I first saw this movie back in the 1980's. It's pretty much a staple movie for any D&D geek. My old D&D group and I would quote this movie constantly on game night. It ranks right up there with Conan The Barbarian, The Beastmaster, Excalibur, and Willow as "Must See D&D Movies". At least back in my day it was (I'm OLD).

[@WisteriaDrake]

Honestly, most fantasy movies are "Must See D&D Movies" except, ironically, the few D&D Movies. Oh, and if you want a hilarious take on D&D, watch Dark Dungeons, which is based on a Chick Tract Christian comic. It's all the classic "D&D summons demons" propaganda made by a director who clearly treats it like a joke.

[@Logan_Baron]

"John Cleese, he's FAIRLY funny" Unsubscribed. (Joking) But fairly did seem like an extreme understatement.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I know its horrible but I have like NO frame of reference for him. Shame on me!

[@vinnygi]

A couple of points: During the movie’s first run, many theaters gave coconuts to the customers The intermission joke was more effective during the theatrical run. Many movies at the time had intermissions and attendees would get up and go to the restroom or buy more refreshments. This one lasted just long enough to fool people into getting up to leave. They made it about halfway up the aisle and had to rush back to their seats.

[@dontpanic1812]

For the entirety of the 80's, I fell asleep 20 minutes in five times trying to watch "Monty Python and The Holy Grail"-- something to do with the pacing or the music or inopportune low sugar spikes from a teenager's near-constant diet of junk food. Kept at it, 'cuz I knew it was funny and wanted to enjoy it. When I finally got through it, I'd never been so deliriously delighted-- both with myself and in the material itself, Python having the merit and tenacity to expose me to a world filled with creativity, silliness and wit I'd never known, earning my eternal respect and loyalty. Some mistake such circumstances as those of being a late bloomer, but it was just the natural consequence of having to live life in a VHS world just beginning. What rich lives we had back then, everyone on the same page and same schedule, after the same pursuit: individuality.