Ripping Yarns Season 1 Episode 5-Across The Andes By Frog

Across The Andes By Frog, Original air date - 18 October 1977.
Plot: Explorer Walter Snetterton and his party travel to the Andes to prove his theory that frogs are able to climb mountains. Due to the Cup Final the only person willing to act as guide is an elderly - but extremely agile - old lady and as Snetterton prepares to strike camp all his men desert him for the charms of the local ladies. Snetterton is never found but the frogs manage to escape and make it to Mexico City,thus proving his theory to be right.
Ripping Yarns is a British television comedy series. It was written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. It was first broadcast on BBC 2 between 1976 and 1979.
No copyright infringement intended. All copyright remains under BBC-2. I do not own this show at all.

[@dirtyd7931]

How am I just finding this show at 50 yrs old. Probably bc never lived in England. Thanks these are awesome

[@simonh6371]

They were shown on TV here in the UK back in the 80s that I remember, but they are not that well known here either. Hope you enjoy all the episodes. My favourite episode has always been the Curse of the Claw.

[@spmoran4703]

This wonderful tale of adventure and daring , was sent to me by some one who lives near the Andes in Chile . He has never had the desire to ride a frog.

[@timepoet77]

Michael Palin is a very underrated actor. He could have been one of the best dramatic actors of all time.

[@isammolina4842]

Thomas R. Skidmore .Así es.Un actor extraordinario. Me animo a decir desaprovechado. Tendría que haber tenido más suerte.Era único. Allá en esos tiempos de plena actividad. 💙❤💙❤💙❤💙

[@josephinebennington7247]

He could have, but he didn’t choose to. He went around the world in 80 days. He was happy. We were happy. I was happy.

[@josephinebennington7247]

Nor underestimate Denholm Elliot’s contribution. Some wonderfully subtle touches.

[@pressureworks]

Its mandatory on YT to label someone underrated.

[@dublinius]

He was very good in the drama series Remember Me, look it up if not seen it.

[@johndoc2910]

He is one of a kind . The whole series is priceless.His stories are amazing.😂

[@kevikella221]

"We don't want to lose their goodwill by killing them"😂🤣

[@Julius_Hardware]

I am amazed Captain Snettertton's work has not been followed up - we could all be traveling by frog across vast distances. And the Silly Route to India is still only traversable by crocodile.

[@malp78]

As I boy I was enthralled by the exploits of Sir Milligan of Spike in his search for the elusive East and West Poles.

[@EleanorPeterson]

1927? Golly gosh, what splendid stuff! I say, you cheps had it so much better than we gels. Back when I was young - about 1910, I think it was - the boys had stirring tales of exploration, adventure and derring-do in foreign parts with comics and annuals with such evocative names - Hotspur, The Beano, The Dandy, Whizzer and Chips, Ripping Yarns, Victor, and, er, Viz - while we gels had to make do with Bunty. Oh dear. Bunty. Tiresome tales of cooking and hockey matches and riding ponies and strange stomach-cramps and having midnight pillow fights in the dorm. It really wasn't fair. Mind you, we rather missed out on all the larks a few years later when an entire generation of you plucky cheps was slaughtered in the trenches in the Great War. Yes, I thought I'd give this Comment the old 'Blackadder Goes Forth' bathos-pathos final scene treatment. Lest we forget, cheps. Stiff upper lip, what?

[@michaelhughes4466]

Spiffing, top hole comment old gel, in point of fact far more pukka 1920s lingo than Palin and co managed.

[@garysuarez9614]

CUIDADO, LLAMÀS!

[@marielcalder103]

Bunty and Girls Crystal 🙂

[@gobbollino2688]

When were you born? 1959?

[@michaelharrison3602]

It was jolly good fun at Times though like when we played soccer with the hun in no man's land before going back to slaughtering each other. King and a country and all that don't you know

[@cavan2664]

I love these documentaries.

[@peterlawrence3152]

Did not realise the mountains of the Andes looked so similar to Scotland

[@fabiotabaton314]

Aye....the three sisters in the back ground..!!!! Ciao

[@THEJR-of5tf]

Awesome . I have the full set at home. I watch then on a regular basis. Michael Palin goes the whole nine yards with all of the Ripping Yarns. Yarns.

[@petert9110]

These short stories sure are ripping yarns! Forget the outside world temporarily, binge on "classic British comedy series" during the Coro virus international lockdown,hours just fly by.Theres so many great shows! # Be safe or be DEAD!

[@NxDoyle]

At some point around 20 years ago, Michael reached the stage where he no longer felt the need to be funny. But before that, especially during the years 1965 to 1990, he was sublimely funny. In Ripping Yarns, Michael was at his best and expertly supported by some of the best character actors in Britain.

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

You should see him in Hemmingway Adventure. He's hilarious!

[@johnellis955]

My fondest memory of this episode - 22:40 - "and they don't half go sir".

[@russellhorton7005]

“ they don’t half go sir!!😆😆 classic.

[@davidstevens7018]

They all have their classic lines but Jones & Palin seem to love explorers which is maybe why Palin decided to travel the world : Tomkinson's school days has one and is one of my favourite of the series

[@willleahy6958]

The school leopard! Nuff said.

[@sootytailpipes74]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@Sam_Green____4114]

l used to read childrens books like that at the beginning with the same illustartions in the 60s and 70s ! They were much older probably from the 40s or 50s !! Biggles was one l remember !

[@philhawley1219]

I think you are referring to the Beacon Reader series of stories. Great tales of characters such as Little Dutch Peter who bravely loaded the rifles for his father to annihilate Zulus, splendid behaviour from public schoolboys captured by cannibals in New Guinea but they teach the savages to play croquet. That sort of thing. A school librarian would be burnt at the stake if found in possession of these today. But they were all damned fine chaps. Never a hint of beastliness amongst them. Apart from Fotheringhay Minor, his eyes were too small and close together. You could tell he was 'one of those '.

[@degrelleholt6314]

Denholm Elliott could play the most convincingly great characters with sincerity in describing insanity. The Whoppee Boys comes to mind.

[@jimisi7424]

Yes, it's a shame he has such a liking for little black African boys. Mind you getting aids was the price he paid

[@normanrenner4648]

I had the enire set on VHS !! Jolly good to see it on YT!

[@jackincorporated8480]

Raiders of the lost frog.

[@TheKaiTetley]

JXXK X.X.X. Please don’t give George Lucas ideas.

[@EdmxndDantes]

Denholm Elliott

[@jgvgjv2980]

Brilliantly hilarious, great acting and great script

[@stringologymchugh4245]

Beautiful Glen Coe Scotland!

[@malp78]

I'm surprised that the programme failed to mention Captain Snetterton's successful training of the golden hamster and their unexpected win in the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title of 1983.

[@basilbrush7878]

An unforgivable oversight

[@rogerjohnson6676]

That’s because the blamanges were winning Wimbledon then, the hamsters got lucky.

[@malp78]

@@rogerjohnson6676 Almost a Cocoanut but not quite as it was I, Angus Podgorny who ultimately triumphed.

[@ElmoUnk1953]

27:35 “A riot, is an ugly thing. And I think it’s about time that we had one!” Young Frankenstein

[@TheKaiTetley]

I loved this as a child.

[@darganx]

Don Henderson was one of my favourite actors, loved him as Inspector Bulman in Strangers.

[@kevikella221]

Wimbledon fortnight!?! "Yeah they won't give up their Wimbledon fortnight". LMAO

[@nigelh3253]

An outstanding piece of English (or is it British) comedy. Wonderful supporting cast. At least the maps were of the Andes - presumably the 'mountains' were filming in Wales

[@timepoet77]

It was filmed in Scotland.

[@grey2619]

Either, lol.

[@nigelh3253]

@@grey2619 Looking at the Internet, I now need to withdraw my comment 'filmed in Wales'. Internet say 'Glencoe, Scotland'. Or was it really the Andes??????

[@rogerjohnson6676]

Either way it makes the frogs getting to Mexico City even more impressive. And without being eaten by sharks

[@simonh6371]

@@rogerjohnson6676 They went overland obviously, to the very north of the Andes and then through the Darian Gap up throught the jungles of central America. Plucky little fellows.

[@ArieteArmsRAMLITE]

This is actually very funny if you let it unfold. 'Ruins the radio reception. Nice to see Denholm Elliot.

[@sovaine]

I like watching them mate sir.

[@timsmith3346]

I find it hilarious the way an Englishman just ignores the cup final

[@mizofan]

won that year, 1927, by a Welsh club- with a mistake by Arsenal's (Welsh) goalie Lewis

[@keithbentley6081]

@@mizofan Who was actually Bruce Grobelaar's great grandfather.

[@philiphawley2915]

Surely not true

[@flickingbollocks5542]

It's because the Welsh were winning, and won 1-0

[@SiGmund63]

When I first saw this decades ago I initially assumed the interest in the cup final, and especially Cardiff’s success, was was a reference to the Welsh Patagonians; but this is diluted by the subsequent reference to Wimbledon, and all other references being to Spanish. Personally I’d have found it even funnier if the excuse for not guiding in the days after the cup final had been because it was eisteddfod week, and if the only language the ancient guide understood was Welsh, whilst maintaining the Andean garb and appearance. Never mind … as you were.

[@tutekohe1361]

“Shall I... ah... bring the schoolgirls?”

[@marathi22]

Ah yes - Marcus Brody - of course you had to show up in the Andes! Loving it!

[@rosscayley8773]

Denholm Elliot - a masterstroke including him....

[@rickyraw5457]

Brilliant....love ripping yarns.....😁🤪🤣😂

[@dogrudiyosun]

"Remarkable absence of official welcome sir!" XD

[@bigbearfuzzums7027]

Their should have been more ripping yarns! We've been robbed!

[@stebur4277]

@MichaelKingsfordGray Your right, hes not to brite

[@mikedowns8293]

@@stebur4277 Big deal... he's not alone in not distinguishing between "their" and "there." So what ?

[@isammolina4842]

Palin era un gran actor. Merecía más .kiza lo veían sólo como un cómico y tardíamente vieron su talento lleno de matices. El tenía la ventaja de no ser "teatral ",es decir no parecía estar en pose o componiendo un personaje. Tenia rigor y al mismo tiempo frescura.Y con un brillo ,como un fuego,en los ojos cuando actúa; como dijo alguien en un docu sobre él. Y bue. Si existe la reencarnación. ..La próxima veremos si todos tenemos más suerte. 😆🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃🌹🍃💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

[@davids6145]

That's exactly what I was going to say

[@isammolina4842]

Happy newyear😊

[@GrumblingGrognard]

Vastly under-rated and almost entirely unknown to most "American" fans of Monty Python.

[@timepoet77]

GrumblingGrognard I used to watch this on Thursday nights on my old local PBS station, the former WQEX.

[@777Outrigger]

I watched these episodes on PBS in the US when they were on their first run in the '70s. I loved "Ripping Yarns", even better than "Monty Python". Shame they only made 9 of them.

[@timepoet77]

The cost was the deciding factor.

[@bernardw4842]

It's not really Monty Python, just two of the guys and far as I know a whole different company and production. But yeah totally under-rated, still one of my all time favourite comedies and I think this episode is the best

[@irishking1414]

GrumblingGrognard ah thé famous underated word to try and make a sentence more interesting

[@chimpazoo1143]

5:21 this is the same actor that plays Marcus in Indiana Jones

[@VoltronsHead]

Denholm Elliott

[@eveningstar3230]

Brilliant!!

[@newsmansuper2925]

this gets funnier each time you watch it.

[@tonyclifton265]

"want me to clout him, sir? fetch him one round the face?"

[@TerryMcglone-z3z]

Brilliant saw it first time even better now 2025.

[@british.scorpion]

Absolutely ridiculous, I loved it.

[@kevikella221]

I think these boulders are too smooth and sharp for a frog assault major! They need a gravel or sand so they can grip!

[@g2macs]

If you look closely at the hills, you'll see a gang of Campbells looking for the MacDondalds B&B.

[@michaelharrison3602]

Ripping yarns isn't far from exactly the way comics were when i wasva kid like the pictof the stout English chappy knocking out an armed fuzzy wuzzy with a clean right hook 😂

[@simonh6371]

Me too in the late 70s. I remember Victor comic with The Wolf of Kabul, a steely eyed British hero working in deep cover with his faithful sidekick Chung who was armed with a cricket bat, or ''clicky ba'' as he called it. Or my Dad's old Lion Annual from the 1950s with ''White boy chief of the Congo pygmies'' where he outwits a witch doctor; and in some other comic Roy of the Rovers, I remember the story where he offended some oriental or middle eastern mystic, who took revenge by coming to the match and by the power of his mind or some kind of magic making Roy do cartwheels instead of defending his team's goal, but in the end they made up and became friends.

[@austinthyme2296]

Great stuff, as are all the Yarns. Not everyone likes it, it's not always 'LOL' humor...kind of quietly absurd. And who doesn't like Denholm Elliott as the naughty British consul? "Girl Guides?"

[@MichaelBetsch-sl9bb]

Never seen this gem

[@zenbabaloo1931]

A truly ripping yarn, this.

[@jameswebb4593]

These series are paradies of Ripping Yarns , which Ryder Haggard with SHE and King Solomans Mines excelled.

[@ianhopcraft9894]

Was this the same Walter Snetterton who accomplished the first circumnavigation of Sidcup by lizard drawn hostess trolley?

[@Johnny-sj9sj]

By Jove! Spot-on! How did you know?

[@ianhopcraft9894]

@@Johnny-sj9sj My grandmother's nanny bred and trained the iguanas used in the feat.

[@gopro2804]

You’re just being silly. It was clearly his cousin with 5, no 3 sir, lizards.

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Such a tragic ending when the lizards tails dropped off and the Hostess Trolley ran into the charabanc taking Sidcup Women's Institute monthly outing to Bournemouth typewriter museum.

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Such a tragic ending when the lizards tails dropped off and the Hostess Trolley ran into the charabanc taking Sidcup Women's Institute monthly outing to Bournemouth typewriter museum. Oh the humanity.

[@fredflintstoner596]

Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"

[@presidentmariachi4287]

This was before the great frog liberation... of course.

[@tutekohe1361]

It’s funny how the Peruvian Andes look in no way like the Scottish Highlands.

[@johndoyle4723]

Looks like the Bucchaile to me, could see the white climbing hut in the distance.

[@DieFlabbergast]

A distinct lack of hairy men in kilts, I would say.

[@EleanorPeterson]

I thought I saw a few Welsh sheep and a Tardis... ;-)

[@Robert-catesby]

Definitely Peru Denholme Elliott was there to greet them

[@ianwalker4030]

All these Palin/Jones ‘Ripping Yarns’ were ‘right-up-my-street’….. Bought them on DVD, signed by Eddie Izzard impersonator (he didn’t know what he was signing, but was cheap @ £5)

[@happyfox711]

high altitude amphibian exploration with Himalyan sleeping frogs, this is great !

[@davidstevens7018]

Elliot a sad loss to the film & theatre: Indiana Jones for example

[@keithbentley6081]

Indiana Jones, come on!

[@MrDino1953]

The expedition was supposedly heading east across the Andes towards Brasil, but the map had them going west. And the frogs ended up going north to Mexico? What sort of bloody documentary is this?

[@EleanorPeterson]

Steady on, old chap. Ease up on the drollery and wit - this is KZbin, y'know. You'll cause a diplomatic incident and wind up being investigated for mucking about and having a bit of a giraffe... Whatever happened to 'The Silly Route to India', eh? We, the people, should be told.

[@illumencouk]

The frog in this presentation references the introduction of hybridization. A non-native species merging into a foreign gene pool will given time, produce novel variants. Frogs traditionally are drawn wearing a crown because Pepe transforms into a handsome Prince once kissed.

[@magna4100]

"Oily rag, sar?"

[@isammolina4842]

Es una sátira del victorianismo y la época del imperio. Una isla dominando un cuarto del mundo.

[@slayer9240]

The Yorkshire man Dunn good 👍

[@isammolina4842]

Gran actor.Bello.Sexy.Unico.😆😚😘😜💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤💙❤

[@jakhaughton1800]

Brilliant portrayal of the British Army from late 18th century to ……..

[@kenmadden6294]

I'm feeling froggy. Gotta jump!

[@grokeffer6226]

Blimey!!! 🐸🐸🐸

[@stevenpayne8617]

This summer I am attempting a crossing of the Alps by spacehopper...inspired by this episode.

[@junglie]

mr hoppy!

[@areyouavinalaff]

you're brave to try that considering the 3 failed spacehopper alps crossings of '78 , '80 and '83. Horrific business!

[@blakedavis1852]

That's why this episode let me down at first. I wanted to see them hopping acorss the Andes on giant frogs.

[@ufoclips1]

Today is 31.1.2020.I shall be watching nothing but proper British comedy all night and tomorrow i will only spend Brexit 50p pieces,just to show johnny foreignor who`s boss.

[@sugarnads]

jimgall ufos huzzahhhhhh!!!

[@beachcomber2008]

Don't you find a lot of it to be sordid, with a tremendous yuk factor?

[@liztaylor3825]

Amazing how removers manage to work Brexit into the most unrelated subjects.

[@isammolina4842]

En este personaje se ve el germen del futuro Poncio Pilato de Life of Brian 😊

[@pineapplepenumbra]

This is such a stupid idea; they should have started simple, like crossing the Pyrennees by frog, or something, and then worked their way up from there.

[@philw9436]

Quite .. something more simple to test the theory: , like crossing the Severn with a Boa Constrictor , or similar ..

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

No, no, no you've got it all wrong, they should have used Badgers.

[@modgaz]

it is the whole idea!its meant to be a stupid idea..

[@christophermacintyre5890]

Snetterton should have started with off as a chartered accountant, worked his way up to to lion tamer, and then...MAYBE attempted the Andes.

[@TheKaiTetley]

pineapplepenumbra. They should have used Mountain Frogs.

[@Sitarya]

RSM Bing is in the Death Star council scene at the beginning of A New Hope.

[@michaeljames4904]

This seems possible however unlikely.

[@Tony-hx2fj]

HOW DID I EVER MISS THIS??

[@derby1884]

There are endless possibilities but I suggest you first check that you'd actually been born at that point. If the answer is 'yes', then you can take it from there.

[@tonethetallbaldy5039]

This wouldn't be allowed on TV today!

[@kools67]

you are right, Tone the tallish baldy - as of May 2023, the bbc iplayer has posted up all the episodes except this one - you can see why

[@trishgreydanus7004]

Denholm Elliott (Marcus Brody) from Raiders of the Lost Ark!

[@jessesands4099]

I know a few "RIPPING YARNS" myself!🤨💂⚔️🤠🔫🐎🐴🐪🏜️🇬🇧🇿🇦🇮🇳

[@EleanorPeterson]

Jesse, you're out of control! You forgot the Roman invasion, Boudicca, the Norman Conquest, those naughty Vikings, and Muffin the Mule. Empires come and go - been there, done that several times over a couple of thousand years - but a pot of tea's timeless. Now, why not put the kettle on, cut yourself a nice big slice of cake and settle down with a couple of warm schoolgirls and dream of happier times... ;-)

[@jessesands4099]

@@EleanorPeterson Don't Drink Tea Or Coffee!🤨🍵☕🚫

[@thomascallahan9167]

Quite striking indeed how much Peruvian Spanish resembles standard Italian

[@simonh6371]

Erm sorry to break it to you mate but that isn't Peruvian Spanish, it's a few random words of Spanish mixed with gobbledeygook. Looks like it was filmed on location in the UK.

[@MichaelBetsch-sl9bb]

At first i thought he was riding frenchmen over the andes

[@TheTsar1918]

"SAH!"

[@flickingbollocks5542]

The 1927 Fa Cup was between Arsenal and Cardiff who won 1-0

[@criskity]

Denholm Elliott!!

[@austinthyme2296]

Especially his lewd, twisted smile when he asks 'Girl Guides?' lol

[@momasu]

Basically playing a reductio ad absurdum version of Lowry's consul (in Under the Volcano) Geoffrey Firmin.

[@IouiS82]

😅.....knee deep.

[@johnjamescapel3489]

Clutching the Himalayan sleeping frog he escapes.but notice as that was said the Himalayan sleeping frog fell out of box on to the floor, while was being chased.

[@keithbentley6081]

I love this, maybe because I've travelled a lot and prefer listening to sport on the radio.

[@TheTsar1918]

Does anyone have any idea what song is playing whenever Mr. Elliott shows up/leaves? It's kind of swanky...

[@davekeith576]

EeeThat wergrand .thanks .

[@georgianrooms]

1927 cup final was indeed between Cardiff and Arsenal. And Ferguson did score the goal. Only time F.A. Cup has left England. But what was Von Smallhausen doing in the Andes.

[@24031965GAV]

Bad omen, West Brom are playing Cardiff tonight and need to win

[@ianker7924]

@@24031965GAV And Cardiff won! Not quite on the scale of the 1927 FA Cup Final, but it could have a say in whether West Brom gets automatic promotion to the Premier League.

[@seanrobsob8883]

When the andes were in Scotland 😂

[@aaronTNGDS9]

The title is a scream, as is the name 'Snetterton'. So quintessentially British, don't you think?

[@EleanorPeterson]

Hi, Aaron! Spot on. Equally important is the way that it ended in ignominious failure... And nobody gave a toss, really. Ho hum. Never mind. Carry on, chaps. Tomorrow's another day. Very British, that. Excellent!

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Is not the one Guy in "Trading Places" (Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Al Franken, Jamie Lee Curtis and Joe Piscopo with Sports) or something. "Frog Jerky time."

[@sephirothff7ps164]

at 28.00 mins the poor frog fell out of the box on to the ground. ripping.

[@cavramau]

Uniform problems: 1. No rank insignia on the RSM 2. Chim strap buckle not worn consistently on the right cheak. 3. Lack of dress uniform after dark.

[@simonh6371]

When it comes down to it a unformed armed British Army expedition wouldn't have been allowed into Peru anyway.

[@billybudapest]

Series 1, ep 5 missing on the iPlayer. Why?

[@kools67]

i just made the same comment - but you can see why perhaps - possible sex with young girls, use of derogatory language, eating of the Himalayan sleeping frog

[@rockoneer]

I LIKIE

[@albertancanucklehead4063]

4:45 smallhuasen ?

[@chatticheswick4939]

Good eye.

[@brucebaker810]

Explorers. North Pole. South Pole. Shows Palin ... I expected announcer to say he sought the West Pole.

[@ashman187]

Careful with the frogs!

[@christschinwon]

shall I bring the schoolgirls?

[@Gottenhimfella]

I say. Rather!

[@TheKaiTetley]

Yes!

[@spacelemur7955]

A curse on the inventor of canned laughter. It nearly ruins this.

[@aleisterpook1730]

The DVD collected episodes allow you to watch without that particular annoyance.

[@garyfenlon5769]

Was Explorer Walter Snetterton a relative of Harvey Denton?