Graham Chapman interview

Graham Chapman talks about his new movie Yellowbeard, Marty Feldman and Keith Moon (The Who's drummer inspired him to create a pirate story just like Johnny Depp based his Jack Sparrow character on Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones - seems like all rockers called Keith are pirates).

[@jelkel25]

That was great! Graham, so much whit, charm, humour So sadly missed.

[@thomassimmons1950]

What a Lovely Chap-man!

[@UrlieGee]

It seems to me that Graham was the concentric point about which all the delicious madness of Python orbited (Dead Parrots, Bicycle Repairmen, et al). If he had lived, I'm guessing there would've been fewer rows among the surviving members, we'd probably have seen more films and projects. His genius is undeniable, but I get the feeling he was also a buffering agent between the egos, perhaps the core of the madcap engine called Python. Miss him so. Laugh In Peace Graham.

[@teamcrumb]

I've seen a few interviews that said the opposite, that Graham was a bit of a loaner and suffered with appalling alcoholism. his own solo career took a dive. I've got a lot of love for the old lad. made me sad to hear hem talking about him as a bit of a state. Cleese said if he could have been sen back to he factor and fixed he'd have been amazing. I don't want to cod psychologise his alcoholism but I wonder if it had nothing to do with coping with coming out in a homophobic world. wish he'd been happier.

[@fizzybacon2388]

@@teamcrumb irrespective of his alcoholism, in retrospect, he did contribute to the key sketches that made the Pythons and especially John Cleese pretty visible including the parrot sketch, silly walk, anne elk and who knows what more. While yes his alcoholism might have been a problem while working with him; idk I just feel strange when Cleese constantly brings that up almost in a way to downplay his contributions. Imo. And I agree with op here that the poles of the Python were Terry Jones and John Cleese who would often get into arguments. Idk who the buffer was and yes Graham did seem like someone who was more withdrawn from the group. But again this was a work collaboration so I guess it makes sense

[@teamcrumb]

@@fizzybacon2388 i didn't say anything contrary to that, i pointed to the fact that he was described by the other Pythons as a loner and someone who struggled. i think he was wonderful, and him being a loner is also to do with the other Pythons way of seeing him. there's something about the one's who struggle that always has me rooting for them. Cleese solo work did amazingly well, and i used to love Fawlty Towers. but there's something about John as a man i don' feel comfortable with, whereas i just feel deep love for Graham Chapman

[@fizzybacon2388]

@@teamcrumb I am sorry if I came off a bit as rude. I have been in the Python fandom for a while and half the time people are clueless about Graham which makes me sad because he was such a great person and it won't be an overstatement to call him a creative genius. It just pisses me off that after he died John started taking credit for the sketches he had written or just downplay his contributions by just speaking of his alcoholism and not his contributions (also mad at how insensitive they were during his struggle with alcohol). So yeah, that's why I reacted the way I did. Sorry for that. I just feel sad that his legacy should be sidelined like so.

[@hilaryepstein6013]

@@fizzybacon2388 i agree with you about John. He does sometimes come across as taking the credit and showing little understanding towards Graham. I love the Pythons dearly but I think Graham's demons and struggles gave him the most humanity and compassion.

[@OrontesRM]

at 7:33 first time I saw him smile like that!

[@span1923]

totally different from all these fake laughters he gave in the sketches. Oddly his real smile looks a bit shy.

[@jamesheath7601]

7:33

[@WJJ1961]

I watched this live!

[@jallen9343]

for those inquiring, this was most likely recorded sometime between 1982 and 1983.

[@briandd27]

Graham Chapman : "....no it's spelled 'Raymond Luxury Yacht', but it's pronounced, The Wobbler Mangrove!" LMFAO! I miss you Graham. RIP peace.

[@portcullis5622]

"Throat Wobbler Mangrove".

[@DinaraTengri]

He's a very silly person and we're not going to interview him!

[@RSEFX]

Fun interview. Re his delivery, I was going to say "dead-pan", then changed that to "straight-faced", and, um, neither seemed appropriate at this point...even though they are appropriate. (Never saw YELLOWBEARD. The clip looked pretty funny but film didn't get good reviews. ) Eternally grateful for all the Pythons, and deeply saddened when they have to go away. Rest in Peace Mr Chapman and Mr. Jones.

[@waynej2608]

Forget the 'reviews', it's hilarious. Not as golden as a true Python film, but pretty damn close! See it, you'll be glad you did.

[@RSEFX]

@@waynej2608 Thanks. I will definitely get it. Best.

[@calebmalpin6926]

Dry as gin?

[@MedievalRichard]

Graham and Keith Moon were drinking buddies. Brilliant!

[@MedievalRichard]

Shut up, lol.

[@phoneboxchicken4108]

Keith also knew Oliver Reed really well too. Now that is a scary though.

[@annoldham3018]

Bet the rounds were expensive with those two. 🥰

[@portcullis5622]

Keith Moon was a drinking buddy of Vivian Stanshall too. Another intriguing combination!

[@waynej2608]

I'd love to have a pint, or 20, with those blokes!

[@michaelward1108]

Yellowbeard is a classic!

[@TheMontyPythonMuseumOnline]

It's been released, although without any extras (there is a making of too).

[@michaelward1108]

all star cast!

[@RayLRhodes]

I love Chapman's RP accent.

[@mitzara25]

MelvinThe42 What is an RP accent?

[@sensiblename295]

Received pronunciation. The BBC posh accent designed for all regions of the UK to understand each other in the 1920s or 30s when radio was invented. No idea if it actually worked though...

[@mxbx307]

This is his real accent and very typical of where he grew up.

[@NxDoyle]

That's an odd thing to say. If you love Graham's RP, you're really saying you love RP, given its generic status.

[@NxDoyle]

@@mxbx307 That's 100% bullshit. Graham was from Leicester, more specifically Melton Mowbray. Unlike fellow Pythons Michael, John & Eric, Graham didn't attend boarding school. He went to school locally, Melton Mowbray Grammar. His Dad was a cop. He may have lost some of his accent in his teens, through affectation, before having it transformed by attending Cambridge. Why people pull stuff out of their arses, I don't know.

[@dingalarm]

This interview was from the Mike Walsh show in Australia.

[@SuedeStonn]

"Yellowbeard... a rough man with a yellow beard." o.O lol, I'm still trying to find it on DVD. ;}

[@peter.g6]

People who disliked this have sons who are gardeners.

[@Bozpot]

Anybody noticed that Graham Chapman seems to have added an occasional Aussie twang to his accent in this interview?

[@portcullis5622]

I would like to think that Graham Chapman, after saying "Well, you took your time", is now sat with Terry Jones somewhere, discussing old times and sketches. Perhaps they are reciting the 'Curry's new brain' sketch, in those wonderful (awful) screechy 'pepperpot' voices. (Sadly, no longer on KZbin). Chapman "Aren't you going to give blood then"? Jones "Nah, I'm not having a great bat flapping round my neck"! Chapman "Perhaps you're a looney. Maybe you need a new brain. I'll ring Curry's". . . . .

[@natashaavital8713]

"Very piratical in nature".

[@zachoneill2000]

Keith was 32 when he passed away in 1978

[@lisambofoh]

Thanks!

[@TheMontyPythonMuseumOnline]

@MontyPython246 In that case, check out the other interview as well. There is another one, I just uploaded it.

[@MoveOverCasanova]

chapman was king of ugly jackets

[@richardcheese6161]

Graham chapman didnt die, he became lindybeige

[@Michaelslayer1]

looks like rob halford

[@teamcrumb]

the film bombed? where is it?

[@rgaleny]

yellow beard neened some terry gilliam in it

[@rgaleny]

"I want you to add some cartoon and model bits to improve the pacing and the life of my film."

[@waynej2608]

Perhaps, but it's still good!

[@DanaTheInsane]

The movie had one problem. Yellowbeard disappears form it for the middle of the film and it becomes immensely boring till he comes back

[@reenarawat5537]

Yes, especially when he buggered off after 1989.

[@Rodrigo-bv7uv]

9:19 WTF?

[@divvy0115]

dude stop saying the word gruppy like your from Birmingham or come to think of it even England you spawn of kangaroo and wallaby