Uncle Monty in Withnail and I

Richard Griffiths plays Withnail's flamboyantly gay uncle Monty in Withnail and I.
An exquisite portrayal of eccentricity, sentimentalism, generosity, high-minded thespianism and attempted buggery.
Paul McGann's "I" is quivering in his boots as Monty pursues him.
No cats were harmed in the making of this video.

[@Smudgie]

Monty's sofas always looked like the most comfortable sofas ever.

[@JoeTheToucan]

Yeah, when he flopped on it in frustration I noticed he could almost fully lie on it before even being horizontal. Top comf

[@chevchillios4231]

The virtue of money 💰

[@zerafmaxx1010]

looks dusty looks like you could find a dead cat in it.

[@darbysabini4248]

I had a sofa just like it in a basement on Brighton seafront. Had to take the door off to get it in and left it when I moved out. You could sleep with a girl on it with room to spare (lay flat) called it Monty but couldn’t get it out for the life of me when I moved. It’s still there as far as I know, semi furnished now!!😎👍😳

[@dogshitonastick4008]

It's so drunk men cant escape easily

[@Burukop]

Calling a cat an oaf is still one of the funniest things ever

[@vikingsong2068]

That and "beastily swine."

[@MrJPEZ123]

It's trying to get itself in with you.

[@TheSteerpike]

Not to mention ‘thug!’

[@-______-______-]

It's like a rugby ball as it is! It will die, it will die!

[@thegirlinquestion]

@@-______-______-😂😂😂 god uncle monty is so funny

[@BradBrassman]

"Yet again that oaf has destroyed my day!"

[@71poiuytrewq]

One of my favourites. 😅

[@douglasmilton2805]

"It will die, it will DIE!".

[@billydeeuk]

Anybody who owns a cat knows this to be true

[@leyleejaylee]

You must leave!

[@NicolaKaye]

A wonderful quote and one that I shall appropriate for whichever oaf it happens to apply to on the day 😄

[@sikthsikth]

AS A YOUTH... I USED TO WEEP IN BUTCHERS SHOPS

[@PNEKarl]

And me too!

[@davidhull2426]

Meat is murder, there is a light that ne.......

[@stonkez8452]

I never believed that I had any hope of 'playing the Dane' (metaphorically speaking) and I'm 43 now. Getting a bit 'over the hill', so to type... Still, it's probably not all that unusual.

[@darbysabini4248]

Carrrrots!

[@darbysabini4248]

“You are a toilet trader!”

[@manosparavida3551]

"It's obsessed with its gut, it's like a bloody rugby ball now it will die, it will die!" Monty was truly mental and Richard Griffiths played/acted this character to a fine science. Absolute genius character acting. R.I.P. Richard Griffiths 😢

[@DaveDexterMusic]

"Sherry?" "Sherry." "Sherry?" "Sherry." "Sherry."

[@aj5424]

"We'd be lured into his trap, we dont know what he's planning"

[@nmeau]

What a sublime performance by Mr Grifiths - he was perfect for the role. Beautiful and tragic. Can't believe he was only 40 when he recorded this.

[@remaininginlight]

Wow.

[@traffic71]

Couldn’t agree more. There isn’t a single bad or unbelievable performance by any of the actors in this film.

[@Underhills]

Late reply but I so agree. He was marvelous.

[@blackcircle1333]

Wow - looks older than 40.

[@Underhills]

@@blackcircle1333 Why is that? He's got no wrinkles and his voice is pure, not of an old man. Perhaps it's his language together with the character.

[@skysayshi4039]

I saw this film very recently - I was drunk after Christmas, sat down on the sofa at 11pm and happened across this film. Decided it was quite fun after they visited the drug dealer, and let me tell you - the delivery of the line "do you like vegetables?" asked with no pretence, as though it were the most mundane of conversation openers, it killed me. Beautiful film, great performances

[@BillyMcMorran]

I found it in a very similar way. I was sitting on my sofa about 2:am on Boxing Day. I knew a lot of good movies would be on the TV. Withnail & I was coming in by chance and I watched it. I was totally blown away by it. Never heard a or knew a thing about it in my life and it was one of the best movies I had ever seen. Here I am years later still watching clips from it. I’ll never forget it 😂

[@AlisonBryen]

It's always a fine thing to watch this film drunk, I find.

[@Kelly14UK]

Christ. This must be us Brits' finest comedy EVER.

[@Eire_Go_Deo]

“MONTY YOU TERRIBLE C**T!” 😂😂😂 my favourite line!

[@Amethyst_Friend]

"What do you mean by creeping about in the middle of the fucking night?!!"

[@polmartinezbuxo6805]

This is among the most brilliant acting in cenama history

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

Or cinema.

[@TheAllyMor]

So true. Monty is possibly the greatest character of all time! Such a tragic loss of a great acting talent.

[@drey8]

Would you like a drink? Sherry. Sherry. Sherry? Sherry. Sherry.

[@sidney707]

Ha ha ha

[@gliterott]

I just noticed that hahaha

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Sherry

[@Amethyst_Friend]

Love it

[@hoodooguri]

I told two butchers in a country town in Victoria Australia about the line “I can’t handle uncooked meat, as a youth I would weep in butcher shops” . I did my level best to take off Monty and if I can say so myself I think I did it fairly well.As a regular customer I knew them. Both rough n tough ockers. Thick set body builder Paul, who had stopped cutting meat with his cleaver at the rear of the shop to listen, at first had this wry smile which broke out into peals of the most uncontrolled laughter.😂

[@lardosian]

brilliant!!!

[@Heaven-dy9lj]

Nice one mate. You Aussies get British humour. And we get yours too. Good on ya.

[@assimokiran222]

“It is the most shattering experience of a young man’s life when one morning he wakes and quite reasonably says to himself I will never play the Dane” “Gawn, we do it wrong” 🤣🤣😂

[@adude9882]

Alas, who can really disagree?

[@jf7075]

withnail is such a liar lmao. he just pulls them out so naturally

[@warrenc1829]

"I mean to have you, even if it must be burglary". What a line.

[@theanalogkid6555]

Unless he is speaking to you!

[@Bigtimecharliepotatoes]

I no your not asleep boy 🤠

[@arahant69]

When he unrobed was funny.

[@richardduplessis1090]

I think he mean 'buggerlery'

[@edwardsharp1306]

@@richardduplessis1090 forced entry ! 😂🤣

[@adroninggoodtime]

i'm not homosexual monty... yes you are, course you are

[@niallsheridan1596]

His reaction to the cat is priceless and funny

[@TheChugg11]

It shall die!

[@tarawhittington5686]

Yet again, that oaf has desTrOyed my day!

[@Elephant1976]

He called the cat aThug😂😂

[@fanatamon]

Funny as.

[@PaulMaddison-ej3qx]

As child I wept I'm butcher's shops

[@g13flat]

I shall have a sherry in your memory Uncle Monty. Chin chin and RIP.

[@chichipotter4487]

This movie is so brilliant it hurts me.

[@1220b]

Four floors up on the Charing Cross Road and never a job at the top of them.

[@shipyard6276]

Absolutely wonderful dialogue, brilliantly executed by Richard griffiths.

[@grahamblack1961]

Richard Griffiths was only 39 when he made this, only 10 years older than Richard E. Grant.

[@lonestar6709]

Monty was based on director Franco Zeffirelli, who made several similar "I adore you!" attempts on Bruce Robinson when making Romeo and Juliet (1968).

[@TheBlueTheMan]

Lone Star £2.10 a tit and a fiver for his arse

[@moondog4147]

The line “Are you a sponge or a stone” (which sadly isn’t in this video) was allegedly taken verbatim from an encounter Robinson had with Zeffirelli.

[@jimbo6769]

@@moondog4147 Can't help but imagine Zeffirelli was in turn influenced by 'Oysters and Snails' kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKrdimB-ituUrLc

[@BradBrassman]

I believe this! I met him in the 90's on film location and he was creepy!

[@drahcirnevarc9152]

Free for those who can afford it. Very expensive for those who can't.

[@arconeagain]

I love it. I uses his acting ability to avoid an ominous buggary.

[@gorgolyt]

Most ominous.

[@Eddie303]

😅

[@christopherpickles7541]

Who was the absolute genius who selected the scherzo from Schubert's B flat Sonata to accompany the scene in Monty's flat. It is just perfect, has to be about the best marriage of music and film ever.

[@fugggit]

"flowers are essentualy tarts. Prostitues for the beeees!"

[@palmeracallejera]

Poor Old Uncle Monty! RIP Richard Griffiths

[@Pete-tq6in]

Despite Monty’s prediction though, not ‘swept away by some vulgar little tumour’.

[@matthewsmith8242]

This film's line's have and no doubt been recited in social situations, scenarios in real Life. They are truly wonderful lines. They have cult status. People love to recit them. I do, ha ha ha

[@nickwyatt9498]

Three greatest British films ever - Performance, A Matter of Life or Death, and this.

[@James-xd6lh]

He's so mauve! We don't know what he's planning...

[@killkracka4travyon821]

Healthy British stock...

[@djw7345]

Of all the lines in this film I use on a regular basis I’m still yet to come across a situation where I can say “rhesus negative Bloody Mary”…….one day

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

I'm waiting to ask for a White Russian by using The Dude's terminology- a Caucasian. From an equally off kilter and genius movie.

[@spiritualmeditationmusic2177]

I know youre not asleep, BOY!

[@twentyrothmans7308]

But *he* is!

[@FlowerPower-st7uv]

@@twentyrothmans7308 deep sleep

[@timramm1]

Ha ha ha

[@dickdastardly5534]

Richard Griffiths was such a fine actor and left us far too soon - God bless you Monty, much loved and much missed❤️

[@ZINCOVIX8754]

Genius writing and superbly acted.

[@japagowtrio8008]

Quite special and unique film. It cannot be surpassed in anyway. All acting is excellent with a perfect cast and Monty is excellent.

[@Amethyst_Friend]

I love how Monty opens the door holding the cat in one arm and watering can in the other! Never noticed that before. Sets up the scene and his 'eccentric' personality.

[@avalanche3731]

I especially love how it's the same cat he basically tries to murder moments later (and obviously has a long history of hating).

[@thegirlinquestion]

@@avalanche3731IT WILL DIE!

[@buzzabuzza3494]

A magical film!! so unique in its storyline,acting and dialogue.Richards acting is on another level.👏👏👏

[@TallSilentGuy]

5:54 I love the way he doesn't even acknowledge the chair against the door! 😂

[@matthewallen1597]

Best part of the film, a genius.

[@donovanpain83]

Many a time I've said The carrot has MYSTERY! When in the supermarket with my girlfriend, as we pass them. She rolls eyes as I've shown her every clip several times...

[@henryglarsson2635]

I will never... Play.... The dane 😢

[@tomb407]

My ambition ceased just hearing Monty

[@Eggnoodlesandketchup3]

The best script ever

[@gordonferrar7782]

Uncle Monty reminds me of Hedonismbot from Futurama all he needs is an industrial floor sander and a fistful of grapes.

[@Glinteye]

We have to get back to sign on...just brilliant!

[@adude9882]

Well, there was and still is a greater quantity of talent on the dole than most stations in life.

[@andydatwork]

My first wife had an uncle who lived in a similar house, had similar mannerisms and collected and dressed Victorian dolls. He shared the house with a "gentleman friend" But the obvious conclusion was never discussed - and this was as recent as the 1980s.

[@GothBoyUK]

They were 'roommates'.

[@adude9882]

I hope they were happy.

[@kid--presentable]

Is he a quare

[@spencermax]

It took me a few watches to notice and appreciate the squeaky door, it's so Uncle Monty

[@miketaverner4451]

The carrot 🥕😅 a young carrot 🤣. I love this film

[@leyleejaylee]

IM PREPARING MYSELF TO FORGIVE YOU!

[@bryanpartington3260]

They cut off before one of my favourite lines in the kitchen, Cant find the Rosemary? I'm sure we'll find it together" but then again , all lines in it are memorable.

[@notanfningain]

I think you will agree, that there is a certain, Je ne sais quoi ermph, so very special about a firm, young, carrott.

[@SarahJones-wy5us]

Carrot.

[@Amethyst_Friend]

Mmm, excuse me..

[@bootstrapperwilson7687]

Nothing to do with Jasper.

[@DW19895]

😂

[@Rabbitfighter63]

As I'm watching this I have an errant one year old running around wrecking the lounge - little thug!

[@smackedinthejaw]

There is a lot of character in Monty's lounge; the tapestries, huge couch, fireplace, ornaments, the music playing

[@matthewsmith1931]

Fantastic space

[@faustusTVR]

Fantastic, apparently it was found as a filming location just as is, except for the addition of the potted veg.

[@adude9882]

Im pretty sure I stayed in a house like this in Hampstead in the 80s.

[@cliffwheeler7357]

Monty's drink; a rhesus negative bloody mary. Brilliant.

[@timothy790110]

the look on withnails face, when he KNOW what hes setting up Marwood for, its just so... psycotic

[@redstar7292]

He tells Monty, Marwood is gay , to get the cottage.

[@ericxpenner]

Flowers are essentially tarts - prostitutes for the bees!

[@Nosh_Feratu]

what an absolute treasure he was. RIP

[@whatshisname3304]

fat though

[@antonydyatlov9194]

Monty on a register in 1970? Nah, he's just a good old fashioned eccentric

[@flappospammo]

Should’ve got an award for his incredible performance

[@peterbrown6224]

He has, in a way. We all quote Uncle Monty.

[@Pooknottin]

@@peterbrown6224 Indeed. Nevertheless the sky has begun to bruise and soon I shall be forced to camp. I often wonder where I am now, but then that's what torches are for next to the bed.

[@tokyo0lights]

(referring to his cat) Get that damned little swine out of here! It's trying to get itself in with you. Trying for even more advantage. It's obsessed with its gut. It's like a bloody rugby ball now, it will die, it will die!

[@lindastoakes1268]

How dare you tell him I'm a toilet trader 😂😂😂

[@adude9882]

It's like a bloody rugby ball now.

[@eddietownley6875]

Here, Hare, Here? Here, Hare, Here!

[@drahcirnevarc9152]

You want working on, lad.

[@markhaywood600]

Monty what a character and that thug of a cat😂

[@theofader137]

Necking sherry as soon as uncle monty leaves the room lol

[@SuperJimmyquick]

No one else could have topped RG's performance. Brilliant.

[@endamccallion1073]

And Richard Grant does not drink. The director, Bruce Robinson was very concerned.

[@terriheffernan6717]

there's nothing so "je ne sais qua" as a FIRM YOUNG CARROT .... flowers are essentially prostitutes for the bees

[@basilikum20]

20 years still laughing

[@Anygodwilldo]

Yet again, that oaf has destroyed my day !

[@theproblemmustbeinyourpant5910]

It will DIE, it will DIE!

[@jshaers96]

'Do you like vegetables...?'. I wonder how many takes they had to do before they all managed not to laugh at the way he said that line.

[@Underhills]

We all know a Monty character. At least I did.

[@leyleejaylee]

‘we are having a late luncheon at 3’

[@brummieninety381]

Best English film so funny must watch it again

[@didsthecat1503]

Didn’t get this film the first couple of times I watched it, I tried again last night and wow this movie is genius, hilarious all the way through

[@gliterott]

"Then perhaps we shall look" was the best Monty part, why is it not here

[@barkebaat]

2:27 - just a detail ... Withnail's little gesture at 2:33 ... a nicely done, subtle sequence "... I will never ... play æh!... the Dane"

[@rocksoliddude1]

Monty only got 10 minutes but he was hilarious and very quotable

[@jamesryan82]

Giiivvve in to it boy, gooooo with it

[@davidian7787]

Where the hell do you come up with calling a cat; It's like a bloody rugby ball!! That's so off the wall. The dialogue in this film is exceptional. It's my favourite film of all time.

[@a.tanner8524]

A firm young carrot 🥕

[@consolios]

you are a Toilet trader. HE TOLD YOU THAT?

[@avalanche3731]

Yeah the way it comes out it doesn't sound like a denial. More like Marwood being upset that Withnail betrayed his secret. Makes it even more funny haha

[@paudsmcmack3117]

He told me about your arrest on the Tottenham Court road!!!! I will never play the Dane! I have never seen such well written comedy, timeless.

[@arahant69]

I have to sign on...at the labour exchange. Haha

[@aj5424]

This used to be used as a Student Drinking Gane back in the 90's

[@extrabytes7191]

Enlighten us

[@-______-______-]

@@extrabytes7191 The game is that you take a drink every time that they take a drink on the film.

[@thebagelsproductions]

*making sure to sensibly skip the lighter fuel!

[@suzygriffin3597]

Such a classic

[@matthewsmith1931]

Cult classic..people who've watched this film are won over with sheer brilliance. I never get bored of it. Always puts a smile on my face. 😁

[@psychedelicelvis-777]

Monty's verbal attack on the cat is exactly what he thinks about his nephew Withnail.

[@franknss8865]

A perfect Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in Dune

[@tendrams]

I don't know the truth of it, but I have heard that the house in this scene required next to no additional decor or modification for the shooting. Imagine the director's joy at finding the perfect surroundings just waiting.

[@fromchomleystreet]

All three of the actors in this scene were either cast in the titular role in some iteration of Doctor Who, or else were very nearly cast in the titular role in some iteration of Doctor Who.

[@-______-______-]

"If you think you're having a weekend's indulgence up here at his expense, which means him having a weekend's induldgence up here at my expense you've got another thing coming."

[@thegirlinquestion]

I MEAN TO HAVE YOU IF IT MUST BE BURGLARY 😂 i can’t stop laughing

[@pussycats456]

Uncle Monty’s house is probably worth around 8 million quid now!

[@calmarsden8692]

“Flowers are merely tarts, prositutes for the beeeees!”

[@POPE_FRANC1S]

1:02 the way he says "ThE BeEs"

[@paddymcginty1264]

Uhhhhh so very special......

[@bonglord9843]

HOW DARE YOU TELL HIM IM A TOILET TRADER

[@mutoromanof8487]

Great acting!

[@garyjones9910]

What a loss richard Griffiths is. My favourite line is when he says norman will be 'wintering with his mother in Guilford, vim under the sink and both bars on'

[@MichellEllis]

Oh My Boys...my boys