This year, YouTube celÂeÂbratÂed its twenÂtiÂeth anniverÂsary, promptÂing younger users to wonÂder what life could have been like before it. The fiftiÂeth anniverÂsary of MonÂty Python and the Holy Grail, which preÂmiered in April of 1975, has inspired simÂiÂlar reflecÂtion among comÂeÂdy enthuÂsiÂasts. It can be difÂfiÂcult, at this point, to imagÂine oneÂself back in a culÂture not yet disÂruptÂed by MonÂty Python’s rigÂorÂousÂly absurd logÂic, scatÂterÂshot satire, and delibÂerÂate breakÂing of narÂraÂtive and social conÂvenÂtion — a culÂture, indeed, where that sort of thing could be feared too danÂgerÂous for teleÂviÂsion and film.
It was their BBC sketch series MonÂty Python’s FlyÂing CirÂcus that introÂduced this comedic senÂsiÂbilÂiÂty first to Britain, and then to the world. Between that show’s third and fourth seaÂsons, the Pythons — GraÂham ChapÂman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, TerÂry Jones, Michael Palin, and TerÂry Gilliam — took on the side project of creÂatÂing their own cinÂeÂmatÂic re-interÂpreÂtaÂtion of ArthuriÂan legÂend.
With a modÂest budÂget furÂnished by Led ZepÂpelin, Pink Floyd, Jethro TulÂl’s Ian AnderÂson, and othÂer investors conÂnectÂed to the music world, they plunged themÂselves into a grimy, unglamÂorous vision of the MidÂdle Ages, puncÂtuÂatÂed by inexÂplicÂaÂble anachroÂnism and satÂuÂratÂed with an iconÂoÂclasÂtic disÂreÂgard for received wisÂdom and trumped-up gloÂry.
There the Pythons told a stoÂry that, while perÂhaps lackÂing in narÂraÂtive strucÂture — to say nothÂing of hisÂtorÂiÂcal realÂism — more than comÂpenÂsates in sheer comÂic momenÂtum. By all accounts, it holds up half a cenÂtuÂry on, even for those viewÂers who’ve already seen it so many times as to have involÂunÂtarÂiÂly comÂmitÂted every joke to memÂoÂry. In celÂeÂbraÂtion of its anniverÂsary, the film has become availÂable to stream free (albeit not in all regions of the world) on the offiÂcial YouTube Movies & TV chanÂnel, where the latÂest genÂerÂaÂtions of MonÂty Python fans first disÂcovÂered their work. Even if lines like “I fart in your genÂerÂal direcÂtion” no longer raise any transÂgresÂsive frisÂson, there’s still litÂtle on that platÂforÂm’s uniÂverse of conÂtent to match MonÂty Python and the Holy Grail’s mulÂtiÂlayÂered silliÂness, whose place in the annals of comÂeÂdy legÂend has long since been assured.
RelatÂed conÂtent:
TerÂry Gilliam’s Lost AniÂmaÂtions from MonÂty Python and the Holy Grail Are Now Online
MonÂty Python’s Eric Idle Breaks Down His Most IconÂic CharÂacÂters
MonÂty Python and the Holy Grail Re-ImagÂined as an Epic, MainÂstream HolÂlyÂwood Film
MonÂty Python’s Best PhiÂlosÂoÂphy SketchÂes
Based in Seoul, ColÂin Marshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities, lanÂguage, and culÂture. His projects include the SubÂstack newsletÂter Books on Cities and the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles. FolÂlow him on the social netÂwork forÂmerÂly known as TwitÂter at @colinmarshall.
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