Comedy Films, Comedians - Biography, General & Miscellaneous Humor, Television Programs - Comedy, Comedians

Monty Python Speaks

Name: Monty Python Speaks
Author: David Morgan
ISBN: 9780380804795

by David Morgan

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Overview

Monty Python, the genius comedy troupe from Britain, single-handedly revolutionized sketch comedy and paved the way for everything from Saturday Night Live to Austin Powers. Now, in their official oral history, founding members John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin take readers behind the scenes in this no-holds-barred look at their lives and unforgettable comic works like "The Spanish Inquisition," "Dead Parrot," Monty Python's Life of Brian, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot), and many, many more, with never-before-seen photos and rare interviews from friends and collaborators.

On their 30th anniversary, the surviving Pythons -- John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin -- reminisce about their collaboration, clashes, and struggles as parts of one of the best world-class goofball troupes of all time. Black-and-white photos.

Synopsis

On their 30th anniversary, the surviving Pythons—John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin—reminisce about their collaboration, clashes, and struggles as parts of one of the best world-class goofball troupes of all time. Black-and-white photos.

Library Journal

In their 30th-anniversary year, the surviving members of the famed comedy troupe reminisce about their careers with media journalist Morgan. This entertaining volume consists of interview transcripts covering the full Python spectrum, from the 45 episodes of the BBC's beloved Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-74) to films like Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and recordings like Monty Python's The Final Rip-Off (1988). True to form, the Python members make for witty interviewees, and they relate not only production but also personal details--for example, the deceased Graham Chapman's alcoholism. Their voices are supplemented by such Python collaborators as director Ian MacNaughton, actress Carol Cleveland, and best-selling author Douglas Adams. Illustrated with behind-the-scenes photographs and stills from celebrated sketches, this volume will undoubtedly please fans. Recommended for public libraries and academic collections supporting popular culture curricula.--Neal Baker, Earlham Coll., Richmond, IN Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

About the Author, David Morgan

David Morgan is the author of Monty Python Speaks! (Spike, 1999) and editor of Sundancing (Spike, 2000). He has written on film production and media issues for a variety of publications. Mr. Morgan lives in New York City.

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Editorials

Library Journal

Sean Kelly

David Morgan is a professional journalist as well as an aficionado, so his book is well organized, informative and discreet about such matters as the late Graham Chapman's outre life style, while sufficiently gossipy to tell us that the Apollonian John Cleese was a bullying control freak constantly at odds with the Dionysian Terry Jones, a tantrum-throwing fanatic....
— The New York Times Book Review

Kirkus Reviews

The five surviving members of Monty Python and a select coterie of collaborators reminisce about everything from the group's beginning to The Meaning of Life in this proficient but not quite inspired, roll-the-tape-recorder, cut-and-paste–style oral account. Now that Monty Python's comedy has been fully absorbed by high popular culture, it's easy to forget just how groundbreaking it was. Though the troupe drew inspiration from the full gamut of British humor, from The Goon Show to the Ealing Studio comedies, the six Pythons had the same sort of revolutionary effect on comedy that the Beatles had on rock music. More about an attitude than punch lines, the Pythons exploded the traditionally structured blackout sketch, brought the full brunt of their Oxbridge educations to bear on their material, fearlessly attacked taboos, and relentlessly pursued the humor of the surreal. On television and in film, from "Spam" to "The Dead Parrot," it looked effortless, but as Morgan, a frequent writer on film and the media for the Los Angeles Times and the Hollywood Reporter, among others, conveys, behind the comedy was much hard, grinding work. In fact, for a book about comedy by comedians, there is remarkably little levity. Then again, no one ever said comedy was a breeze. The Pythons' unique, carefully crafted comic vision inspired innumerable personal disputes, differences, and antagonisms, as well as endless reworking and culling of material; one of the minor treats here is the insights into how the finished material evolved. A seemingly great level of candor prevails throughout, and the various personalities clearly reveal themselves in all their eccentric glory (the one dead Python, GrahamChapman, comes in for a fair bit of abuse, perhaps because he's no longer around to disagree). A rare opportunity to look behind the scenes at the inner workings of the comic process. A must for doughty fans. (b&w photos, not seen)