5 Things That Actually Make Sense About Monty Python & The Holy Grail (& 5 That Dont)

5 Things That Actually Make Sense About Monty Python & The Holy Grail (& 5 That Don’t)

Monty Python & The Holy Grail is one of the funniest films of its era, but there are some things about it that just don’t click.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Getting into the mind of the Monty Python crew is harder than busting into Fort Knox with nothing more than a paperclip and a prayer. This comedy troupe has been making audiences laugh for decades with its bizarre, deadpan humor and a level of insanity that spills over into genius at every turn. Their most famous accomplishment is undoubtedly Monty Python & The Holy Grail, a madcap spin on the legend of King Arthur, told from the perspective of what appear to be escaped mental patients.

The film is notorious for its non-stop quotable lines, timeless jokes and iconic references to killer rabbits, shrubberies, and the air-speed velocities of unladen swallows. The entire thing is a mockery and a sham, but that’s precisely the point. Here’s 5 things about Holy Grail that make no sense, and 5 which, for some odd reason, actually do!

10 Makes No Sense: Horseless Horses

One of the film’s more obvious jokes revolves around King Arthur and his Knights traversing the land without the use of their trusty steeds. In an effort to keep up appearances, the lowly squire follows behind whilst rapping two coconut shells together to simulate the sound of horseback riding (an old foley sound effects trick).

The film lampoons its own plot device within the first 5 minutes of the film, but what about poor old Patsy, the man who does all the work? According to Arthur, they’ve been riding quite a long time. All that rhythmic clapping of coconuts would surely have left Patsy with some tired and aching arms!

9 Makes Sense: Flying Cows

While audiences busted a gut at the French catapulting a live cow and various other animals/food items at King Arthur from the walls of the castle, it’s actually closer to reality than some might realize. The French routinely used a similar tactic in the old days whenever a hostile force would lay siege to their castles.

To demoralize the opposing force, the French would throw their little remaining food at them in order to create the false narrative that they had more than enough to withstand the siege for a prolonged period. Believing the French had enough stock to survive the siege, the opposing armies would eventually give up.

8 Makes No Sense: Frank The Famous Historian

The first act of the film ends after Arthur decides to split up the Knights of the Round Table and send them off into various parts of the land to search for the Grail. For some reason, a narrator named Frank the Famous Historian decides to step in front of the camera and give a little exposition as to what’s going on, only to be cut down by one of the Knights riding past.

As his distraught assistant runs to the side of his lifeless corpse, the audience must have wondered where Frank came from, and why he’s playing along with the shenanigans. Then again, without Frank’s death, there’d be no reason to call the police, now would there?

7 Makes Sense: The Monks Chanting

One of the more slapstick scenes is actually more low-key than most in the film – the appearance of the monks who chant “Pie Jesu domine, dona eis requiem,” before beating themselves over the head with pieces of wood.

This translates as “Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest,” which is a traditional Latin funeral rite. Not entirely out of place during the events of the film, but to see the Monty Python crew lampoon it in such a ridiculous fashion is nonetheless worth a laugh.

6 Makes No Sense: Tim’s Powers

Tim the Enchanter seemed to have quite a fear of the great beast guarding the cave which contained the secret location of the Holy Grail, but why? After all, Tim’s powers were nothing short of extraordinary, consisting of magic missiles, fireballs, explosions, and a flamethrower emanating from his own cane.

Surely Tim would have had no trouble dispatching the great beast without the aid of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch? It’s not made clear what special powers the Grenade has besides its usual explosive charge, but they seem to pale in comparison to the kind of magic Tim could conjure.

5 Makes Sense: Class Arguments

In the first act, Arthur comes across a couple of peasants working in the field, one of which has some less-than-subtle opinions about the unfairness of the ruling class over the working class. His rhetoric irritates Arthur to the point where he nearly attacks the man, who simply continues his tirade unabated.

This makes sense, given the time period the film was created. In the 1970s, Britain’s worker class system was the butt of many jokes in films, as well as sitcoms such as Are You Being Served? The lampooning of this tradition would eventually pave the way for some much-needed worker’s reform in Britain.

4 Makes No Sense: The Dead Animator

After defeating the killer beast guarding the cave, another far greater monster sets upon Arthur and his Knights, chasing them through the cave in traditional animated fashion. Just as all hope seemed to be lost, the animator in charge of sketching the monster dies of a heart attack at his table and keels backwards.

One of two scenarios seems likely. First, only the animator in question had the artistic skill to pencil out the creature to give chase. Second, the budget ran out, and they couldn’t afford another animator to take his place. Three cheers for convenient plot devices!

3 Makes Sense: The Bridge Of Death

The phrase “Rules for thee, but not for me” did not apply to the bridge keeper in the final act of the film. When Arthur and his Knights attempt to cross the bridge of death, they are tasked with answering “these questions three.” Lancelot makes it across with no problems, but Robin and Galahad fail in their attempts and are flung into a gorge by a magical force.

Arthur is next to go, and when challenged with a question about the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow, he asks for clarification between African and European species variants. Lacking an answer, the bridge keeper suffers the same fate as his victims, which seems totally sensible. Plus, no one need suffer a hypocrite!

2 Makes No Sense: Arthur’s Army

Arthur and Bedevere make their way to Castle Aarrgh to find that the French have beaten them to the punch, and refuse to give it up. Distraught to have come so far and been cheated out of their prize, Arthur prepares for one final battle to take the castle by force, and secure the Grail for Britain.

For Arthur and the Knights to spend such a long time seeking the Grail (and eating their minstrels in the process), it’s a wonder where his large army came from during the final scene of the film. They seem ready to go, complete with a mobile weapons refinery. At least they didn’t have any horses! That would have been awkward.

1 Makes Sense: Lack Of End Credits

The final scene involving Arthur and his army charging Castle Aarrgh is cut short by the arrival of the local authorities, who begin arresting Arthur and his Knights, whilst the others protest. An obvious nod to the highly prevalent political activism of the late 60s and 1970s, the scene ends quickly with a cop grabbing the camera lens and shutting down the film.

After an hour and thirty minutes of madcap hilarity and nonsense, the film’s sudden end and lack of credits makes complete sense. One can only imagine first-time audience reaction to such an ending, which couldn’t have been all that surprising for Monty Python fans.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/monty-python-holy-grail-facts/

• 10 TV Shows Based On Comics You Should Watch If you Loved Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This

• 10 Actors Who Have Played Charles Manson

• 10 Best Superhero Couples in Movies and TV

• 10 Details You Never Noticed In Ghost Riders Costume

• 3 Confirmed And 7 Potential Disney Animated Films Revivals On Disney Plus

• Animal Crossing BuildaBear Collection Goes On Sale Tomorrow Morning

• 10 Funniest Quotes From Christmas With The Kranks