Monty Python - Top 10 Comedy Films

1. Fruit In The Loomsduring the 1970's playing the role of stressed
2. Python's Give Live Birthhotelkeeper Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers. He
3. The Toad Elevating Momentcontinued his fame with films like Privates On Parade
4. Mystery Of The Lost Python Sketchesand Clockwise, then hit worldwide stardom with a A
5. Brian's The Life Of The PartyFish Called Wanda in 1988. The follow-up film, Fierce
6. Kim Bread Aka John CleeseCreatures faulted to gain attention with audiences.
7. Around The World In 80 DaysThese days audiences know him best as the new Q
8. Get Yourself To Marsin the James Bond films and Nearly Headless Ned in
9. Keep It Realthe Harry Potter films. He will next be seen playing
10. The 12 Fisher Monkey Kingsfather to Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and
11. Parting Shotsas the voice Fiona's Father in Shrek 2, Fiona is voiced
1. Fruit In Your LoomsSomeone once said somethingby Charlie's Angel's co-star Cameron Diaz.7. Around
along the lines that, Monty Python is to 'funny' whatThe World In 80 DaysMichael Palin has also rocketed
chartered accountants are to 'boring'. Who are we toto fame due to his turn with the troupe and in 1977 he
disagree?2. Python's Give Live BirthThe legend ofteamed with Terry Jones to make their own comedy
Monty Python emerged nobly from the dusty corridorsseries, Ripping Yarns. Michael also appeared aside
of Oxford and Cambridge universities. All of the BritishJohn Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda, then went on to
Python members had their comedic starts in revuedo a reality show for BBC TV, called Around the
shows put on by these universities. They soon rose toWorld in 80 Days, where he attempted to literally
the ranks of responsibility within these societies, "Infollow in the footsteps of the Jules Verne literary
bewilderment we saw a notice board informing us thatcharacter, Phileas Fogg, by trying to travel around the
we are now officers!" recalls John Cleese. Theirworld in the allotted time, but without flying - By the
well-received show, A Clump of Plinths, transferred toway, it's Jules Verne's 175th birthday this week. During
London's West End and later visited New Zealand andthe Pole to Pole trip, he met up with Python fans in
New York under the new title CambridgeGreece and ate snake in China while struggling to
Circus.Cleese stayed on in New York and during ameet his deadline.8. Get Yourself To MarsEric Idle
photo shoot for a comic strip he met Americancontinued his stint in the limelight by teaming with Neil
illustrator Terry Gilliam. Terry was soon folded into theInnes to create Rutland Weekend Television, a parody
every growing omelet.The BBC, on the advice ofof regional broadcasting. He later appeared in Graham
producer Barry Took, signed the group - which nowChapman's Yellowbeard, Disney's Honey, I Shrunk the
included Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam for a 13-show series.Audience and Splitting Heirs. His recent novel titled,
Ah, but what to name the show?3. The Toad"The Road to Mars" is about two comedians in the
Elevating MomentOwl Stretching Time. A Horse, A22nd century. Fans most likely know him today as the
Spoon and A Bucket. The Toad Elevating Momentvoice of Mr. Vosknocker in the animated film, South
were all names in the running. But as planning for thePark: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.9. Keep It RealTerry
series became more chaotic, the BBC managementJones maintained a diversity beyond mere comedy, by
began to refer to the team as a 'flying circus', inspiredwriting about history, presenting documentaries, penning
by the Red Baron's World War One fighter squadron.children's books and going onto direct the 1996 version
The troupe liked the sound of it and randomly addedof Wind in the Willows, starring his old pals - Michael
the term Monty Python from their growing list ofPalin, John Cleese and Eric Idle.10. The 12 Fisher
alternates. Funny that.4. Mystery Of The Lost PythonMonkey KingsTerry Gilliam lent his talents to the troupe
SketchesNo one knows what happened to them.as a director and by creating the very distinct
Oh wait, 3 new sketches of never before seenanimations that became Monty Python's visual
Python material were recently discovered andtrademark. We soon followed it with his feature film
performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The fameddebut, Jabberwocky, starring Michael Palin. After
sketches were written by late Python star Grahamhelming the much loved, Time Bandits, his fame
Chapman and were unearthed by a literary executorskyrocketed in Hollywood. But his style led to many
in Los Angeles. Each sketch lasts four minutes andconflictions in the biz including a big throw down with
features a cast of characters including a gay parrotUniversal Studios over his film Brazil and then problems
and an overworked Messiah.5. Brian's The Life Of Thewith backers on the very expensive, Adventures of
PartyMonty Python's Life of Brian snagged theBaron Munchausen, which starred Eric Idle and
funniest film of all time in a poll arranged by Total Filmfeatured Robin Williams.His real success followed by
magazine.The film satires the rise of organized religiontaking on unconventional studio films including the
and caused more controversy than a Kevin Smithcritically acclaimed, The Fisher King starring Robin
baptismal when it was released back in 1979. It wasWilliams and Jeff Bridges and the stylistic sci-fi thriller,
banned in many parts of the UK and church leaders12 Monkeys starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt and the
accused it of blasphemy. Nothing like bad publicity toHunter S Thompson extravaganza, Fear and Loathing
push the ratings.Their King Arthur era spoof, Montyin Las Vegas starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del
Python and the Holy Grail, trailed by only a few spots,Toro. These six actors all gave some of the best
landing it at number five.Top 10 Comedy Films1. Life ofperformances of their career in Gilliam's films.11. Parting
BrianShots"We weren't being satirical because it wasn't the
2. Airplane!thing that interested us," Terry Jones says. "Ours was
3. Withnail & Ia slightly more abstract humor - just being silly really.
4. There's Something About MaryWhat satire there is, is more generalized
5. Monty Python and the Holy Grailsatire."Referring to The Life of Brian - "Comedy is
6. American Pieabout reminding us of the truth of being human: we all
7. Groundhog Dayhave a body and we all must die, and it is okay,"
8. Some Like it Hotreckons Eric Idle."Monty Python is a great combination
9. Blazing Saddlesof intellect and silly", concludes Robin Williams.To read
10. Planes, Trains and Automobiles6. Kim Bread Akamore articles by Chad, visit the American Pop Culture
John CleeseJohn Cleese rode a roller coaster of fameEncyclopedia at: American Pop Culture Encyclopedia.