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Hercules Bestows Five Stars Upon IFC’s MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH!! Ni!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Had I known how engrossing IFC’s “Monty Python: Almost The Truth” is, I would have started watching it much earlier. Instead I started the first episode of the six-hour documentary at the end of a long day, and wound up not being able to turn it off until 5 a.m. My sleeping schedule is still profoundly fouled.
One of the masterminds behind the project is Terry Jones’ son Bill, and one does sense an extraordinary level of access and investment.
When I’d initially heard about “Almost The Truth,” I’d reasonably assumed it was just a repurposing of the (also excellent) new documentaries shot for the complete-series collector’s edition that hit DVD last November. Not so. All the interviews are new, and aside from the “Flying Circus” clips there’s surprisingly little overlap. The November set’s hour-long “Monty Python Conquers America,” especially, fills in a major gap “Almost The Truth” leaves, including the tale of how the creators came to own the original 45 episodes produced for the BBC.
Because “Almost The Truth” is on IFC, no one bothers to bleep out the many bad words. Each of the six hour-long episodes features its own wonderful version of the “Life of Brian” title song, tailored with new lyrics to fit each leg of the troupe’s journey. (They even brought back Sonia Jones to sing it.)
SUNDAY. “Episode One: The Not So Interesting Beginnings” looks into the team’s influences, how they became aware of each other, and how they came to team up. Learn Terry Gilliam grew up in Minnesta without indoor plumbing. Learn that the Pythons are so old they all grew up listening to radio comedy. Learn Peter Cook had written two different shows running simultaneously in the West End while he was still an undergraduate. Learn “Frost Report” star Cleese quit performing for a year and a half so he could spend time with new American wife Connie Booth.
MONDAY. “The Much Funnier Second Episode” looks at how and why “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” was created. (Hint: John Cleese thought Michael Palin hilarious.) Learn Cleese was the only member of the group considered a TV star when the series began, even though everyone else had considerable on-screen experience. Learn why Dean Martin proved instrumental in bringing the show to America. Learn the record album “Matching Tie and Handkerchief” was a bizarre practical joke.
TUESDAY. “And Now, The Sordid Personal Bits” looks at why the Flying Circus disbanded. (Hint: John Cleese grew bored.) Learn Terry Jones saved the original episodes from getting wiped out of existence by a pound-foolish BBC determined to recycle its videotape.
WEDNESDAY. “The Ultimate Holy Grail Episode” explains how and why the group came to make the funniest movie ever. Learn why “And Now For Something Completely Different” was such a problem. Learn Bruce Dickinson, portrayed with no accuracy by Christopher Walken in SNL’s “More Cowbell” sketch, played a vital role in getting “Holy Grail” made. Learn the movie originally began with the “bring out your dead” scene and why it no longer begins that way. Learn why Graham Chapman gave up alcohol.
THURSDAY. “Lust For Glory” follows the making of “Life of Brian.” Learn Cleese wanted to play the title role. Learn George Harrison was so anxious to see the movie that he mortgaged his home and office to finance it. ("It’s the most anyone has paid for a cinema ticket in history," points out Eric Idle.)
FRIDAY. “Finally! The Last Episode (Ever) (For Now … )” explains why Python flew apart for good. (Hint: Palin thought it pointless to continue without Chapman.) The final hour takes us from “Live At The Hollywood Bowl” to “Meaning Of Life” to “Spamalot” and ends with the surviving Pythons all keeping busy off-camera: Jones and Palin taking a train to Bristol to voice an Aardman project, Cleese adding his voice to another “Shrek” movie, Idle writing songs, and Gilliam editing “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”
Entertainment Weekly gives it an “A” and says:
Six hours of silly bliss … They say analyzing comedy kills it, but in this case, it's one revelation after another. Add rare footage of their early years, some non-Python TV appearances, tense on-set footage filmed during the making of their movies, and clips of their greatest hits, and you've got Monty nirvana. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… excellent … beats any Python documentary yet made for comprehensiveness and depth. …
The Chicago Tribune says:
… excellent … The Pythons are still in fine comedic form, and their self-deprecating anecdotes are even more fun than their still-palpable delight in goading each other …
The Washington Post says:
… Six hours is deliriously too much to look at, or look away from … Fans will bathe happily in IFC's documentary series … And as for non-fans? Well, they were always a dour lot, weren't they? …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… comedy catnip … History. Hysterics. Silly walks. All bundled into an everything-you-wanted-to-know-or-rediscover chronicle of this legendary British comedy troupe … No soaring introductory pronouncements of what Python accomplished and represents. That will be spelled out, step by step, in the fullness of six hours, as interviews, film and audio clips decipher how Monty Python became the most groundbreaking, transforming wellspring of comedy in the history of the world (OK, maybe a wee exaggeration). …
The Newark Star Ledger says:
… for every boy (and, in rarer cases, girl) who, like Fallon, ever tried to do a silly walk, or entered rooms with the taunt, "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!," or simply wanted to know how the most legendary sketch troupe of all time came up with their signature bits and rewrote the rules of comedy in the process. …
Variety says:
Exhaustively splayed across six wonderfully messy parts … There's some fat here, to be sure, but producers Bill Jones and Ben Timlett have assembled so much juicy stuff as to make this destined DVD release indispensable for Pythons fans and a more-than-just-nostalgic introduction for anyone else. …
9 p.m. Sunday-Friday. IFC.
Uncensored!! Unauthorized!!
Who Really Created The Simpsons??
And Why Does It Suck Now??
$9: All Hail The King, Baby!!
Uncensored!! Unauthorized!!
Who Really Created The Simpsons??
And Why Does It Suck Now??
$9: All Hail The King, Baby!!
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Yayyy
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Partly because videotape was expensive to buy and to store and reusable, and partly because no-one had any concept of the potential for future markets for old TV series (TV was seen as an essentially disposable medium, and there was no recognition of international markets for TV until Lew Grade's ITC started making series in colour with inbuilt international appeal) much of the BBC's early output was lost simply because the BBC reused the tapes. That might sound bizarre now, but it was common practice back in the day. See here, from the BBC archives people: http://bit.ly/y09fT
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The Beatles of comedy. Great, timeless stuff!
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"The Python's are so old they listened to Radio comedy"?
I do hope you're being facetious (or just a prick), but the state of Radio Comedy in the UK is as vibrant as it ever was . . . -
.....one of the best documentaries yet made. If you're a Python fan in any way, it's a gift. Looking forwards to it's DVD set doing a silly walk up to my Python Collectors set and taking it's rightful place. Wonderful stuff.
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...is still fantastic. In a sane world, everyone who knows of Python around the world would also know of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue......and Humphrey Lyttelton's second career away from the jazz band, with the ever fragrant Samantha ready to score at his right hand.
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I take it you are aware that the person you mention is dead and that a lot of the current breed of UK comedy is started on Radio (and aren't too proud about it to go back and do Radio shows (even while they are still geting steady TV work)).
Cunt.
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Gotta go look that number up....
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....but the guy had the comic timing of a genius and there are 11 audiobooks of Clue available on itunes for anyone who wants to clue themselves in. As the the current breed of UK comedians, if they don't want to go back to radio at all, their choice. Some of the best comedy shows in the UK at the moment are radio shows - TV comedy has gotten weaker, radio comedy only stronger. And I'm very happy with the choice of next seasons host for Clue - Jack Dee will be a great interim host, he's a damn site more suitable than the also considered Rob Brydon or Stephen Fry. Now, would you like me to throw a few swear words your way or have you vented enough?
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F.A.C.T.
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Oct 18, 2009 11:07:53 AM CDT
And Cleese? Lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky BASTARD
by hint_of_smegma
Married Connie Booth, even if it didn't last. Jammy git.
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the only channel worth watching anymore. I will most definitely check this out. "It's Not TV. It's IFC."
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there is still no equal to the comic genius of the mighty Monty Python.
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aw yeah, love me some Python
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...maybe I would give this review credence. At least make the ad toward the bottom of your 'review'. I assume most know of the Amazon partner program that kicks you pennies on every several hundred DVD's you link to. But they are normally at the bottom of the suck-fest. Bad form, sir.
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So far this new Python doc is great, though and worth praise. The 30 minute making of was great in and of itself. The first hour was wonderfully done and not just informative but also rather funny. Eric Idle's bits were absolutely a riot at points. I can't wait to watch the rest of this. However, what the fuck this has to do with that hack Stephen King is beyond me. Sometimes the blatant plugs in these posts are just random and idiotic. Don't support Herc buy visiting his Amazon links, please...he doesn't deserve it.
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That's the whole deal with Herc's TBs... they are media releases. I actually find it attractively uninsulting. I'd rather read a simple product review with some unoffensive screen real estate to other interesting media, then to have crap thrown in our faces and flashing animated ads with audio and all the rest of the crap you see on the net.Let it go man. If you don't want to see products, don't read Herc's TBs.
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You don't like quality??
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I don't mind the ads. Like therobcat said, his ads are usually for good stuff. And come on - we do expect the good people at AICN to make a living, don't we? It's a hell of a lot better than those annoying ads on some sites that take up half the page and make it hard to find the box to hide them. I'm looking at you CHUD.com....
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i cant see it in the listings here??!
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THE Bruce Dickenson, from Iron Maiden? Nah, couldn't be...or is it? Bruce RULES...Maiden RULES...yep, it is so.
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Oct 19, 2009 3:08:44 PM CDT
I don't think Walken was supposed to be playing that guy
by thunderbolt ross
Bruce Dickinson
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Two parallel tracks on one side of it.
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strangely enough.
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I have been a Monty Python for over 30 years and I enjoying the documentary on IFC. I plan to watch all six nights. I own the Monty Python Collection DVD and I will purchase this on DVD when it becomes available.
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These are extra ads just for Herc. I'm pretty sure Harry doesn't pay Herc worth shit so he has to run these extra crappy ads, and then there are the DVD release posts which we can't comment in that are just rehashes of what Amazon is releasing that week but all links...if you really want to know what is coming out visit Amazon directly.
Again, Herc's shitty write-ups don't deserve EXTRA ads in the articles. -
...not the lead singer of Iron Maiden. Hope that was a joke Herc. But anyway I'm really enjoying it. Can't wait to get to the Holy Grail part.
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WAY too much time spent on famous funny people and what they think of Python and not enough actual behind the scenes bits. Nowhere near as good as the first hour. I hope that this is the only episode like this and the rest are far more like the first hour with a LOT more actual interviews with the Pythons.
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