#monty python flying circus

[joes-sha-la-la-la-girl]

I need to know who else enjoys Monty Python. A friend of mine just called it a ‘poor excuse of comedy’ and I’m trying to prove a point 😭😭💖

[lolmanthecat]

They have nice red uniforms.

[davy-jones-lock3r]

happy pride month my friends <3

[elvisomar]

[chernobog13]

My reaction after only the first week.

(groan) 207 more to go.

[100gayicons]

Graham Chapman was heading for a career as a doctor until he met John Cleese at Cambridge University in the late 1950s. The duo were both members of the Footlights theatrical club, where they began writing comic skits. This partnership eventually led to the creation of Monty Python’s Flying Circus in 1969.

Chapman was considered the most subversive of the Monty Python members. When he was asked why he parodied authority figures, he said:

"Because they don't know their fucking business."

Chapman said that when he realized he was homosexual, it was "an important moment in my life". He met David Sherlock, his long-term partner, in Ibiza in 1966. When they returned to London and soon lived in together. The next year, Chapman came out to friends John Cleese and Marty Feldman.

In 1971, Chapman and Sherlock met John Tomiczek, a 14-year-old runaway from Liverpool. They later spoke with Tomiczek’s father, who agreed to let the pair become his legal guardians. (In later years, Tomiczek would become Chapman’s business manager.)

Chapman was a vocal supporter of Gay Rights. In 1972, he publicly supported the UK Gay Liberation Front and helped fund the pioneering newspaper Gay News. The same year, Chapman became one of the first British celebrities to come Out to the public - during a television chat show (although some say he was drunk at the time).

Chapman drank alcohol heavily most of his life. He once described it as:

“(It) was for relaxation. But it became more of a necessity. Four pints of gin a day is really hitting the juice.”

In 1973, while on tour with Monty Python, Chapman missed cues to go on stage and suffered from DTs (shakes, shivers, and confusion), which could last days.

In 1975, the Python Team began developing the script for “The Life of Brian”. Chapman had been considered by the team to be the best actor of the bunch, so he was cast as Brian. At Christmas 1977, Chapman became increasingly concerned that his drinking would impact his performance as Brian, so he quit drinking and remained sober for the rest of his life.

After the film opened in 1979, Chapman said:

“I'm still rediscovering myself. I don't really know who I am.”

Chapman took up pipe smoking at 15, which became a lifelong habit. It would have serious repercussions. In 1988, Chapman had a routine dentist appointment. The dentist discovered what appeared to be a small tumour on one of his tonsils. He had a tonsillectomy, but a year later, it was discovered that the cancer had spread into his spinal column. He underwent chemotherapy and other procedures, but it was determined the cancer was inoperable. Chapman died in October 1989, survived by his partner, David Sherlock, and his adopted son, John Tomiczek.

Chapman died the night before a planned Monty Python 20th anniversary celebration on the BBC. Python member Terry Jones called it "the worst case of party-pooping in all history".

At Chapman’s memorial service, close friend and writing partner John Cleese said:

“I guess that we're all thinking how sad it is that a man of such talent, of such capability for kindness, of such unusual intelligence, should now, so suddenly, be spirited away at the age of only forty-eight, before he'd achieved many of the things of which he was capable, and before he'd had enough fun. Well, I feel that I should say, nonsense. Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard. I hope he fries! And the reason I feel I should say this is he would never forgive me if I didn't, if I threw away this glorious opportunity to shock you all on his behalf. Anything for him, but mindless good taste."

[forever70s]

Monty Python (1969)

[ensalada-de-lengua-de-pajaritos]

The Fish Slapping Dance

[fetchmearum420]

I’m pretty sure out of all of them, Graham loved Jonesy the most. The two must be having a ball in the afterlife

Terry Jones and Graham Chapman - Monty Python's Flying Circus, season 2

[astralbondpro]

Monty Python's Flying Circus // S02E01: Dinsdale

[victusinveritas]

Monty Python's Flying Circus

[mainomene]

[arthur-two-sheds-jackson]

It's... Monty Python's Media Masterpost!

Here, my fellows, as I promised, are the links for nearly every Python content released and available on the internet (missing only the Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) complete oratorio and PDF versions of the books - including Michael Palin's diaries), for the Python-obsessed, brain-fried completist like me. If you ever need to have easy access to something, just click on the links! And if you or someone you know wants to get into the Python fandom, just refer to this post!

Enjoy!!!

[Audios are in blue, TV shows, docs and specials are in green, films are in orange, games are in red and other kinds of content are in pink. (I chose the videos based on whether they were in good quality; most of them are in HQ or close to that when possible.)]

Monty Python's Flying Circus (Internet Archive version - Google Drive version)

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

Another Record

Previous Record

And Now For Something Completely Different

1971 Montreux Special

Labour Party Instructional Film

Birds Eye Peas Industrial Film

Close-Up Industrial Film

Matching Tie and Handkerchief

1973 sketch for Dutch TV

1973 French TV appearance

Is This a Record? Guinness Film

Live at Drury Lane

The Holy Grail

Live at the City Center (side 1 - side 2)

Life of Brian (Internet Archive version - YouTube version - The Pythons' 1979 a.D. BBC documentary - 1979 debate on Saturday Night, Sunday Morning)

Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Internet Archive version - YouTube version)

The Meaning of Life (complete with The Crimson Permanent Assurance!)

Parrot Sketch Not Included (Life of Python)

1990 Omnibus documentary

Monty Python Sings (Again)

Python Night (Paramount Comedy Network mockumentary)

Live at Aspen

Spamalot (concert film featuring the original Broadway cast - playlist of original Broadway cast recording)

Channel 4's 2006 documentary

Almost the Truth: Lawyer's Cut (with Russian subtitles... don't worry, I have BRICS immunity, I'll cover you) (part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6)

Holy Flying Circus (by @anythingcanhappeninmay and complete with bonus thingies!)

A Liar's Autobiography (the movie - audiobook narrated by Graham Chapman)

Live (Mostly) (And Now For Something Rather Similar)

Monty Python at 50 radio broadcasts (by @gordonsgano)

Michael Palin: A Life on Screen

Graham Chapman's Pre-Python Home Movies

Terry Jones' Home Movies

Michael Palin's 1978 Home Movies

The Holy Grail flash game

The Holy Grail PC videogame (at the Collection Chamber blog)

The Meaning of Life PC videogame (also at the Collection Chamber blog)

Complete Waste of Time PC videogame (also also at the Collection Chamber blog)

[doubtfulbread]

hiiiii posting my monty python art here again 👋👋 (big fan of mr pither and mr gulliver they're happily married imo)

[sillysymbol]

the cycling tourrrr

[the-gnomish-bastard]

Behold! My newest spell of unmatched brutality and efficiency in murder!

I cast Sixteen Tons!