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The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus

All the Words, Volume 1

Author Monty Python, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle On Tour, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

Paperback

$19.95 US

Knopf | Pantheon

On sale Nov 12, 1989 | 352 Pages | 9780679726470

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***ALMOST CERTAINLY NOMINATED FOR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE***

The complete scripts from the four Monty Python series, first shown on BBC television between 1969 and 1974, have been collected in two companion volumes.

Characters' names, often not spoken, are given as in the original scripts, along with the names of the actual performer added on their first appearance in each sketch.

This first volume contains twenty-three classic episodes, featuring some of the most entertaining writing to have gone into television anywhere. The minister of silly walks, the dead parrot, banter in a cheese shop - here is every silly, satirical skit, every snide insult, every saucy aside.

"We use only the finest baby frogs, dew picked and flown from Iraq, cleansed in the finest quality spring water, lightly killed, and then sealed in succulent Swiss quintuple and smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope and lovingly frosted in glucose."

"That's as may be, it's still a frog."

***

"Dinsdale was a gentleman. And what's more, he knew how to treat a female impersonator."

***

"Look, my lad, I've had enough of this, That parrot is definitely deceased. And whe I bought it not half an hour ago, you assured me that its lack of movement was due to its being tires and shaged out following a long squawk."

"It's probaby pining for the fjords,"

***

"He is an halibut."

"You've got a pet halibut?"

"Yes, I chose him out of thousands. I didn't like the others. They wer all too flat."

Monty Python was a surreal comedy troupe from Britain who created the show Monty Python's Flying Circus, which first aired on the BBC. Broadcast between 1969 and 1974, Flying Circus was written, and performed by its members: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones. The show was groundbreaking: a stream-of-consciousness approach to sketch comedy that pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable on broadcast television. The Pythons experimented with form and content, injecting satire and a unique blend of sardonic wit and unabashed silliness, that attracted a cult-like fan base in the process. The comedy team would achieve worldwide fame in the wake of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and go on to produce several critically acclaimed films, albums, books, and live shows. View titles by Monty Python

Graham Chapman was an English comedian, writer, actor, and author, and one of the six members of the famous British comedy group Monty Python. He had starring roles in two of their most famous films, Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian. He was the author of Graham Crackers: Fuzzy Memories, Silly Bits, and Outright Lies and A Liar's Autobiography. He died in 1989. View titles by Graham Chapman

Eric Idle is a comedian, actor, author, and singer-songwriter who found immediate fame on television with the sketch-comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Following its success, the group began making films that include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, and Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. Eric wrote, directed, and created The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, the world’s first-ever mockumentary, as well as the Tony Award–winning musical Spamalot. His memoir Always Look on the Bright Side of Life was a New York Times bestseller. View titles by Eric Idle

Terry Gilliam is a screenwriter, director, animator, actor, and comedian. One of the founding members of Monty Python, he was responsible for the comedy group's distinctive absurd animation and visual language. In addition to his work with Monty Python, Gilliam has directed 12 feature films, including Time Bandits, Brazil, 12 Monkeys, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. View titles by Terry Gilliam

Terry Jones is one of the original creators of Monty Python's Flying Circus. He is also a film and television director, a scriptwriter, a medieval scholar, and author of various children's books, including the award-winning The Saga of Erik the Viking and Fairy Tales. Jones co-directed (with Terry Gilliam) Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and directed the subsequent Python features Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. He also wrote the screenplay for the Jim Henson fantasy, Labyrinth. He lives in London. View titles by Terry Jones