Monty Python facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monty Python |
|
|---|---|
The Pythons in 1969:
Back row: Chapman, Idle, Gilliam Front row: Jones, Cleese, Palin |
|
| Medium |
|
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1969–1983, 1989, 1998–1999, 2002, 2013–2014 |
| Genres |
|
| Notable works and roles | Flying Circus (1969–1974) And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Life of Brian (1979) Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) The Meaning of Life (1983) Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014) |
| Members |
|
Monty Python, also known as The Pythons, was a super famous group of British comedy actors. They created hilarious television shows and movies that are still loved today. Their unique style of humor often involved silly sketches, unexpected twists, and clever wordplay.
The group started making people laugh in 1969. Their main TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus, ran from 1969 to 1974. It became a huge hit around the world. The Pythons also made several popular movies, like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
The six main members of Monty Python were: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Each member brought their own special talents to the group, from acting and writing to animation.
Contents
Who Were the Monty Python Members?
The Monty Python team was made up of six very talented people. They wrote and performed most of their own comedy.
John Cleese
John Cleese is known for his tall height and serious face, which made his silly characters even funnier. He often played characters who were very proper but then did something completely absurd. He was great at physical comedy and quick jokes.
Eric Idle
Eric Idle was often the musical one in the group. He wrote many of Monty Python's famous songs, like "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." He was also very good at wordplay and creating quirky characters.
Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman was often the straight man in their sketches, playing serious characters who would then get into ridiculous situations. He was also known for playing King Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Sadly, Graham passed away in 1989.
Terry Gilliam
Terry Gilliam was the American member of the group. He was the amazing animator who created the unique, often surreal, cartoons that connected the sketches in Flying Circus. His animations were a big part of Monty Python's special style. He also acted in some sketches.
Terry Jones
Terry Jones was a writer and performer, and he also directed some of their movies, like Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life. He often played female characters or very ordinary people who found themselves in strange situations. Terry passed away in 2020.
Michael Palin
Michael Palin was known for his friendly and often innocent-looking characters. He was very versatile and could play a wide range of roles, from a cheerful lumberjack to a Spanish Inquisitor. He often worked closely with Terry Jones on writing.
Monty Python's Famous Works
Monty Python created many memorable shows and movies. They started with their TV series and then moved on to making feature films.
The TV Show: Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus was a sketch comedy show that aired from 1969 to 1974. It was unlike anything else on television at the time. The show didn't follow a typical format; sketches would often blend into each other or end abruptly. This made it very unpredictable and funny.
The show featured many famous sketches that people still talk about today. These include "The Ministry of Silly Walks," "The Dead Parrot Sketch," and "Spam." The show's unique humor and clever writing made it a classic.
Monty Python Movies
After their TV show, Monty Python made several movies that became just as famous.
And Now For Something Completely Different (1971)
This was their first movie. It was a collection of some of the best sketches from the first two seasons of Monty Python's Flying Circus. It was a great way for people who hadn't seen the TV show to get a taste of their humor.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
This movie is a hilarious parody of the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the Holy Grail. It's full of silly knights, rude Frenchmen, and a very dangerous rabbit. It's one of their most beloved films.
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
This film tells the story of Brian Cohen, a young man who is born next door to Jesus and is mistaken for the Messiah. It's a very funny look at religious fanaticism and following the crowd.
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
This is a filmed version of one of their live stage shows. It features many of their classic sketches and songs performed in front of a huge audience in Los Angeles.
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
This was the last movie the full group made together. It's a series of sketches that explore different stages of life, from birth to death, in a very silly and often absurd way.
The Legacy of Monty Python
Monty Python had a huge impact on comedy. Their unique style of humor, which was often surreal and unpredictable, influenced many comedians and TV shows that came after them. They showed that comedy didn't have to follow strict rules. Their sketches and movies are still watched and enjoyed by new generations today.
Images for kids
-
"Four Yorkshiremen sketch" at the 2014 Monty Python reunion. Written by Cleese, Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Marty Feldman, it was originally performed on their TV series At Last the 1948 Show in 1967. It parodies nostalgic conversations about humble beginnings or difficult childhoods.
-
"The Ministry of Silly Walks" sketch performed at the 2014 Python reunion. Featuring Cleese as a bowler-hatted civil servant in a fictitious British government ministry responsible for developing silly walks through grants, it appears in season 2, episode 1 of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
-
Gilliam, Palin and Jones performing "The Spanish Inquisition" sketch during the 2014 Python reunion. As a sketch writer and creator of animations, Gilliam did considerably less acting, although he did have some notable sketch roles such as this (Cardinal Fang).
-
Cupid's foot, as used by Monty Python's Flying Circus. A trademark of Gilliam's stop-motion animation, the giant foot would suddenly squash things, including the show's title at the end of the opening credits.
-
Jones and Cleese as housewives in the 2014 reunion. Playing Brian Cohen's mother in Life of Brian, Jones delivered the line, "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!".
-
"The Lumberjack Song" with Palin (right) and Carol Cleveland at the 2014 reunion. It appeared in the ninth episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
-
Soldier's helmet from Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle
-
Blue plaque at Neal's Yard, London. In 1976 Palin and Gilliam bought offices here as studios and editing suites for Python films and solo projects.
-
Left to right: Palin, Gilliam, Jones, Idle, Cleese (pictured in 2014).
-
Spamalot at the Shubert Theatre, New York in 2006. Winning the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Idle's musical opened in London's West End a year later. The original Broadway cast included Tim Curry as King Arthur, Hank Azaria as Sir Lancelot, and Cleese as the (recorded) voice of God.
-
Long-time collaborator Neil Innes at the premiere of The Seventh Python in 2009
-
Members of Monty Python on stage at the O2 Arena, London, in July 2014
-
Eric Idle singing the "Galaxy Song" (from The Meaning of Life) at the 2014 Monty Python reunion. Known for his wordplay and musical numbers, he also performed "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (from Life of Brian)
-
Carol Cleveland (in 2009), commonly called "Python girl", or "Seventh Python".
-
"Argument Clinic" sketch with Palin (standing) and Cleese in 2014. CNN states, "Monty Python has been called The Beatles of comedy".
-
Menu from the "Spam" sketch, from where the junk term is derived. Spam is included in almost every dish, much to the consternation of a customer.
-
Gumby flower arranging. A character of limited intelligence and vocabulary (a satire on the condescending use of the "man on the street" on TV), he is played here by Terry Gilliam in 2014.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Monty Python para niños
