Monty Python and the Holy Grail

DVD (Uk-14164-S) 86 Minutes. First Released 1974. This edition 2003

Most people in Britain will know of the Monty Python team of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin in no particular order other than alphabetical.

The Monty Python’s television series became a national institution with its zany type of humour. Most people have their favourite sketch be it the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Dead Parrot Sketch or the Spam Song.

Here the team turn their attention to the numerous versions of the Holy Grail, King Arthur and the Round Table and the Quest of the Grail Knights.

Who can stop a laugh on seeing knights in armour ‘riding’ across the landscape without horses! Irreverent but very, very funny 30 years on it still sparkles and given the price paid, £9.99, for a two disc set (the second disc contains twelve wonderful shorts – e.g. How to use your coconuts – an educational film) this is great value of money.

Provided that you are not a dyed in the wool Grail believer who only sees the subject in black and white this DVD is hilarious and one suspects that the Monty Python team are poking gentle (not so gentle – Ed.) fun at those ‘dyed in the wool Grail believers’.

The blurb on the box says: “The Ultimate Definitive Final Special Edition” and “Makes Ben Hur look like an epic”. Wonderful stuff.