# Favorite Monty Python movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614 "2010-09-22T04:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/1 "2010-09-22T04:40:00Z")
I am including films made by or starring the members of Monty Python, but would like to keep it to movies directed, produced, or starring them. Brief appearances or minor roles don’t count. After much internal debate, I’ve narrowed mine down to Brazil and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I’m going to pick Holy Grail by a hair, there’s just soooo much awesomeness in that movie. “She’s got HUGE…tracts of land!” “Strange women lying in ponds is no basis for a system of government!” “Minstrel: [singing] Brave Sir Robin ran away… Sir Robin: _No!_ Minstrel: [singing] bravely ran away away… Sir Robin: _I didn’t!_ Minstrel: [singing] When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. Sir Robin: _I never did!_ Minstrel: [singing] Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about, and valiantly, he chickened out. Sir Robin: _Oh, you liars!_ Minstrel: [singing] Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very brave retreat. A brave retreat by brave Sir Robin” “Sir Lancelot: We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril. Sir Galahad: I don’t think I was. Sir Lancelot: Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril. Sir Galahad: Look, let me go back in there and face the peril. Sir Lancelot: No, it’s too perilous. Sir Galahad: Look, it’s my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can. Sir Lancelot: No, we’ve got to find the Holy Grail. Come on. Sir Galahad: Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril? Sir Lancelot: No. It’s unhealthy. Sir Galahad: I bet you’re gay.” Large Man with Dead Body: Who’s that then? The Dead Collector: I dunno, must be a king. Large Man with Dead Body: Why? The Dead Collector: He hasn’t got shit all over him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/2 "2010-09-22T04:46:05Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > “Strange women lying in ponds is no basis for a system of government!” psst…distributing swords ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/3 "2010-09-22T05:01:23Z")
There are some great films listed there, and a few that didn’t do much for me personally, but none of them compare to the Holy Grail ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/4 "2010-09-22T05:06:33Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](#): > > > [@Apocalypso](#): > > > > “Strange women lying in ponds is no basis for a system of government!” > > psst…distributing swords doh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/5 "2010-09-22T05:11:10Z")
_Brazil_, by far, with _Time Bandits_ a close second. _Brazil_ is just sublime, with Michael Palin playing the perfect role. Its commentary on bureaucracy is absolutely spot-on, with scenes that are both hilarious and shocking at the same time. One of the best films of the '80s. _The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus_ is also excellent. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/6 "2010-09-22T12:04:21Z")
**And Now for Something Completely Different** is the first Python thing I saw, aside from possibly a few edited clips on American TV, and i found it hilarious. I still think it’s funnier, overall, than any of their other movies. Even _Holy Grail_, which is my second favorite. Most of their other stuff is hit-or-miss, often with a lot of miss. By the way, you left out **Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl** , which really ought to be in a poll like this. It’s obscure, but more clearly a "Monty Python’ movie than things like _Jabberwocky_. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/7 "2010-09-22T12:12:54Z")
The Meaning of Life? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/8 "2010-09-22T12:26:37Z")
Holy Grail, with **A Fish Called Wanda** as the second choice of this list. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/9 "2010-09-22T12:27:27Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > The Meaning of Life? Erik the Viking (written/directed by Terry Jones) is also missing though I doubt it would get any votes. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/10 "2010-09-22T12:29:49Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > The Meaning of Life? That’s what jumped out at me: “Wow, no _Meaning of Life_? WTF?” Another Python-related film that deserves to be on the list, even though I wouldn’t vote for it as favorite, is [Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride](http://www.amazon.com/Toads-Wild-Ride-Roger-Ashton-Griffiths/dp/B0000DZTIM/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1285158261&sr=1-1), a _Wind in the Willows_-based fun little kids’ movie written and directed by Terry Jones, who plays the title role. Eric Idle is also one of the stars, and a couple of the other Pythons have cameos (John Cleese’s is wonderful; Michael Palin’s is forgettable). ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/11 "2010-09-22T12:30:01Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > The Meaning of Life? Yeah, this is actually a true Monty Python movie, so I can’t see why it should be absent. It qualifies better than _12 Monkeys_. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/12 "2010-09-22T12:30:05Z")
Since you’ve set it up so one can vote for a movie that’s not explicitly an official Monty Python movie, it was an easy choice for me: **A Fish Called Wanda**. It’s my favorite comedy of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/13 "2010-09-22T12:35:59Z")
**Life of Brian** without a doubt. Easily the most cohesive Python film, in the sense that the “skits” fit within the framework of the plot seamlessly. The commentary on religion is relevant, done with humor, and involves a great musical number! ---
**Author:** ![Baboonanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/14 "2010-09-22T12:41:20Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > **Life of Brian** without a doubt. Easily the most cohesive Python film, in the sense that the “skits” fit within the framework of the plot seamlessly. The commentary on religion is relevant, done with humor, and involves a great musical number! Agreed. Holy Grail is amazing but Life of Brian may be the finest comedy film ever made. It’s just so fantastically well writen and includes everything from cheap slapstick jokes to deep, thought-provoking commentary. The best bit is that the better you understand how organised religion _really_ works the more scathing the humour is. That’s why the clergy got so upset 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/15 "2010-09-22T12:45:04Z")
I’ll never forget the first time I watched MPatHG as a teen. Not knowing what to expect I was howling with laughter from the start. My sister though kept looking at me, puzzled, and asking “What’s so funny?” Life of Brian and Live at the Hollywood Bowl were good but I think HG is the greatest comedy of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/16 "2010-09-22T12:50:02Z")
mmmm… Life of Brian definitely edges out Holy Grail for me. Not by a longshot, but I liked Brian best. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/17 "2010-09-22T12:56:46Z")
Shoot, meant to include Meaning of Life. Gotta be one of the most quotable movies of all time. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/18 "2010-09-22T12:58:28Z")
> [@Khendrask](#): > > mmmm… Life of Brian definitely edges out Holy Grail for me. Not by a longshot, but I liked Brian best. Thank you. _Brian_ ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/19 "2010-09-22T13:05:01Z")
_Monty Python and the Holy Grail_ wins by a mile. It’s simply the greatest comedy ever made. Everything just came together and worked out perfectly. How many other movies can you name that have so many hilarious one-liners, hilarious dialogue, sophisticated references to the canon of English literature, sight gags, parodies of the various film stlyes from the French New Wave (which most young 'uns probably don’t even get), postmodernism and self-reference? And all of it is funny. There isn’t a single scene that falls flat. _The Life of Brian_ is a mixed bag. It has some scenes that are hilarious, but in others their comic timing is completely off, and in some places they just go too far with something that just plain doesn’t work. The “Biggus Dickus” scene is among the most painfully unfunny things ever put on film. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614/20 "2010-09-22T13:31:20Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > The “Biggus Dickus” scene is among the most painfully unfunny things ever put on film. SILENCE! What is all this insolence?! You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickwy! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-monty-python-movie/554614.md?page=2)