# Monty Python errors **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 1999, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450 "1999-10-08T18:06:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Locke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@John\_Locke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Locke)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/1 "1999-10-08T18:06:00Z")
## In the movie “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” the knights of Ni are crippled by the word “It”. However, the knights themselves say “it” multiple times in the preceding scenes. How can they do this? The more you know, the less you feel ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/2 "1999-10-08T18:16:00Z")
Maybe they can dish it out, but they can’t take it, like a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/3 "1999-10-08T18:21:00Z")
Long answer: They don’t say “it” multiple times. According to the script, during Scene 19 John Cleese (the head knight) does say “it” twice. > [@](#): > > HEAD KNIGHT: > **It** is a good shrubbery. I like the laurels particularly,… but there is one small problem. > > HEAD KNIGHT: > Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must place **it** here beside this shrubbery, only slightly higher so you get the two-level effect with a little path running down the middle. And King Arthur says “it” once in Scene 13, the initial encounter with the Knights: > [@](#): > > ARTHUR: > Well, what is **it** you want? Short answer: Sod off. Its just a silly movie. Stupid git. Its people like you what cause unrest. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/4 "1999-10-08T18:42:00Z")
There is a notion in filmmaking called “suspension of disbelief” where actions take place on the screen which are not plausible but, for the sake of the drama, the audience doesn’t object. Like speaking English long ago in a galaxy far, far away (they should provide a babelfish). Or luring Godzilla out of hiding with a big pile of fish (that’s not normal behavior for huge radioactive lizards!). ## Some movie “errors” are just that, errors. But this one is just a joke. Are you one of those people who need to have jokes explained to you? “If you had manifested _fatigue_ upon noticing that you had been an ass, that would have been logical, that would have been rational; whereas it seems to me that to manifest _surprise_ was to be again an ass.” Mark Twain _Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc_ ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/5 "1999-10-08T19:20:00Z")
**pluto** : > [@](#): > > Or luring Godzilla out of hiding with a big pile of fish (that’s not normal behavior for huge radioactive lizards!). Hah! A lot you know. Huge radioactive lizards find large piles of fish their second favorite delicacy. It _would_ be their normal behavior if they could find more people to provide them. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/6 "1999-10-08T20:20:00Z")
My first instinct was to agree with Boris B, namely that the knights of Ni are only harmed by the word “it” when it’s uttered by other people. However, at the end, I think they all start covering their ears even when they say the word themselves. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” I think the comedy troup was more concerned with laughs than preventing continuity errors. Re: Dr. F’s “short answer”: Dear DrF, shut your gob, you vacuous, toffee-nosed, malodorous pervert! John\_Locke came here for an argument. Abuse is next door. * * * Jacques Kilchoer Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/7 "1999-10-08T20:32:00Z")
A little mind speaks up again! Jacques – it’s spelled “troupe”. But you are exactly right. IIRC, part of the fade-out dialogue from the scene goes: Knight who until recently said “Ni”: some line with “it” in it. (pause) Knight: “Oh no! Now I’ve said it!” (pause) ## Knight: “I keep saying it!” “If you had manifested _fatigue_ upon noticing that you had been an ass, that would have been logical, that would have been rational; whereas it seems to me that to manifest _surprise_ was to be again an ass.” Mark Twain _Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc_ ---
**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/8 "1999-10-08T20:37:00Z")
I side with pluto–it’s like those people who simply _must_ know what state Springfield (the Simpsons) is “in.” I explain, “It’s obviously not in any real or particular state.” The next thing they say is always, “Yeah, hahaha…but what state _is_ it in?” [Teeth grinding…] ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/9 "1999-10-08T20:38:00Z")
The script may say it’s Cleese, but in the movie the head knight is Palin. Lemon curry? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/10 "1999-10-08T20:51:00Z")
Oh, damn. I try to help with dialogue and I feel like I’ve encountered the Old Man from Scene 24. OLD MAN: Who played the Head Knight? DR. FIDELIUS: Cleese. No, wait, I mean Paliiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn aaaarrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhh ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/11 "1999-10-08T21:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Or luring Godzilla out of hiding with a big pile of fish (that’s not normal behavior for huge radioactive lizards!). Another leap would be to call that overgrown iguana **Godzilla** … * * * “It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument” - William McAdoo ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/12 "1999-10-08T21:02:00Z")
DrF – ## You wouldn’t write “aaaaaarrrrgghhhhh!”. You’d just say it. “If you had manifested _fatigue_ upon noticing that you had been an ass, that would have been logical, that would have been rational; whereas it seems to me that to manifest _surprise_ was to be again an ass.” Mark Twain _Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc_ ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/13 "1999-10-08T21:05:00Z")
maybe I was dictating ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/14 "1999-10-08T21:12:00Z")
Did’jah notice that the **parrot** was stuffed too? They should have taken a real dead parrot and nailed 'im to the perch. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/15 "1999-10-08T22:08:00Z")
Now was that a regular parrot or an African parrot? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/16 "1999-10-08T23:03:00Z")
Norwegian Blue. Lovely plumage. ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Dirty\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Devil)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/17 "1999-10-08T23:12:00Z")
PINING FOR THE FJORDS?!?!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/18 "1999-10-08T23:14:00Z")
Luxury! ---
**Author:** ![Stephen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stephen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/19 "1999-10-08T23:20:00Z")
Lemon Curry! * * * Stephen [Stephen’s Website](http://stephen.fathom.org) Satellite Hunting 1.1.0 visible satellite pass prediction shareware available for download at [Satellite Hunting](http://stephen.fathom.org/sathunt.html) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 1999, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450/20 "1999-10-09T03:52:00Z")
You’re a looney. Pluto: Could you remind me what a babelfish is? * * * “I had a feeling that in Hell there would be mushrooms.” -The Secret of Monkey Island [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-python-errors/4450.md?page=2)