I’m looking for a specific incident that was filmed in one of Michael Palin’s travelogue films back in the 80’s and 90’s. I’ve googled around a bit but can’t find a site with enough detail to nail this down for me.
First, it could be in Full Circle, the one where he’s traveling around the Pacific. At some point, one of his film crew develops some medical condition where they need to see a doctor. They go to a local doctor who treats the condition by use electric shocks delivered through his hand. When pressed to give demonstrable proof, the doctor holds his hand over a balled-up newspaper and you can see sparks which set the newspaper on fire.
Maybe real, maybe not…but I’d like to find the exact series and episode.
Hmmmmm… I recently marathoned my way through every single episode of each of Palin’s travel series and I don’t recall the sequence you have described. I could be wrong though, my lids may have drooped here and there.
Like the other comment, I’ve been on a kick lately, and I’ve watched the one in the Himalayas and the Around the World in 80 Days and I don’t recall that. I haven’t yet gotten to Full Circle, though.
Have you read the wikipedia entries? They have pretty good summaries. I just checked out Full Circle and there’s a reference to “psychic surgery” which doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for, but that’s about it. I didn’t have time to read all the rest, but if you’re curious, you might devote the time to it.
Yes, I looked at that before I posted here. As you say, it doesn’t sound like what I remember…but then maybe the Wikipedia description isn’t accurate. I plan to hunt down a copy of that episode, just in case.
I can’t help but think that if Michael Palin had stumbled across a man who could shoot death rays from his hands, British TV would have made more of a fuss over it.
I’ve seen the demonstration in question, but I’m not sure if Michael Palin was involved, or if it was even one of his series. You might be confusing it with something else.
I found this Chi Fire Demonstration on youtube, and I believe this is the same guy, however I also remember seeing this guy (or another) do the same thing in the 90’s on another more contemporary documentary style film (Maybe one of Palin’s series?). This is probably the same guy, but this seems like older footage.
Sorry, I’m not amazed in the least, but I did find it almost Pythonesque that of the two brothers treated for an eye infection, one wears an eye patch and the other is dead.
I wonder how he did it? It seemed as if the paper ignited from the bottom, and not from his hands. Maybe some glycerine and potassium permanganate (on different hands) that got mixed in the paper? (But then, it would be mixed on his hands as well…)
See, to me it appears as if the fire is starting at the contact point with his hand. If he is arcing enough electricity or chi through his body, he wouldn’t need an accelerant or any type of chemical.
