the apex predator stare he's giving them as he walks over brings me to tears. michael palin really knows how to subtly contort his face into the funniest look possible
Per the Encyclopythonia, everyone in the scene was familiar with the overall script, including the extras. The script did have moments where "soldiers laugh." What we're seeing is more the result of Michael Palin's unfairly masterful delivery. The Pythons regularly improvised in scenes, and though they knew the words, they didn't know how he was going to say them or where he'd be. Poor bastards.
At 1:52 the guard is in fact supposed to chuckle but, is having to force down because he's trying not to break out laughing. You can see it in his face, he's losing control and he's having to hold it in. That or he is just a REALLY good extra. Because I've never seen a more genuine look on any actor's face.
This scene is why I often name my game characters "Biggus Dickus" when I don't want to take things too seriously and just enjoy myself. It doesn't always work, but at least I don't feel bad about using an actually meaningful name when I screw something up or act in a manner less than honorable. You know, like random sprees in a highly modded Skyrim game using...certain mods.
I love the reactions of the soldiers (which were apparently genuine), but also how you can tell that Michael Palin is trying his damndest not to laugh either when he's up in the one soldier's face around 1:51 , lolll 😂
I never found this scene all that funny until I found out the Roman soldiers were just extras that had been told nothing about the scene except not to laugh no matter what.
I don’t know what made me suddenly think of this scene but I was sure I could find it, and it’s even funnier now at 50 yo then when I saw it as a teenager 😂. Not sure what that says the maturity and wisdom I’ve gained over 30+ yrs.
If this tickled you you should watch more Monty Python. The Pythons, as they became known, were a surrealist comedy troupe that formed in England in 1968. The members had known each other for years and some had worked together before, but it was with their sketch comedy show _Monty Python's Flying Circus,_ that they all came together. _Flying Circus_ ran for four season, 1969-1974. After the show ended they began to make feature films. As an introduction to their particular brand of absurdist comedy I suggest you start with their first film, _And Now for Something Completely Different_ (1972). This is a compilation of some of the funniest sketches from their first two seasons. It was made principally to cultivate an American audience, and it worked as PBS began broadcasting _Monty Python's Flying Circus_ in 1974.
@@cumber3631 If you've never seen Mel Brooks's 1974 comedy _Blazing Saddles_ you should. It is a parody of westerns and a scathing satire of race relations in the US. It is in direct contrast to most of the pabulum that is produced today.
