Filmmaker reacts to Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) for the FIRST TIME! 

The line “it’s just a flesh wound” does originate from this movie 😂😂 crazy that you said it right before

To quote one of my favorite Letterboxd reviews of this film: "People are still running around making movies like there’s rules to follow when this came out 45 years ago."

What always get's me is how quickly we accept the coconut horses. By half way through the film, we've accepted it as normal.

"Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of governance!" "You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!" this is one of my favourite jokes in anything, the multitude of ridiculous ways he describes and berates one of our most ancient myths is just amazing

Side note: neither Arthur or his knights could have killed the “famous historian” as he was the only person to have ridden a real horse Plus, the ending is a literal “cop-out” 🤣

Your first Python experience?!?! James, mate, these guys were revolutionary and incredibly important for modern cinema. they pushed buttons eeverywhere. Watch Life of Brian and read up on the controversy, you'll understand how important of a movie this was in terms of opening doors to whats possible for cinema. (no taboos etc.)

Fun fact about the scene in which Lancelot is running at the castle, as the two guards watch on and the same clip repeats itself. Jonn Cleese who played Lancelot had to film that specfic running sequence in the middle of a park in broad daylight... with dog walkers and general pedestrians still able to walk around. John would stand at one end of the field - where, to an onlooker, no cameras were in sight - and wait for a signal to sprint at full speed. To the pedestrians, he was simply a man, in full medieval attire, standing quietly to attention, eyes fixed at the field in front of him (as he was waiting for his cue). And, despite him being a household name by this stage, not a single soul even attempted to acknowledge him. As Cleese understandingly puts it: "They all had an air of 'we don't look at people who do that [standing in a rainy field in full armour for no clear reason]... because it only encourages them". Most. British. Mentality. Ever.

I love all the subtle jokes in this film; especially in the beginning when Arthur is arguing with the peasants who are just taking piles of dirt and putting them in other piles of dirt.

Terry Gilliam loved doing animations. He is responsible for the special effects.

Fun fact: this movie had two directors who alternated duties every other day and it was their first time making a movie. It could be said that the reason this movie us so unique is because they were learning to make movies while filming.

This movie was financed by Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin iirc, their next movie Life of Brian (serious religious overtones in its herecy) was financed by George Harrison.

Fun fact they could not figure out a ending so they have a “cop out” literally

I honestly can’t think of any film before Holy Grail that pioneered what could be the first example of ‘troll humour’ in regards to the film’s ending. It’s so insufferable, aggravating, hilarious and perfect.

James: "I know nothing about this movie" Me: "This is going to be Airplane! X10 levels of 'THAT'S where that's from!"

This really is one of the most perfect films of all time. My favorite detail is how they all yell "RUN AWAY!!" because at this point in history, the Normans hadn't invaded Britain and thus the word 'retreat', which is originally Old French, wasn't a part of English yet. In Old English during Arthurian times you'd literally just yell run away

18:16 when the rabbit goes for the throat I LOSE IT everytime. I love your line "that is a level 99 rabbit, you guys are not ready to run that raid." too perfect

This is by FAR one of the best comedies out there. You’ve GOT to see Life of Brian ASAP if you loved this. Their comedy is just so brilliant

Co-director, animator, and playing various characters in Holy Grail is Terry Gilliam - director of Brazil and Fear and Loathing and a bunch of other stellar films.

they literally couldnt afford horses so they used coconuts instead

James perfectly predicted the "He hasn't got shit all over him" joke, then laughed through it and might have missed it.

One of my favorite things about this movie is how many jokes and creative decisions just came from the hideously low budget. The coconuts because they couldnt afford horses, not going to camelot because they couldn't rent a castle, the police arresting them at the end because they couldn't afford to do a battle scene.

The scene where he runs towards the castle continuously is my favourite scene, I freaking love it. When I saw it for the first time, I remember checking the Netflix subtitles during the opening to see if they were on before realizing it was part of the joke. When I showed it to my sister, she did the same thing. 😂

Hey, James - loved the review. Just a note: The animation was not a cost-cutting measure. Python used animation throughout its original tv series (1969-1974). Terry Gilliam is the animator/co-director of Holy Grail. He went on the direct Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and many more films. I’m a huge Monty Python fan and I hope you get around to watching Life of Brian. Thanks!

Dude, you HAVE to watch the old Monty Python's Flying Circus episodes! By far the best comedy sketch show at that time!

I was a Holy Grail fan and dated a Life of Brian fan. We had never really paid much attention to each other's movie until we'd gotten together. No cable meant we switched between movies every night and can both recite each movie by heart now

Your mother was a hamster… father smelt of elderberries… Translation… “Your mother was promiscuous, your father was a drunk.”

I love how the “flesh wound” and Lancelot running bits are so well known that you recognized them. 🤣

"That is a level 99 rabbit, you guys are not ready to run that raid" LMAO

Not only is this movie hilarious, even its trivia page on IMDB makes my cry from laughter

This is such a brilliant film. Stay safe everyone!

Completely takes apart movies, the movie making process and even the movie viewing experience, and give you a good laugh along the way! Everyone quotes Monty Python, most times without even knowing it!

Omg these guys are amazing. Their movies and sketches are definitely my kind of humor. The Brits got the laughs that’s for damn sure! Haven’t started the reaction yet but I just know you’re gonna love it!

Love that you’re going in cold to this one James. Welcome to Python.

The beauty of Python is that they are incredibly literate and well versed in history, philosophy, etc., but they can mix that with slapstick and farce to create an impressive stew of satire and just plain silly humor. I agree with others here who have promoted Life of Brian (a favorite of mine) and I would add The Meaning of Life to your watch list. Also the Dead Parrot sketch, the cheese shop, the Bruce's philosophy sketch... there's just too much to Python!

Great reaction! Don't know if you picked up on it during the "Bring out your dead!" scene, because you were talking (I'm not hatin'!), but just a few seconds after you spoke of the stark divide between nobles and peasants in that era, the sanitation man speculated that the passing Arthur "must be a king." Why? "Because he hasn't got shit all over him." I guess insightful filmmakers just know the subtexts before they surface.

I think it was Michael Palin who summed up Monty Python's humour as talking about serious things in a silly way, and talking about silly things very seriously. "Life of Brian" is generally regarded as even better than this one. The animation style was the trademark of Terry Gilliam, who directed "Brazil". He was part of the Monty Python team, doing similar animations to link sketches for their sketch show that started in 1969.

“His whole purpose in life was to be a human email!” DUDE!!! More than you know!! For years I had *”SHHHHHHTHUUNNGGG!!! Message for you sir!!”* as my email notification sound!! And I’m hardly the only one who did that by far!! It’s a very popular sound file for that very reason!!” 🤣🤣🤣

A life is better for seeing this film.. "How do you know he's the king?" "He's the only one who doesn't have sh!t on him" - so fitting with your commentary lol

That ending was a cop out! :) Police got the wrong guys, King Arthur and his men don't have horses, and the guy who killed the old professor did.

Monty Python created an entire genre of humor. They are the reigning kings to this day. The absurdity of what they do goes so far beyond next level that it's just pure damn genius. Every single one of them is top notch. You gotta do Life of Brian next.

The budget for this movie was £2million but that only increased the comedy value for me, coconuts being my first example 🤣👍🇬🇧

-everybody watching this: cracking up because of the jokes -James: that camera angle is dope 😅

Seeing someone else watch a movie you’ve seen hundreds of time since childhood is such a bizarre experience. It wasn’t until your reaction video that I saw how much our “heroes” were all just a bunch of rich guys, don quixote-ing around in their deluded state while serfs were dying from famine and plague. This is NOW. This is so current to our times it hurts bc that means nothing has changed in 50 years. *so many layers to this masterpiece*

We’re so grateful to experience this journey with you bro. Your passion for film analysis is extremely contagious, as is your warm and humble attitude. Thanks for continuing to do this both for yourself and for us. Much love

I’m so glad you appreciated this movie. So many reactions were just “wtf did I just watch”. I saw it when I was a naïve 14 year old and seen it a gazillion times since. It just gets better each time. Of course, Life of Brian is now a must.

I'm from Catalonia, The Monty Phyton are idols here! Evreybody knows their films, I watched Life of Brian ( my favourite one) at High School and I have their amazing tv show on dvd. Love them!!!!

I love that literal cop out ending. Brilliant

This is such a great example of multilayered jokes that hit you hours later as you think more about them.

Such a great movie, one of my all time favourites.

Cool that you like the hand drawn stuff. It’s by Terry Gilliam, the guy that directed Brazil.

The Python's are on record saying this filming was filled with problems and they didn't enjoy it at all. You'd never know that with how great it came out. This and Life of Brian are maybe my 2 favorite comedy films of all time.

The French Taunter scene, the British and French have had ages of territorial disputes. So, no surprise the French Taunter is, well, such a jerk. King Arthur - "What are you doing in England?" French Taunter - "Mind your own business!"

Keep in mind that the guy who directed this directed Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as well. Gilliam’s direction is next level.

Damn you talked over some of the funniest bits

Each Monty Python movie have a half dozen documentaries written about there making and impact, these guys went on to act as the backbone for basically the entire British comedy and filmmaking scenes for decades not to mention there influences overseas. One of those rare times a group comes together where everyone is equally exceptional in there various crafts and they just go absolutely ham.

Clicked so fast!! Can't wait to see your reaction xx

This is the British "Airplane!" movie. Instead of spoofing 1970s disaster films, it spoofed the Arthurian legends in the way only the Monty Python guys can do. Also, it's my experience that people either love Monty Python humor or hate it, no in-between. I'm glad that you liked it.

I remember going to our local theater when this first came out. On opening day, everyone who came to see the movie was given a coconut. The coconuts were handed out from a mini Trojan rabbit in the lobby.

I think you're the first person I've seen go in blind to react to this and not go "wait, they don't get the grail" at the end. Everyone else always tries to process this like a typical linear Hollywood movie. You're the first one I've seen to catch on to what it is and just roll with it.

Great reaction. lol - no. The portrayal of "filth" in the "bring out your dead" scene - complete with people literally wallowing in the muck for want of anything else to do - was an extreme exaggeration for comedic effect that plays on one of the more common myths about the age despite the written and physical evidence tot he contrary. The scene in the courtyard of Swamp Castle (before Lancelot bloodies it up) is much closer to the reality. (edited b/c I dropped a couple of words).

Probably one of the best reactions to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" that I've ever seen. You really 100% get this movie. The same comedy troupe who did this movie did their take on a religious epic with "Monty Python's Life of Brian". I think that one would TOTALLY be up your alley, as well. Just a warning, it *fully* uses it's R-rating.

First time I saw this movie, I never looked at rabbits the same. That scene is one of my favorites of all times.

The Lads in Monty Python are so awesome they get their own category in Comedy History.

If it seems impressive for 1978, it should be even more impressive since it was actually 1975.

You should watch life of Brian next 😅😅

I have the audio from the scene of Concord getting shot with the arrow as my text notification. So many great lines in this movie!

During one of the first screenings of this movie in front of a live audience, co-writer and co-director Terry Jones noticed that when music was played during the jokes, there was a marked reduction of laughter from the audience. He went back and edited the music out whenever a punchline was delivered. At subsequent screenings, he noticed a dramatic increase in the audiences' positive reactions to the jokes. From that point on, whenever he directed, he remembered to stop the music for the funny parts.

That mud collecting peasant going on an anti-authoritarian political rant always cracks me up.

This has been one of my favorite movies since I saw it when I was about 10 or so. I recently showed it to my 9 year old grandson and he loved it even though he didn’t “get it.” “NE!!!!!!!” 😂👍

"The framing of these shots is really well done." Yeah, well they had to do something to hide the fact that they were all the one interior of the same castle!

One of the popular themes in medieval manuscript doodle/illustrations was subverting daily occurrences such as reversing hunting by illustrating the rabbits hunting the humans instead (sometimes in fairly graphic detail) so the idea of the killer bunny may have actually been inspired by that and not just a totally random choice which is a super cool detail if it was done deliberately.

James, you have to watch Life of Brian! If you loved Holy Grail, you would love that one too. Thanks for sharing your first time experience with this classic with us, it was a joy to see someone make the discovery. :)

personal belief that this is better than Life of Brian, great vid 👍

One really fun detail about the rabbit scene and perhaps some other inspirations. In medieval manuscripts killer rabbit doodles in the margins were actually a thing. Most historians consider it to be a common joke from the scribes from the time period. If anyone's interested in more info google the history of killer rabbits in manuscripts. I think that point is a good way to illustrate the sophistication employed. They found an actual joke from midieval times and made it work well.

I first saw this movie when I was in high school. I was sick and watching it when I had a fever. The "Knights of the Round Table" scene had me in stitches I feel off the couch laughing so hard, I had to rewind it get the parts I missed from laughing.

Love this, but Life of Brian is my favorite! I miss this type of humour nowadays.

The life of Bryan and the meaning of life are also great films by them. (Always look on the bright side of life will be played at my funeral if I have my way)

I really needed this. I was in a bad mood all day, and all these laughs straightened me right out. Thank you!

Thank you James. Seeing you laugh at the same things I've laughed at is uplifting. Your knowledge of cinema adds a whole lot. Laughter is so good and so important, and I'm sure you made a lot of people feel great too from watching this. Peace!

Blessed be thy holy hand grenade!

The Life of Brian is even better imo

These guys saved my life many times when was an Emo 13 year old. First tattoo was the Python foot. So glad you Popped Your Python Cherry LOL

This is one if the most iconic comedies ever made. Monty Python was a small group of British (and one American) writers/comedians who wrote and performed in a variety of British tv shows before getting together and doing their own show Monty Pythons Flying Circus. They did a series of movies next, this being the first. They had no budget so made that part of the joke. The next movie "Life of Brian" is brilliant. And yeah "It's but a flesh wound" came from this.

Yo you gotta do Life of Brian next!

The film was actually released in 1975, so even earlier than you thought! If you liked the grimy atmosphere check out 'The Jabberwocky', it was made by one of the Pythons and starred another one, alongside a whole host of British comedy greats.

Glad you agree, that Lancelot storming that castle to save the "fair maid" was a thing of cinematic epicness.

so glad you finaly reacted to this masterpiece!

You should definitely check out Life of Brian as well! It was actually banned in my country (Norway) for blasphemy, luckily that was before my time.

You gotta do 'Time Bandits' soon, directed by Terry Gilliam and featuring other Pythons and British actors like Ian Holm and Sean Connery, when I was 10 it was my favourite movie.

Their TV show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, was doing this fourth wall breaking back in 1969. And seeing Terry Gilliam’s Python animations let you see Brazil in a new light.

I know mel brooks is the american king of 4th wall breaks but in england it was for sure monty python, my favorite group of comedians ever!

Been waiting for you to watch this one. So good. Life of Brian is also good and has a great ending. You need to get Spaceballs on your list if you haven't already.

The "LOOK!!!!" "JESUS CHRIST!!!!" destroys me every time at the bunny scene.

On the one hand, it was a shame you had no knowledge of the fact that they were a popular British tv sketch show long before making this; and yet on the other hand getting to watch you take your first taste of this epoch of British hilarity and of these geniuses through this paragon of silliness, is priceless for us all. Thank you

James is one of the few reactors I watch in order to validate my own opinion on things I enjoy

Btw, just a quick fact, people in the middle ages weren't covered in filth, they were fairly clean. And that's just western Europe.

So stupid, so funny, so nonsensical. Monty Python.

1. I first saw this at a drive-in (Still there BTW)😎 2. In the credits they talk about the moose. 3. Perfect Monty Python where you can just get sucked into something where you don't have to think about anything and just let yourself go. 4. "What ya gonna do? Bleed on me." 🤣 5. The only real horse in this thing was the one ridden by the professor killer. 6. The reason for using coconuts was budgetary. Horses are expensive. Especially in entertainment. 5. The ending is a "cop out"

I loved watching this review having grown up with Monty Python and this movie. it was so interesting to see how you digested the same comedians playing multiple roles without the background of knowing they were the Python troupe. Some of my favorite lines of all time are in this film, and I'm glad you're into it now too

You've missed most of the gags and dialogue by only focusing on the cinematography. Shame.