Movies That Have Moved Me
As a kid, I loved the Three Stooges, and then, as I acquired a smidge of subtlety, moved on to Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin. Mark Twain mentored me as an aspiring writer (my earliest pieces were blatant imitations of him). But Twain-ian irony eventually scooted over to make room for Lewis Carroll’s brilliant, nonsensical wordplay (Alice in Wonderland). Absurdity, I discovered, was my native dialect; I never tired got of watching Billy Wilder’s rapturously ridiculous Some Like it Hot.
My love of the absurd took a giant leap forward when, as a teenager, I discovered the Marx Brothers (Margaret Dumont: “Hold me closer!” Groucho: “If I hold you any closer I’ll be in back of you”). Duck Soup still runs in my veins. Then, beginning with Blazing Saddles, I realized I’d always loved parodies — the first script I ever wrote was a TV spoof for the 6th Grade Talent Show. Eventually, Airplane, Young Frankenstein, and This is Spinal Tap refined my satirical sensibilities. Without the influence of these films and the one below, I doubt I’d have ever made my first comedy feature film, the “cult classic comedy” (MovieWeb) Notzilla.
But the film that connected all the comedic dots for me was Monty Python and the Holy Grail, a manically over-the-top parody that completed shooting fifty years ago this month. I returned to the theatre again and again, analyzing its nonsensical sensibilities: The Black Knight pointed out the absurdity of superfluous “manliness;” the witch trial illustrated the incoherent cruelty of unsupported accusations (“She turned me into a newt!” Pause. “Well, I got better”).
I felt empowered–no chosen–to be funny. Why? Because the best comedy, I realized, no matter how absurd (or rather because it’s absurd), doesn’t just make you laugh, it makes you think. The underlying truth of absurd humor is the fact that people are absurd. Yes, they can sometimes be noble, and yet–
Blog post ends suddenly and unexpectedly (even, one might say, rudely).
“Now, go away or I will taunt you a second time.”
50 years?! Seems this movie, just like me, never let’s old 😄🙏
I agree!
It can’t be 50 years! So many great lines from this movie, even at 50, they’re still funny. Maggie
I’ve been in jolly groups of folks quoting classic screamers from this movie for fifteen minute stretches. I don’t believe there’s a not-funny line anywhere in it, but the nuns at Castle Anthrax take the cake. No ~ the French taunting. No ~ the “questions three”…
;>)
I still have not seen this. But now after this post, I am on a mission to watch it this week.
How have I not seen this yet ? 😂😱🤦🏻♂️🤷
Indeed, Willie, seeing Monty Python and the Holy Grail is your new mission, your sacred (well, OK, secular) holy grail.
I will definitely be watching it. I will keep you posted.
I will definitely be watching it. I will keep you posted.
We still love The Marx Brothers in our family and ‘Sons of The Desert’ by Laurel & Hardy is pure genius.
Ah…I wish you could see/hear me laughing. You are a talented man, Mitch Teemley and all of those sparks of comedic inspiration come through in what you do, what you share…even the poignant, though-provoking aspects, just as you said. Making me think. Keep the taunting coming, okay? 🥰
Aw, bless you, Vicki, and will do.
💕😉💕
Fun post, Mitch! Whenever there is a minor injury in our house, either me or my husband will spout off, “it’s only a flesh wound!” or quote a line from Young Frankenstein or Groucho and something about an elephant in pajamas!
;>)
Blog ends: Hauntingly? Ominously? Precipitously? Laughingly? Finally?
Belatedly?
;>)
I also love Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, and the Marx Brothers. And “Some Like It Hot” is one of the funniest movies ever made, although I doubt it could be made today.
Very true, BoB.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail was required entertainment on every single long band trip. If we didn’t have it on the bus, we started from the beginning and the kids quoted it word for word for the whole movie.
My daughter was taking a final in college and the bonus question was, “What is the average speed of an unladened sparrow?” To which she replied, “African or European?” And she was the only one that got it right.
Then there was Benny Hill…
Same with my son: He quoted it word for word. 🙂
;>)
😁
Ha ha. Mitch! Just love your ending. And yes I have always believed that laughter is the best medicine. Thank you for you wildly funny mind!
Aw, bless you, Joanne!
I went down the same roads as far as film goes. When Python came along, I found the holy grail of comedy. I still use the phrase…”it’s only a scratch.”
How fast half a century flies! I just read that fifty years ago today, on June 26, 1974, the first barcode was scanned.
! I had no idea it went that far back, Linda.
Love it! And remember it well! Hilarious!
Great movie, another classic.
Was that really 50 years ago? Oh man! One of my fav parts was “Brave, brave Sir Robin” with the clip-clop coconuts, the pretend song, and the little ditty 😂🤣
*pretend horses
Did you know they planned to use horses, and when they couldn’t get them actually came up with the coconuts bit on the spot?
I didn’t know that! Cool!
Did you ever see “Fawlty Towers” with John Cleese? Hilarious 😂🤣
Yes! I only caught a few episodes, but my wife loved ‘Fawlty Towers’ and watched the series from start to finish.
Okay, I’m going, I’m going…😂
I LOVE Monty Python!!
Damn! I have too much fun with my other half about him being older than certain sports or movies… Holly crap! I was 3 years and 8 months old when this movie was released.
!!!
I was born in 1970; he was born in 1964… I’m actually older than this movie when I thought the movie was older.
And never forget Sir Galahad’s spanking skit or the killer rabbits.
;>)
loved, loved holy grail
People weren’t as sensitive during the Monty Python era, so it was no holds barred! 🙂
I absolutely loved Monty Python. There was a group of us who worked together and we saw The Holy Grail enough times we could quote the film in it’s entirety! Later, when “Life of Brian” came out all my church friends were pretty convinced I was a heathen damned for eternity…
;>)
Monty Python movies were great!
Loved Monty Python.
50 years, wow… This is Gary’s all-time favorite movie… and we quote it often to this day. 😅 Such fun! Great trivia about the horses and coconuts. He might know that, but I didn’t.
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This movie is such a classic
I had the pleasure of watching this movie so many times with my sons that we all could mouth the dialogue!
‘Tis but a scratch!
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