by David Morgan
Cleveland Plain Dealer, The, 258
Cleveland, Carol, 63–68, 123, 207–209; on EI, 67; on GC, 68; on GC’s alcoholism, 162; on Holy Grail, 162–163; on JC, 67–68, 197–198; on joining the Pythons, 63; on MP, 68; on nudity, 66; on TG, 67; on TJ, 67; on tour of Canada, 197–198
Clockwise, 259
Columbia Pictures, 185–186
Complete and Utter History of Britain, The, 9, 29, 148
Conway, Richard, 281
Cook, Peter, 6, 37, 140, 144, 211
Cooper, Alice, 185
Corbett, Ronnie, 15, 63
Cotton, Bill, 139
Crimson Permanent Assurance, The. See Meaning of Life, The
Cryer, Barry, 216
Curtis, Jamie Lee, 261
—D—
Dad’s Army, 28
Dalai Lama, the, 249
Dangerous Sports Club, The, 220, 294
Danson, Ted, 307
Davidson, Ian, 215
Davies, John Howard, 32–34, 64
De Niro, Robert, 265
De Wolfe Music Library, 178
Dean Martin’s ComedyWorld, 189
Death in Venice, 296
Deeley, Michael, 230
Deer Hunter, The, 230
Delfont, (Lord) Bernard, 231, 233
Denver, John, 188
Derek and Clive, 140
Devillier, Ron, 190
Dickus, Biggus, 236, 237
Discreet Charm of the Bourgoisie, The, 274
Do Not Adjust Your Set, 9, 17–18, 23, 26, 29, 36, 40, 71
Doctor at Large, 295
Doctor in the House, 216
Doctor Who, 210
Dors, Diana, 300
Doune Castle, 155, 157
Doyle, Julian, 146, 172, 246; on editing comedy, 174–177, 246–247; on editing Meaning of Life, 286; on filming Holy Grail, 157
Dr. Finlay’s Casebook, 32
—E—
Ealing Studios, 144
Eastern Educational Network, 190
El Cid, 51
EMI, 150, 180, 230–232
Erik the Viking, 111, 257
—F—
Fairy Tales, 304
Fantastic Stories, 304
Fawlty Towers, 3, 33, 84, 114, 139, 187, 255, 258, 260–261, 304
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 262, 297
Feldman, Marty, 8, 16, 22–24, 40, 80
Fellini, Federico, 272
Fields, W. C., 2, 193
Filmex (Los Angeles Film Festival), 179
Fish Called Wanda, A, 237, 255, 259, 261–262, 264, 291, 313
Fisher King, The, 169, 303
Footlights Club Foolights Revue, 6, 11, 14, 18, 210, 212
Forstater, Mark, 145–146, 155–156, 172, 176–178
Fortune, John, 260
Four Weddings and a Funeral, 291
Fox, Paul, 139
Frost Report, The, 6–7, 15, 18–19, 22, 24, 29, 48, 71, 83, 113, 221, 297
Frost, David, 6, 15–16, 24, 48, 83
Full Monty, The, 292
—G—
Garden, Graeme, 6, 15, 25
Garrison, Greg, 189
Genesis, 183
Gilbert, James, 29, 48
Gilliam, Holly, 266
Gilliam, Terry, 19–21, 31, 45, 104–107, 127, 146, 157, 181, 194, 268, 270, 291, 302; armed with poultry, 169; as actor, 199; as codirector of Holy Grail, 160–164; as designer of Life of Brian, 154; filming Brazil, 264; on a Python reunion, 309; on ABC trial, 203–204; on animation, 20, 58; on BBC, 70; on Cannes, 285, 293; on censorship, 137–138, 140–141; on codirecting Holy Grail, 163–164, 167, 229; on Crimson Permanent Assurance, 282; on designing Life of Brian, 240–242; on directing comedy, 240, 243; on directing for the first time, 152; on editing, 55, 63; on EI, 96–97, 141; on fame, 193; on filming, 50; on filming Holy Grail, 166–168; on first meetings of group, 31; on format of Python, 37; on fourth series, 199; on GC, 86, 90–91, 109, 199; on GC’s behavior, 193–194, 296–297; on group dynamic, 108–111, 229; on his responsibility toward Python, 311; on Ian MacNaughton, 34–35; on JC, 78, 109, 141; on Meaning of Life, 286; on MP, 93; on ostracized artists, 73; on possible Python films, 276, 310; on Python’s influence, 314; on subversive element, 199–200; on TJ, 102, 109, 229–230; on TJ directing Life of Brian, 229; on transvetism, 46; on U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, 307; on visual literacy, 62; on writing, 38; on writing with JC, 310
Gledhill, John, 186
Glen Coe, 158
Golden Skits of Muriel Volestrangler, The, 257
Goldstone, John, 102, 150, 154, 175, 178, 181, 252, 271, 290, 313; cohabitation, coercion towards, 152; on financing Life of Brian, 230; on GC, 256; on integrity of Pythons, 291; on Meaning of Life, 273, 277, 285; on Pythons’ solo work, 256
Goodies, The, 13
Goodnight Vienna, 217
Goon Show, The, 5–6, 72, 192
Grade, Lew, 233
Great American Dream Machine, The, 188
Greene, Hugh, 253
Gumby, 73
—H—
Half a Sixpence, 15
Hammer Studios, 144, 231
Hancock, Sheila, 17
Handmade Films, 232, 270–271, 273
“Hang Down Your Head and Die,” 7
Haring, Keith, 73
Harrelson, Woody, 307
Harrison, George, 231, 270
Harvey, 87
Hatch, David, 6, 13, 16
Help! Magazine, 19
Hemingway’s Chair, 257
Hendra, Tony, 6, 13
Hepburn, Katie, 58
Heston, Charlton: breasts of, 226
Hewison, Robert, 7, 133
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The, 210–211, 215
HMS Sheffield, 253
Home Box Office, 305, 307, 309
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, 192
Hope, Bob, 2
How to Irritate People, 18, 24
Humphries, Barry, 25
Hurok, Sol, 14
Hussein, Saddam, 282
—I—
I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again, 13, 15, 18, 221
Idle, Eric, 6, 9, 17–19, 23, 28, 44–45, 49, 57, 95–97, 152, 171, 174, 187, 198, 246, 253, 257, 273, 302; as editor of books, 114, 126; as woman, 46; collaborating with JC, 41; contributing to The Frost Report, 16; Life of Brian, 231; on controversy surrounding Life of Brian, 249; on directing comedy, 168; on editing comedy, 178; on format of Python, 31; on freedom, 37; on GC, 107; on group dynamic, 111–112, 142; on JC, 107, 143; on manipulation, 38; on Meaning of Life, 274, 276, 293; on MP, 107; on origin of Life of Brian, 225; on origin of Python, 26, 32; on Python books, 115; on solo work, 258, 313; on TG, 107, 168; on The Frost Report, 19; on TJ, 107, 168; on TJ as director, 45; on U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, 308; on writing, 39, 41; responsiveness factor of, 186
In God We Tru$t, 225
Innes, Neil, 9, 151, 175, 178, 268
Island Records, 152
ITV, 6, 26, 29
—J—
Jabberwocky, 102, 105, 156, 170, 228, 239, 256, 265, 313
Jaglom, Henry, 277
Jaquemain, Andre, 114
Jay, Tony, 16
Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory. See Life of Brian
Jones, Terry, 6–11, 19, 24, 37, 48–49, 55, 98–103, 109, 113, 119, 124, 146, 162, 206, 222, 304; as codirector, 160–163; as stone-kicker, 53; as woman, 47; contributing to The Frost Report, 16; on American audience, 192; on BBC bureaucracy, 140; on blasphemy in Life of Brian, 247; on casting, 154–155; on casting Brian, 233; on censorship, 135, 137–138; on codirecting Holy Grail, 154, 163, 168; on contract clause, 203; on Crimson Permanent Assurance, 284–285; on directing for the first time, 1 52–153; on directing Life of Brian solo, 228; on editing, 52, 55, 121; on editing comedy, 177; on editing Life of Brian, 246; on EI, 97; on filming “Sperm Song”, 279; on filming Holy Grail, 155, 158; on filming Life of Brian, 238, 245; on filming Mr. Creosote, 281; on first collaborating with MP, 7; on format of Python, 30; on fourth series, 198; on gastr
onomic intuition, 153; on GC, 81, 88; on group dynamic, 111–112; on Ian MacNaughton, 51–52; on JC, 80; on Meaning of Life, 274; on MP, 93; on production of TV shows, 54; on Python humor, 117; on reading out material, 43; on rushes, 172; on screenings of Holy Grail, 175; on TG, 106, 283; on The Complete and Utter History of Britain, 10; on The Frost Report, 7–8; on value as music critic, 254; on writing, 38; on writing Holy Grail, 147
—K—
Keaton, Buster, 2, 10
Kendall, Jo, 6, 13–14
Kerr, Walter, 14
Kind Hearts and Coronets, 144
King of Comedy, The, 285
Kington, Miles, 7
Klein, Kevin, 261
Kurtzman, Harvey, 19
—L—
Ladykillers, The, 144
Lasker, (Judge) Morris, 204, 205
Last Temptation of Christ, The, 252
Laugh-In. See Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In
Lavender Hill Mob, The, 144
Lean, David: on stretching parameters of book indices, 33
Led Zeppelin, 152, 175
Leibowitz, Annie, 186
Lester, Richard, 144
Lewis, Jerry: ignored in France, 293
Lewis, Nancy, 182–183, 185–192, 195, 250, 278, 282, 315; on ABC trial, 202–203, 205; on first Python appearances in U.S., 187; on stretching the limits of film viewing, 186
Liar’s Autobiography, A, 86, 294, 298
Life of Brian, 3, 45, 89, 106, 134, 154, 156, 179, 216, 224–254, 256, 268, 270, 289, 290, 308; accusations of blasphemy, 247; as blasphemous film, 231; banned, 250; Ben, 235; budget, 231, 233; crucifixion, 227, 241–242; distribution, 232; filming, 231, 238; financing, 230; interstellar link, 244; Messiah fever, 226; Nisus Wettus, 45, 303; Otto, 141, 251, 271; Pontius Pilate, 235–238; promotion, 250; Romani ite domum, 240
Lloyd, Harold, 2
“Loitering Within Tent”, 7
London, Brian, 193
Lownes, Victor, 118–119
Lucas, George, 313
Lyne, Adrian, 145, 156
Lynn, Jonathan, 6
—M—
MacBeth, Roman Polanski’s, 119
MacDonald, Aimi, 29
MacNaughton, Ian, 32–35, 49, 51–52, 55, 58, 63–64, 68, 72–73, 118, 122, 137, 199; on directing And Now for Something Completely Different, 152; on censorship, 134, 137, 139; on editing TV shows, 55; on filming, 53—55; on fourth series, 198; on GC, 90; on rehearsals, 53; on TG’s acting, 198; on transition to directing comedy, 32
Madigan, 20
Magic Christian, The, 17
Man Who Fell to Earth, The, 230
Marshall, Penny, 189
Martin, Steve, 261
Marx Brothers, The, 2, 72
Matmata, 241
Maude, 201
Maudling, Reginald, 193
May, Elaine, 260
McKenna, Bernard, 216
McKeown, Charles, 264
Meaning of Life, The, 3, 47, 100, 272–293, 309; “Sperm Song”, 278, 288, 292; Cannes Film Festival, 292; Crimson Permanent Assurance, 244, 282; fish, 273, 275; Mr. Creosote, 100, 112, 273, 280, 286, 292
Medavoy, Mike, 231
Michaels, Lorne, 110
Midnight Special, The, 184, 187
Milchan, Arnon, 265
Miller, Jonathan, 6
Milligan, Spike, 5–6, 32, 63, 72, 211; Q Series, 30, 35, 37
Mills, Michael, 25, 90, 122
Mischer, Don, 188
Missionary, The, 273
Mitchell, John, 204
Mona Lisa, 270
Mønti Pythøn ik den Hølie Gräilen. See Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Montreaux Festival, 122
Monty Pythone (group): arrival in America, 182–195; departure of John Cleese, 106, 255; dynamics of group, 108–117; jealousy within group, 262–263; origin of group, 22–29; public reaction towards, 57; reunion, 305; self-censorship, 141; tour of Canada, 186, 194
Monty Python (Fourth Series), 196; Golden Age of Ballooning, 197, 202; Light Entertainment War, 196, 204; Michael Ellis, 197, 202; Mr. Neutron, 3, 132, 196, 199, 206
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 3, 45, 51, 78, 116, 144–181, 226, 240, 255–256, 258, 288, 308; Album of…, The, 215; at Filmex, 179; Black Knight, 149, 172–174; Bridge of Death, 173; Bring Out Your Dead, 168; Castle Anthrax, 162; Constitutional Peasants, 168; disastrous investors’ screening, 175; distribution, 180, 231; distributors’ screenings, 179; dubbing, 229; edible excretia, 162; Knights Who Say ‘Ni!’, 158–159; liquor consumption in labor relations, 171; location shooting in Scotland, 156; original budget, 151; original screenplay, 146; promotion, 180; publicity, 192; raising financing for, 150–151; rushes, 172; score, 178; soundtrack, 175, 178; special effects, 160, 173, 244; Tim the Enchanter, 148; use of coconuts in, 148
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, 268
Monty Python’s Big Red Book, 126, 191
Monty Python’s Fish Film. See Meaning of Life, The
Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus, 122–123, 268
Monty Python’s Flying Circus, 2–3, 36–40, 64, 66, 68–74, 94, 121–122, 183, 200; alternate titles, 25; budget, 27, 49; casting, 89; censorship, 28, 56; critical response, 72; first broadcast, 69; location filming, 49–50; non-use of laugh track, 54; rehearsals, 64; revolutionary concepts, 1; shocking audiences, 56; taping TV shows, 54; U.S. broadcasts, 182. Sketches: Adolf Hilter for Minehead, 42; Astrology Sketch, 111; Bishop, The, 53; Bruces, 41; Cheese Shop, 45, 83, 131; Curry’s Brains, 137; Cycling Tour, 3, 55, 132; Dead Parrot, 40, 45, 82, 111, 116, 214, 268; Dennis Moore, 3; 131; Fish Slapping Dance, 303; Historical Impersonations, 16; Johann Gambolputty…of Ulm, 40; Man with 3 Buttocks, the, 40; Mouse Problem, 40; Nudge Nudge, 96; Oscar Wilde Sketch, 137, 139; Pet Conversions, 86; Piranha Brothers, 46; Sir George Head, 41; Spam, 113; Spanish Inquisition, 93, 134; 333 Spot the Loony, 50; Summarize Proust Competition, 137; Undertaker Sketch, 57, 135, 227; Upper Class Twit of the Year Show, 87; Wee-Wee Sketch, 138, 139, 143; Wife Swapping, 136
Monty Python’s Previous Record, 122
Monty Python’s World War III, 276
Moon, Keith, 219
Moore, Dudley, 6, 37, 140, 144
Morecombe and Wise, 72
Murray, Bill, 127
—N—
Naha, Ed: prerequisite for matrimony, 192
Nathan, Wynn, 191
Naughty Bits, 202
Newsweek Magazine, 15
Nichols, Mike, 260, 277
Nilsson, Harry, 217
Nixon, Richard, 20
Nunn, Trevor, 6
Nuns on the Run, 152
—O—
O’Brien, Denis, 231, 269, 272–273, 289
Occidental College, 109
Odd Job, The, 102
Oddie, Bill, 6, 13–15
Oh! Calcutta!, 152
Oliver!, 279
On the Buses, 150
Orion Pictures, 232, 250
Out of the Trees, 216
—p—
Palethorpe, Dawn, 193
Palin, Michael, 6–10, 19, 28, 92–94, 114, 181, 195, 252, 257, 261, 264, 288, 303, 306, 315; as Gumby, 184; as woman, 47; contributing to The Frost Report, 16; lapse in niceness, 162; on Britishness, 253; on character acting, 45; on character development, 235; on controversy surrounding Life of Brian, 248–250; on directors, 33; on EI, 95–96; on filming Brazil, 265; on first collaborating with TJ, 8; on format of Python, 36; on GC, 82, 237; on group dynamic, 114, 170; on JC, 77; on Life of Brian, 226; on origin of Python, 24; on performing, 45; on playing Ben, 235; on Pontius Pilate, 235–237; on Python humor, 115–117; on Python without GC, 308; on reading out material, 42; on response to Python, 71; on sacrificing silly smaller roles, 155; on solo work, 257; on speech defects, 237; on TG, 104–106, 169; on The Complete and Utter History of Britain, 9, 24; on The Cycling Tour, 132; on TJ, 98–99; on writing, 39–40, 48; on writing Holy Grail, 148; on writing Meaning of Life, 292; on writing with TJ, 132
Paragon Entertainment (Paragon Picture
s), 232, 269, 271
Pasolini, Pier Paolo, 51
Patton, Gen. George S.: as unwitting inspiration for heretical film, 224
PBS, 179, 183, 190–191, 194, 200, 206
Perelman, S. J., 259
Personal Services, 102
Pethig, Hazel, 173, 228
Phillips, Arlene, 279
Pink Floyd, 152, 175
Pinter, Harold, 261
Ponti, Carlo, 25
Pratt, Roger, 156
Private Function, A, 270
Privates on Parade, 259
Prominent Features, 255
Pryce, Jonathan, 264
Pryor, Richard, 2
Pulp Fiction, 261
Python Productions, Ltd., 118
Pythonettes, The, 308
Pythonline, 115
—Q—
Q Series, 68, 72
Queen Mother, the: her role in determining comedian’s destiny, 14
—R—
Radio Times, 68
Rank, 150
Redwood Recording Studios, 114
Reiner, Carl, 189
Reiner, Rob, 189
Rennie, Michael, 217
Ripping Yarns, 3, 255; “Roger of the Raj”, 303
Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, The, 83
Rising Damp, 150
Robert, Yves, 180
Rocky Horror Picture Show, The, 152
Roeg, Nicholas, 230
Rolling Stone, 187
Round the Home, 23
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, 2, 28
Rugoff, Don, 179; effects of narcolepsy, 180
Rutles, The, 255
—S—
Saturday Night Live, 44, 110, 112, 127, 315
Schlatter, George, 28, 188
Scorsese, Martin, 252, 285
Scott of the Antarctic (the real one), 276
Scott, Ridley, 145
Secombe, Harry, 5
Sellers, Peter, 5, 17, 232
Sha Na Na, 185
Shanks, Bob, 202–203
Sherlock, David, 48, 57, 173; on fans’ reaction to GC’s death, 301; on filming Holy Grail, 170; on GC, 84–87; on GC’s alcoholism, 87; on GC’s death, 297; on GC’s funeral, 300; on Holy Grail, 155; on Life of Brian, 234
Siegel, Joel, 20
Sinatra, Frank: cardboard replica of, 250
Skynner, Robin, 260, 263
Sloane, Tom, 28
