Monty Python At 50 - The Meaning Of Live / And The Rest...

While this was the penultimate screening that I went to, it seems fitting to post this one as the last as it feels like the final word to say on Monty Python as a performing group. Produced by Holly Gilliam (daughter of Terry), it follows the coming together of the group for the final run of sold out live shows at the O2 back in 2014. Surprisingly, I didn't actually go to these - there was a part of me that wasn’t sure it was be as good seeing them running through a greatest hits back catalogue many years after their glory days as a group. Having watched this documentary now, though, I realise I’d misunderstood what it was. On the one hand, as they make abundantly clear in the documentary, it was done purely to pay off debts accrued as a result of a legal case against Spamalot (the Broadway musical based on Holy Grail)! What it actually was for the Python fan, was a farewell hurrah from a group who may well have had their differences over the years but, like any family that bickers and fights, are still there for each other in the end.

The documentary also has an added level of poignancy to it as, at the time, no one was aware of Terry Jones’ dementia. Comments are made by Jones himself as to how he’s struggling with his memory as well as by the others who ascribe his difficulties during rehearsal to the fact that he hasn’t performed love for decades. It’s clear that he is having trouble, highlighted in one sequence where he makes a comment about John and the other struggle to understand what he means, which makes the fact the he goes and performs in all ten shows all the more impressive.

Overall, it’s a fascinating documentary, highlighting not just the O2 shows but the history of Monty Python performing live. Given the loss of Graham Chapman and now Terry Jones’ condition, it very much feels like this is the final outing for them as a group.

And The Rest...

There are some notable omissions from the list. I went to as much as I could but sometimes I had other stuff to do! As such, I missed out on three of the films - And Now For Something Completely Different, Live At The Hollywood Bowl and The Meaning Of Life - plus the series itself as mentioned before. I feel like I should cover these off for completeness (look, if you haven’t worked out I’m a slightly obsessive collector type by now, you clearly haven’t been paying proper attention) so maybe stay tuned for a brief addendum later on in the year (I’m about to launch myself fully into the London Film Festival 2019 so there’s your theme for the next month…).

In the meantime, this post will be going out on the eve of the 50th anniversary itself so happy anniversary for tomorrow, Python chaps, and thanks for the laughs.