Monty Python at Work

by Michael Palin

Overview

Drawn from his published diaries, this is Michael Palin's account of the making of the Monty Python TV and stage shows, films, books and albums.

Monty Python at Work opens on 8th July 1969 with Michael Palin's diary entry for the first day of filming on the very first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The diary entries that follow – up until the opening of their final feature film, The Meaning of Life, in 1983 – chart the tumultuous story of how the now famous shows and films were conceived and brought to life.

Palin records the evolution of Monty Python's comic style, the moments of creative inspiration as well as discord, the persistent self-doubt, and the happy accidents that shaped what are now classic comedy moments.

He captures too the group's many anarchic exploits (John Cleese in a bikini; driving a Budget Rent-a-Van up Glencoe in full chainmail; filming 'Scott of the Sahara' on the beach at Torquay…), as well as their battles with BBC suits, budget-conscious film producers and self-appointed censors. 

Thanks to Palin's as-it-happened accounts, we are taken behind the scenes to watch with unrivalled intimacy the creative processes that led to the finished work, seeing how it was actually put together. By distilling everything about the Pythons at work, this edition of Palin's diaries serves as an intimate guide to the legendary shows, films, books and albums. It will delight Python fans everywhere, and be a source of instruction and inspiration to those who seek to follow in their footsteps.

'No writer-performer has combined professional hilarity and personal sanity more successfully than Michael Palin. Anyone interested in how comedy happens should hang on his every word.' David Mitchell

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780014760
Publisher:	Hern, Nick Books
Publication date:	06/26/2014
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	926 KB

About the Author

Michael Palin established his reputation with Monty Python's Flying Circus and Ripping Yarns. His work also includes several films with Monty Python, as well as The Missionary, A PrivateFunction, an award-winning performance as the hapless Ken in A Fish Called Wanda, American Friends and Fierce Creatures.

His television credits include two films for the BBC's Great Railway Journeys, the plays East of Ipswich and Number 27, Alan Bleasdale's GBH, and the three-part BBC drama, Remember Me.

He has written books to accompany his eight very successful travel series, Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya, New Europe and Brazil. He is also the author of a number of children's stories, the play The Weekend, and the novels Hemingway's Chair and The Truth. Michael's three volumes of diaries are 1969–1979: The Python Years, 1980–1988: Halfway to Hollywood and 1988–1998:Travelling to Work.

In 2014, Michael and his fellow Pythons performed a ten-night sell-out show called Monty Python Live at the O2 Arena, London. Between 2009 and 2012, Michael was President of the Royal Geographical Society.

Michael Palin established his reputation with Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Ripping Yarns. His work also includes several films with Monty Python, as well as The Missionary, A Private Function, an award-winning performance as the hapless Ken in A Fish Called Wanda, American Friends and Fierce Creatures.

His television credits include two films for the BBC’s Great Railway Journeys, the plays East of Ipswich and Number 27, Alan Bleasdale’s GBH, and the three-part BBC drama, Remember Me.

He has written books to accompany his eight very successful travel series, Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya, New Europe and Brazil. He is also the author of a number of children’s stories, the play The Weekend, and the novels Hemingway’s Chair and The Truth. Michael’s three volumes of diaries are 1969–1979: The Python Years, 1980–1988: Halfway to Hollywood and 1988–1998: Travelling to Work.

In 2014, Michael and his fellow Pythons performed a ten-night sell-out show called Monty Python Live at the O2 Arena, London. Between 2009 and 2012, Michael was President of the Royal Geographical Society. 

(Photo by John Swannell)

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction xi

Editorial Note xii

Chapter 1 The first BBC television series: Monty Python's Flying Circus (July-December 1969) 1

Chapter 2 The second BBC television series; the first film: And Now for Something Completely Different; the first record album (January-December 1970) 9

Chapter 3 Live stage show at Coventry; the second record album: Another Monty Python Record; Monty Pythons Big Red Book; Bavaria Television Show in Munich; the third BBC television series; Lincoln Pop Festival (January 1971-August 1972) 23

Chapter 4 The third record album: Monty Python's Previous Record; the second Munich show(September 1972-January 1973) 35

Chapter 5 The first live road tour; writing the second film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail; live stage tour of Canada; publicity on US television (January-June 1973) 43

Chapter 6 Plans for a fourth television series; the second book: The Brand New Monty Python Bok; writing Monty Python and the Holy Grail; the fourth record album: The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief live stage show at Drury Lane {August 1973-April 1974) 51

Chapter 7 Filming Monty Python and the Holy Grail (April-May 1974) 65

Chapter 8 Editing Monty Python and the Holy Grail; launch of the fifth record album: Monty Python Live at Drury Lane; work on the fourth television series (June-November 1974) 75

Chapter 9 A further television series considered; the television series launched in the US; Monty Python and the Holy Grail opens in the UK; the Holy Grail record album (November 1974-April 1975) 85

Chapter 10 Monty Python and the Holy Grail opens in New York; plans for a live stage show in New York; legal challenge to ABC Television goes to court (April-December 1975) 97

Chapter 11 Live stage show in New York; early discussions of the third film: Life of Brian; Live at City Center record album (January-September 1976) 111

Chapter 12 Writing the third film: Life of Brian; publication of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book) (November 1976-September 1977) 119

Chapter 13 Compilation record album: The Monty Python Instant Record Collection; more work writing and casting Life of Brian (September 1977-January 1978) 133

Chapter 14 Further work on writing, financing and casting Life of Brian (January-September 1978) 139

Chapter 15 Filming Life of Brian in Tunisia (September-November 1978) 151

Chapter 16 Editing and publicising Life of Brian; a marketing trip to the US; record album based on the film soundtrack; book of the film: Monty Pythons Life of Brian /Montypythonscrapbook (November 1978-August 1979) 165

Chapter 17 Life of Brian opens in the US, then in the UK; reactions (August-November 1979) 179

Chapter 18 Writing the new film: The Meaning of Life; new record album: Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album (November 1979- July 1980) 191

Chapter 19 Monty Python at the Hollywood Bowl: live show, record album and short film; work continues on writing The Meaning of Life (July 1980-July 1981) 203

Chapter 20 The final twelve months of work on writing The Meaning of Life, in between work on other projects involving the Pythons as individuals (July 1981-July 1982) 215

Chapter 21 Filming The Meaning of Life (July-September 1982) 223

Chapter 22 Editing and opening of The Meaning of Life; a 'family' wedding and the first Python group meeting for over a year (December 1982-December 1983) 231

Epilogue 238

A Basic Chronology 240