Comedy Classic ‘Monty Python and The Holy Grail’ Returns to Theaters
by Alex Billington
October 18, 2023
“‘Tis but a scratch!” Iconic Events Releasing & Mercury Studios have announced a small event in December bringing the comedy classic Monty Python and The Holy Grail back to theaters. In celebration of the film’s 48 & 1/2th anniversary, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table will return to theaters for one night only two nights only! At least in 2023. Maybe there will be more nights again sometime in the future. This cinematic event kicks off in over 500 theatre locations nationwide on Sunday, December 3rd with encore screenings beginning on Wednesday, December 6th. Select locations will also be offering a fun “Quote-A-Long” version of the film for audiences to experience the joy in sharing together, as you quote your favorite lines with the characters. The film originally opened in the UK in 1975, with a small US release back then, plus another re-release 26 years later in the summer of 2001. Gather ye’ friends & get ye’ tickets.
If you know, you know. The references are no longer just jokes. They are indelible fixtures in the pop culture zeitgeist. The clack of two coconut halves, signaling the arrival of King Arthur on his “horse”. The need for a shrubbery. The audacity to think that a severed limb is anything more than “just a flesh wound”. And the fact that there is no need to go to Camelot, as it is just “a silly place”. Monty Python’s quintessential brand of comedy was so poignant, unique, and absurd, that quips from this film have endured and garnered laughs for nearly half a century. From the Knights Who Say “Ni!” to the ultimate burn: “your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!”, these genius puns, like the many works of Monty Python, remain relevant to this day. The film is regularly featured in Greatest Comedy Films of All Time lists. Click for info:
Directed by both Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones, Monty Python and the Holy Grail was originally released in 1975, just a year after the original “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” series ended in 1974. It was their first big feature before going on to make Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life in the following years (which are not getting re-released this year, maybe another time). In the new Quote-A-Long rendition of Holy Grail (check your local theater), fans not only witness the absurdity of Arthurian legend but also actively participate in the laughter. It’s a sidesplitting cinematic event that honors the timeless humor of Monty Python while inviting fans to quote, laugh, & sing-a-long like never before. Get ready to journey into a world of Medieval madness, coconut-clacking horses, and unforgettable one-liners in this uproarious version of this fun movie.
“Both Terry (Jones) and I were very keen on Pasolini’s films because they were always done in real places,” said Terry Gilliam about making the film. “You could smell them, you could (sniffs), you could feel it, the textures, the sounds and everything were all real and that was what we were trying to achieve, just that kind of reality. And I think in the end we did; we achieved a lot because nobody had done comedy like that before where you were so immersed in the time and place and the filth.”
Monty Python and The Holy Grail isn’t just a film – it’s a cultural landmark. The legendary comedy troupe’s send-up of King Arthur, the quest for Camelot, and its contextualized historic folklore established itself as a blueprint for satirical comedy. “Monty Python” remains one of the most iconic comedy collectives ever, influencing generations across theatre, music, TV, and film. Formed in 1969, members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin rose to prominence with their sketch comedy TV series Monty Python’s Flying Circus. This was followed by the publication of multiple books; the release of a number of hugely popular albums; live stage shows including tours around England, Canada and the US. In 2005, Python came to Broadway with the premiere of “Spamalot” – a smash-hit retooling of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which returns to Broadway this Fall. They continue to thrive today. The group’s influence on comedy, and beyond, is incomparable – synonymous with rampant silliness & a refusal to take anything seriously. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy and laugh at this movie with an audience again.
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