Which Monty Python Film Was That? Quiz

Answer: And Now for Something Completely Different

The Dead Parrot scene is a Monty Python classic. John Cleese plays the part of Mr. Praline who is complaining about being sold a dead parrot by the shopkeeper, played by Michael Palin. At the beginning of the scene, we learn that Mr. Praline bought the parrot a half hour prior to his return.

The shopkeeper tries to convince Mr. Praline that the parrot is not dead but sleeping. As the scene goes on Mr. Praline smacks the dead parrot on the counter to prove he is not sleeping at which point the shopkeeper says the animal is now stunned! In an interview, Michael Palin says the idea for the sketch came from a used car salesman who came up with every excuse as to why a car was in perfect condition despite clearly falling apart. "The Dead Parrot" sketch first appeared in episode 8 of the 1st season of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Answer: And Now for Something Completely Different

"The Lumberjack Song" is another Monty Python classic. The scene starts out with a weatherman wishing he were a Lumberjack. Soon a silly song follows about the things the lumberjack does like cutting down trees, sleeping at night, eating lunch, and having buttered scones with tea.

The song starts to stray with the lumberjack wearing women's clothing including a bra and high heels. It concludes with him wishing he was a girlie like his papa. The song was written by Terry Jones and Michael Palin and produced by George Harrison.

The song's first appearance was on the 9th episode of the 1st season of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Answer: And Now for Something Completely Different

Hell's Grannies are a group of four old ladies who go around terrorizing helpless young men. Eric Idle is the announcer who tells about this horrific tale. The grannies go around smacking young men with their purses and pushing them out of the way. They trip ladies walking in the street.

At one point they even steal a telephone booth! Then there are the grown-up-sized babies who steal a healthy middle-aged man. The four ladies and babies are played by John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, and Michael Palin.

The skit first made its appearance on episode 8 of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

Answer: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The often-quoted scene of the Black Knight opens with him fighting the Green Knight. Arthur (played by Graham Chapman) witnesses Black's victory and invites the knight to join the king in his quest for the Holy Grail. The Black Knight (played by John Cleese) stands motionless and does not respond until Arthur tries to cross the bridge. The Black Knight tells the king that "none shall pass!" Arthur engages the knight in a sword fight and first cuts off the knight's left arm. The knight refuses to admit his arm is gone and continues to fight. The knight's right arm is cut off next and he proceeds to kick the king. Finally, Arthur has to cut off both legs as well before he is able to walk over the bridge. The knight acts like nothing is wrong and calls Arthur a coward for running away!

John Cleese said the idea for the Black Knight scene came from his school days when a teacher told of two ancient Roman wrestlers who were so tired they could not move. One of the wrestlers finally tapped out but it was then discovered his opponent was dead. The moral of the story was as long as you don't admit defeat you cannot lose!

Answer: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The French taunters make a couple of different appearances in "The Holy Grail", both times at the top of a castle wall. The first appearance is entitled "Why No One Likes The French". Arthur and his growing entourage stop outside the castle and request the lord of the castle to join the quest for the Holy Grail. The French guard starts taunting Arthur and his men and insults start to fly. The guards catapult a cow over the wall and it lands on one of Arthur's men. The brave, foolish knights storm the castle to have all kinds of other livestock thrown at them including chickens! Their attack accomplishes nothing of course.

The taunting scene has inspired a trope entitled "drop the cow" for when a sketch has gone on too long and the humor is wearing thin. The Pythons have stated in interviews that there is a precedent for catapulting livestock both in and out of besieged cities, though probably not a cow. Animals launched into a city would often be diseased with the hopes of infecting the inhabitants. As for why the Pythons chose a cow? They said cows are just silly!

Answer: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Tim the Enchanter tries to warn Arthur and his knights that the Rabbit of Caerebannog is a killer, but the cute little bunny does not impress the intrepid warriors. That is until Sir Bors tries to attack the bunny who quickly bites off the knight's head! After much mayhem and regrouping, the crew decides to use the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch to finally defeat the dreaded rabbit.

You might be surprised to learn there is a precedent for knights fleeing from rabbits in medieval art and literature. The suggestion is a metaphor for cowardice. The Pythons' inspiration came from a wall sculpture in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris where a knight is literally running away from a rabbit. The true irony is recognizing the difference between cowardice and true foolhardiness. Arthur's knights prove again and again they are not up to the task of making smart decisions much to the humor of millions.

Answer: Monty Python's Life of Brian

The Pontius Pilate scene is found in "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Played by Michael Palin, Pontius Pilate is outraged when his soldiers can't stop laughing at the name of his friend Biggus Dickus. He proceeds to go around trying to see if his soldiers can keep a straight face which many can not. The soldiers really struggle when it is revealed that the wife of Biggus is Incontinentia Buttocks.

According to the "Monty Python's Encyclopedia", only the original mention of Biggus Dickus was in the script. When some of the actors actually could not stop laughing, Michael Palin improvised and continued the scene. Palin reflected, in his diaries, that this scene required a decent bit of improv as it had to be shot 20 times. Coming up with fresh humor to get a genuine reaction became challenging. He said he came up with a dozen names for the wife before landing on Incontinentia Buttocks.

Answer: Monty Python's Life of Brian

The Stoning scene has a man, named Matthias, in chains being accused of blasphemy for saying the Lord's name out loud. John Cleese plays the role of the high priest who is MUCH taller than everyone else and is dressed in fine robes. The priest gets suspicious that the people gathered to stone Matthias are actually women disguised as men. When Matthias says the Lord's name a stone is thrown at him. The priest commands the crowd to stop until he gives the signal to throw. Things quickly get out of hand though as others mention the Lord's name and stones get thrown at them. Finally, the high priest says the Lord's name and the crowd stones him and finishes off by dropping a boulder on him!

Scenes like this one caused the film to be banned in several countries for blasphemous content. Even Norway banned the film for being insensitive and offensive to religious people. Sweden chose not to ban the film calling it "The film so funny that it got banned in Norway!" Several religious groups across the US also protested outside of theaters with signs suggesting that pythons = snakes = Satan. The Python's themselves thought the protests were fantastic for business as the louder it got the more people wanted to see the film!

Answer: Monty Python's Life of Brian

Eric Idle wrote the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" for the conclusion of "Monty Python Life of Brian". The scene has the main character, Brian, dying on a cross beside others also being hanged. Understandably, the mood is bleak, but Idle's character, a fellow victim, tries cheering Brian up with the happy song. Soon the rest of the crucified men and mourners join in the song and its catchy chorus. The song goes through several stanzas about life being difficult or sad but that it is best to just whistle and always look on the bright side of life! The song is a nod to the British stoicism of looking disaster in the face with fortitude.

During filming for the song, the initial reaction was lukewarm by the fellow cast. It was not until cheekiness was added to the chorus that the rest of the crew started coming around. Since the filming, the song has become a classic and made an appearance on the Broadway play "Spamalot" and even the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

Answer: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

In the film "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life", Mr. Creosote is a morbidly obese man played by Terry Jones. The scene takes place in a fine French restaurant where Mr. Creosote proceeds to eat everything on the menu and promptly throws it all up. It is a truly repulsive and unforgettable scene that I won't describe.

In the end, Mr. Creosote eats a thin mint after the dinner and proceeds to literally explode. Somehow, still alive, the Maitre d', played by John Cleese, hands Mr. Creosote the bill. For a scene that very few wish to rewatch, it certainly has been parodied or referenced frequently in pop culture.

The inspiration for Mr. Creosote is a metaphor for a nuevo rich person who does not know how to handle their wealth and is wasteful and glutinous.

Answer: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

In "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" there is a scene where the school boys are to take on the adult masters in a rugby match. The comical scene shows a team of ten-year-olds facing off against full-grown men and the slaughter that ensues. At one point one of the boys manages to sneak away with the ball and is running down the field unnoticed to score...until one of the professors on the sideline trips him! The scene is a parody on the unfairness of life at times.

Answer: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

The Crimson Permanent Assurance company started as a short film placed at the beginning of "The Meaning of Life". The skit starts out with an old established London business being taken over by the much younger "Very Big Corporation of America". The opening scene has a room full of old men in accountant attire toiling away at their calculators to the beat of a slave ship drum.

When one of the old men gets fired the rest rise up and overthrow the new corporate owners. In Python logic they proceed to turn the office building into a pirate ship and sail across the ocean to attack the corporate headquarters. Everything from ceiling fan blades to coat hooks are used as weapons against the unsuspecting corporate boardroom. Due to the length and complexity of the "Crimson Permanent Assurance" piece, Terry Gilliam convinced the other Pythons to make it a short film to place at the beginning of the film rather than a skit within the film.