Monty Python Cast Members Videos and DVD

Director: Charles Crichton

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline

My Views: Mostly hilarious. Written by John Cleese, it manages to capture the zany spirit of Monty Python without being quite as off-the-wall. Kevin Kline won a 'Best Supporting Actor' Academy Award (well deserved) for his role as Otto. Possibly the funniest film any of the cast members did as outside projects. This film is currently available in both VHS and DVD formats.

Director: Fred Schepisi and Robert M. Young

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline

My Views: Reunited the cast of 'A Fish Called Wanda', but was not a sequel. Didn't attract the media attention of Wanda, but was still quite funny. This time the plot centered around a zoo instead of a jewel theft. John Cleese once again wrote the script and once again wound up as Jamie Lee Curtis' love interest. A coincidence no doubt. A lot of tongue-in-cheek references to early Python material and 'A Fish Called Wanda' add to the fun. This film is available in VHS, Widescreen VHS and DVD format.

Director: Mel Damski

Cast: Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese,Peter Boyle, Peter Cook, Madeline Kahn, Martin Hewitt, Marty Feldman, Cheech and Chong, James Mason, Susanna York

My Views: The critics hated this movie, but I think it got a bum rap. Much of the humor was in bad taste, even by Monty Python standards, which tended to divide the audience between 'hated it' because of the bad taste, or 'liked it' because it was in bad taste. Mostly, it fell somewhere in the middle. Occasionally very funny, sometimes quite slow, it's biggest fault was not using a great cast to better effect. Written by Chapman and Cook, it could have been so much more. It was Marty Feldman's last film. Unfortunately, this title is currently out of print and is not readily available for purchase. If you're looking to buy a copy try your local video rental places to see if they have a used copy to spare, or try online auction sites like eBay. It's easy to find there, but usually quite expensive. Hopefully it'll be released on DVD eventually.

Director: Johnathon Lynn

Cast: Eric Idle, Robbie Coltrane

My Views: A film that didn't get nearly as much recognition as it deserved. Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane were a great match playing mobsters trying to hide from a vengeful boss by masquerading as nuns. A lot better than 'Sister Act' which covered the same territory with a lot less humor, but a good deal more music. It gets just a bit slow in a few places, but never for long. It's only available in VHS format, but it's worth seeing no matter how it's shown.

Director: Robert M. Young

Cast: Eric Idle, John Cleese, Rick Moranis, Barbara Hershey

My Views: A very amusing little film. Eric Idle both co-wrote the screenplay and stars as an English Duke out to claim his rightful title from an American usurper. The problems? Erics lawyer advocates murder as the best recourse, the American 'Duke' is Eric's best friend and Eric's mother, the Duchess, is unaware that he's her son and wants his body. Slow in places some places and silly in others, but overall a lot of fun. John Cleese has an excellent role as the homicidal lawyer. It's available in VHS format.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Michael Palin, Max Wall, Deborah Fallender

My Views: Another film which got relatively poor reviews (when it got noticed at all) that didn't entirely deserve them. The biggest problem with this movie was that it covered virtually the same topic (medieval lunacy) as 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' after a gap of only 2 years. Judged on it's own merits, it's a decent, although certainly not great, comedy. It only suffers in comparison to the Holy Grail. This film is out of print and not available from the usual commercial outlets. Check your local video store for a used copy or check online auctions. It's findable, but like most auction items, usually overpriced.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Sean Connery, Shelly Duvall, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond

My Views: Six dwarfs and a schoolboy are chased by God through history, meeting some famous historical characters. Visually impressive (as are all films that Gilliam directs) and for the most part pretty funny, it's like 'Yellowbeard' in that it doesn't reach it's potential. Written by Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, and with a great cast, it could have been a classic. Still, it's worth watching. It can be found in VHS, Widescreen VHS, DVD and Criterion Collection DVD formats.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Eric Idle, Robin Williams (uncredited), Johnathon Pryce, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Sting

My Views: A very good film. Extremely visual (as is the case with all movies Gilliam directs) and quite funny. Since the good Baron is an outrageous liar, Gilliam's flair for the outrageous is a great match for this particular film. Defintely worth seeing. It's available in VHS and DVD formats.

Director: Joseph McGrath

Cast: John Cleese, Shirley MacLaine, Richard Attenborough

My Views: I never got to see this one. It's one of those things I keep meaning to try to watch, but something always comes up. I'll post a review as soon as I get around to it. The reviews from the real critics are quite good. It's available in VHS.

Director: Christopher Morahan

Cast: John Cleese, Penelope Wilton, Alison Steadman

My Views: John Cleese didn't write this one, but he's never played a role that was more perfect for him. John plays an uptight (what else?) schoolmaster who is obsessed with being on time. On his way to deliver a speech, a series of accidents and other misfortunes leave him racing against the clock. The movie is only fair if you're not a big fan of John's style of humor, but is hilarious if you are. It's available in VHS.

Director: John Cleese

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Connie Booth

My Views: An excellent collection of Monty Python type sketches. Always amusing and often hilarious, this is a must see! The Airline Pilots and the Job Interview sketchs have become cult favorites (and rightfully so), but all of the material is funny. It's available on VHS

Director:

Cast: John Cleese and Prunella Scales, et al

My Views: All 12 episodes of the hilariously funny Fawlty Towers series compiled onto 4 video cassettes.

Director: Jonathan Miller

Cast: The entire Python gang

My Views: The first of the Amnesty International benefit concerts. Best known for an awesome live version of the Dead Parrot sketch. It's available on VHS

Director: Roger Graef

Cast: The whole Python gang, Pete Townshend, Rowan Atkinson

My Views: Another Amnesty International benefit show, and another mix of some classic British Comedy and music. Not great, but not bad. It's on VHS

Director: Julien Temple

Cast: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Jeff Beck

My Views: About a 50/50 mix of comedy and music, but it pulled together some of the largest names in both fields for 2 conerts benefitting Amnesty International. Not nearly as much Python as it could have, but definitely worth it to catch some great live performances by the gang. Again, this is VHS only.

Director: Roger Graef

Cast: The whole Python gang, plus Pete Townshend, Bob Geldof, Donovan and Phil Collins

My Views: More music and comedy from the Amnesty International concerts. VHS only.

Director: Terry Jones

Cast: Terry Jones, John Cleese, Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt

My Views: Poor. Awful. Disappointing. Unwatchable. A waste of time. Pick any one of those descriptions, they all fit. This is undoubtedly the worst movie that any of the Monty Python gang was ever involved in. Don't bother watching it. It's currently out of print, but does show up on TV from time to time, particularly on Cinemax on American cable.

Director: Terry Jones

Cast: Julie Walters, Eric McCowan, Danny Schiller, Tim Woodward

My Views: The first time I saw this film, I wasn't even aware that any of the Pythoners were involved (I missed the opening credits). It would have been nice to see some acting from the boys, but Terry Jones directing is the only Python link. A fair movie, it's a semi-true story of an average woman accidentally starting a new career as a madam. Not for kids! This title may still be in print, but it's hard to find. Check your favorite online merchants.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, Mercedes Ruehl

My Views: It's been so long since I've seen this, I'll wait until I manage to find the time to watch it again before commenting. However, I do remember that it was worth seeing. Of note: Mercedes Ruehl won the Academy Award for 'Best Supporting Actress' for her role. It's available on VHS and DVD.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Michael Palin, Jonathan Pryce, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Ian Richardson

My Views: A truly hilarious film when it's working and a bleak futuristic nightmare when it isn't. Luckily, the good parts greatly out number the places where it bogs down. If you like black comedy mixed with social commentary, do not miss this one. If you like your entertainment to be on the lighter, friendlier side, you're better off passing. If you get a choice, try to watch the shorter American release. Gilliam cut it down about 10 minutes, which improved the film. It's out on VHS, DVD and Criterion DVD. The Criterion Collection edition contains both the original release and the directors cut in a 3-disk set.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, Madeleine Stowe, Christopher Plummer

My Views: Bruce Willis in a good movie? Seems impossible, but it's not. Bruce plays a criminal who journeys back in time to save the world from a deadly virus. Very typical of a Gilliam film: Odd characters and great visuals, but in this one the eye-candy doesn't overpower the story. Even if you don't like science fiction movies or Bruce Willis, this is worth watching. It's available on VHS, Widescreen VHS and DVD and DVD with DTS Surround Sound Stereo. Try to get the DVD version if you can. It contains an excellent interview with Terry Gilliam that isn't on the VHS tape. Also, unless you're a true audiophile, opt for the basic, non-DTS DVD. It contains a documentary not found on the DTS version.

Director: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Ellen Barkin, Cameron Diaz, Gary Buset

My Views: This movie has managed to polarize everyone that's seen it. They seem to either love it or hate it, with no middle ground. It's easy to understand why. The entire film plays as a long acid trip. Fans of Hunter S. Thompson will enjoy how true the film remains to Thompson's paranoid ravings. Those who find Thompsom tiresome will hate it. Terry Gilliam took over this film from original director Alex Cox, who left the project over 'creative differences'. Gilliam's visual style is a great match for Thompson's hallucinogenic 'reality', but ultimately how good the final product is depends solely on your view of Thompson himself. He's a 'love him or hate him' type of writer, and this movie follows that pattern. It's available in basic VHS, widescreen VHS, Spanish subtitled VHS and DVD formats.