Watch Monty Python: Almost The Truth

TV-G
2009
1 Season
8.1 (1,938)

Monty Python: Almost The Truth is a six-part documentary series that explores the history and legacy of the influential British comedy troupe, Monty Python. The series features interviews with all surviving members of the group; John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin, as well as exclusive archival footage and interviews with friends, fans, and fellow comedians.

The series begins with the origins of Monty Python, tracing the roots of the group back to their early years at Oxford and Cambridge universities. The documentary explores how the group came to be formed and how they developed their unique brand of comedy. The series also delves into the early careers of the individual members, featuring stories of their early struggles and successes before they came together to form Monty Python.

Throughout the series, the interviews with the members of Monty Python are often revealing and candid. The group's famously irreverent sense of humor is on full display as they discuss their work, their personal lives, and their interactions with each other. The interviews provide a fascinating insight into the creative process behind some of the group's most iconic sketches and characters.

The documentary also explores the cultural impact of Monty Python, both in the UK and around the world. The series covers the controversy surrounding some of the group's more contentious sketches, and the documentarians offer an analysis of the cultural and political climate that gave rise to Monty Python's brand of humor. The influence of Monty Python on subsequent generations of comedians and comedy writers is also discussed, with many high-profile fans and admirers offering their thoughts on the group's enduring legacy.

In addition to interviews with the members of Monty Python, the series features interviews with a range of guest contributors, including comedians Eddie Izzard and Tim Brooke-Taylor. These interviews provide additional perspective on the influence of Monty Python on the world of comedy, as well as insights into the personal lives and personalities of the individual Pythons.

Throughout the series, there is a strong focus on the collaborations and creative partnerships that drove Monty Python's success. The contributions of supporting players such as Carol Cleveland and Neil Innes are given their due, and the documentarians explore the close relationships between the members of the group that made their work possible. The series also covers the various film and television projects that the members of Monty Python pursued after the group disbanded, offering a glimpse of the individual creative trajectories that emerged in the wake of the group's dissolution.

Overall, Monty Python: Almost The Truth is a comprehensive and insightful documentary series that provides a thorough examination of one of the most important and influential comedy groups of all time. The series is essential viewing for fans of Monty Python, as well as for anyone interested in the history and evolution of comedy. The interviews with the members of Monty Python are particularly compelling, offering a rare glimpse into the creative process and the personal dynamics that made this iconic group so successful.

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Seasons

6. Finally! The Last Episode (Ever) (For now...)

October 23, 2009

The Python gang fondly remembers their days gallivanting through Hollywood as they performed Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl. They describe the event as a huge party with the audience drinking, laughing and smoking naughty things. Palin even recounts going out into the audience for a skit and coming back on stage suddenly stoned for the first time! After the Python's tour of Hollywood, the gang, being offered a great deal of money, wrote their third and final movie, "The Meaning of Life". The film encompassed many sketches the gang had written and in true Monty Python fashion, they poorly tied them all into one narrative. It was 6 years later in 1989 that the Pythons truly saw the meaning of life when their sixth member, Graham Chapman, passed of cancer. The Pythons speak of the memorial service where they came together to celebrate Chapman's life. The remaining Pythons all discuss the new projects they are working on. In a sign of true loyalty, the Pythons all agree that the group, in honor of Chapman, will no longer collaborate together without their fallen friend. Comedians and celebrities discuss Monty Python's comedic impact and influence.

5. Lust for Glory!

October 22, 2009

After the tremendous success of The Holy Grail, the Python gang remembered feeling that it was so much fun that they wanted to do film again. So, upon Idle's idea, they traveled to Barbados for some script writing away from it all. It wasn't long before they came to the conclusion that there film should be about the least controversial topic they could think of, Jesus Christ. Thus the film, The Life of Brian was written as a satire of Jesus Christ's life. The gang seemed to be at their primes, Cleese comments on the extreme atmosphere of fun and enjoyment. Chapman had recovered from his raging alcoholism, the Terry's never remembered getting along so well and the Pythons prospered. However, the gang's intentions of the film, not making fun of Jesus the man, but rather the misinterpretations of his teachings was well... misinterpreted. Many parts of the U.K. banned the film as well as one state, North Dakota, in the U.S. However, as Idle and Palin commented this only seemed to hype the film more and it became a great success. The Pythons were looking on the bright side of life.

4. The Ultimate Holy Grail Episode

October 21, 2009

The fourth part of the documentary begins with the Pythons finally making their arrival in the United States. After much time, money, and to Clesse's amazement, Flying Circus was a regular on PBS. Being fed up with TV the Python's pushed into a different medium, film. Their first film was a collaboration of their most famous sketches and was shown in the States. Although successful, the Python's disdainfully talk about their thirst for film not being quenched and striving for something completely different. And so Monty Python and the Holy Grail was written. The group looks back in amazement that the film came out as brilliant as it did, with Chapman in the prime of his alcohol dependency and Cleese who begrudgingly admits to being a bit of a diva. Idle adds that the film was greatly rushed and got terrible first reactions at the prescreening. The Python group can't help but laugh as they reminisce about their worries, before the premiere and the joy they felt by its almost immediate commercial success after. British Comedian Phill Jupitus and other celebrities discuss the films impact on them, as well as comedic films forever.

3. And Now, The Sordid Personal Bits

October 20, 2009

Join Monty Python members as they discuss BBC censorship, unwanted celebrity status, member Graham Chapman, Python controversy and Cleese's departure. Interviews with Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle.

2. The Much Funnier Second Episode

October 19, 2009

Catch up with The Pythons as they remember Monty Python's Flying Circus's early struggles turned extreme successes with sketches influencing generations to come. Interviews with John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Russell Brand, and Seth Green.

1. The Not-So-Interesting Beginnings

October 18, 2009

The birth of Monty Python. Join members as they tell the tale of how their lives and careers began Post-WWII to the culmination of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Interviews with Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle.

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