Product Details

• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: October 31, 2000
• Run Time: 168 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004Y7TB
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,370 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

And now for Monty Python fans who think they have seen everything, the BBC commemorates the 30th anniversary of the debut of Monty Python's Flying Circus with this treasure trove of new sketches performed by the Pythons (minus spoilsport Eric Idle, and, of course, ex-Python Graham Chapman); new interviews with all the surviving members; classic clips; and recently discovered and rarely seen Python material unearthed from the BBC archives. Volume 1, It's... the Monty Python Story, is a sketchy history, recalling the highs (the first two seasons of the groundbreaking TV series and The Life of Brian) and the lows (the death of Chapman, who in a poignant clip from his memorial service is eulogized by John Cleese as a "freeloading bastard"). Volume 2 really delivers the goods, including a long-lost 10-minute film Monty Python created for the 1971 Pan-European May Day Festival. Michael Palin spoofs his travel shows by giving viewers a tour of "Pythonland." He revisits the actual locations where such classic Python sketches as the Ministry of Silly Walks and the Fish Slapping Dance were filmed. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone offer an animated tribute (the Dead Kenny sketch), while Meatloaf goes behind the music to reveal the inspiration behind the Python's most memorable songs. Volume 3 contains "The Lost German Episode" of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which was created for German television (don't worry; it's in English) and has never been broadcast in the United States. This is comedy's equivalent to a surviving-Beatles reunion, and though the new sketches and animations are hit and miss, it is heartening to see that the Pythons are still loony after all these years. It is a particular pleasure to see the Gumbys banging bricks once again. And Python sexpot Carol Cleveland is holding up rather well, if you know what I mean, say no more, nudge nudge. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

The Life of Python--exclusive new material and classic bits! VOLUME 1: "Its...The Monty Python Story"--This outrageous BBC Production celebrates 30 years of Python with new Monty Python sketches, a plethora of guest appearances and the funniest funeral you’ll ever attend. VOLUME 2: "A Veritable Potpourri of Python" contains: *Pythonland--Journey with Michael Palin in search of the locations where the best- known Python sketches were shot. *The Lost Python Mayday Special--A fun and fusty relic from the 1971 Pan European May Day Festival, freshly dug from the BBC rubbish bin. *From Spam to Sperm: Monty Python’s Greatest Hits--Sing along with Meat Loaf, the songs we were grounded for singing as kids. *Exclusive animated South Park tribute. VOLUME 3: "Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus #2"--One of the famous "lost" German episodes never before available in the U.S. Yes, Monty Python is funny in German!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Python Bio So Far-Lackluster DVD Effort Though, November 20, 2000

By 

Jason Brennan (Springfield, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life of Python (DVD)

This is a great way to become aware(or re-aware) of just how great the Pythons still are. There are plenty of clips and new interviews with all of them which are informative and funny. There's even on-set footage of "Holy Grail" and a so-so 10 min May Day film. The best parts though, are the new skits performed by the Pythons(except Idle), a Palin tour through Pythonland, and one of the German episodes of the Flying Circus. It's great to see that they have not lost their ability to be completely irreverent and silly, and it's neat to see what the spots where they filmed their most famous skits look like now. Also the German episode is surprisingly one of the funnier episodes of Circus I've seen. Unfortunately this DVD does have a few flaws that keep it from being the fitting tribute that they deserve. First of all, what is Meatloaf doing on here? They could have at least found someone who has something to do with Python to do this-like Steve Martin or Kevin Kline. I don't even want to think of Meatloaf, then alone see his ugly mug on a Python tribute. Also this was made by A&E, who put absolutely NO effort into their DVD's. Why is the other German episode not included? I know it's in German, but I CAN READ SUBTITLES. The fact that they have a second DVD that has nothing but a 42 minute episode on it is ridiculous. This DVD may have flaws, but it is definately worth getting because, unless by some miracle they all decide to give it one last try, this is the best we're going to get.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Has its moments, February 20, 2001

By 

M. J KILLEEN (Collingdale, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life of Python (DVD)

This disc has its ups and downs, but enough truly wonderful moments (especially Michael Palin's mock-travelogue "Pythonland") to make it worth buying for fans of the series. Even the "biography" which opens Disc One leaves you wanting more (it jumps from the poorly received Episode One to 'Monty Python and The Holy Grail'), but contains the priceless John Cleese eulogy of Graham Chapman which is absolutely touching and appropriate for Python.

Inexplicably, A&E includes only the second (of two) German episodes on the second disc. Why not include both? ("Never broadcast in the United States"... unless you count the few times its been on PBS).

There are several actual attempts at doing new sketches throughout the first disc. Although they are mostly bizarre misfires (The Gorilla skit ranks right up there with "Find the Fish" in the Python pantheon of oddball concepts), it is nice to see that Michael Palin hasn't lost a single step, and its always a treat to see Terry Jones doing comedy again. It is nice that the Pythons made the extra effort here. (Cleese's comment at the end of the "Mayday" film is priceless!)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A potpourri of priceless python, October 21, 2004

By 

Rotten Arsenal (Burleson, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Life of Python (DVD)

This 2-disc set features fantabulous material. Disc one contains all sorts of oddball stuff including Graham Chapman's funeral, A python tribute from the South Park creators (including appearances by Cartman, Kyle, & Kenny), a documenatry on filming locations, songs from Python, and other bits of rubbish culled from BBC archives.
Disc 2 is even better, featuring one of the 2 "lost" German episodes. This episode was done in English (unlike the other episode, which was actually in German) and features some truly, truly ridiculous bits including "Chicken Panning" and the dumbest fairy tale you'll ever see (featuring a Hammond Organ).

Well worth it, believe me.