Customer Reviews

Monty Python Encyclopedia

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This person Robert Ross knows television but his book is written in a horridly repetitious style (constant references to "glam girls" and "pure class") and is filled with a distressing amount of errors. He obviously used a spellcheck program instead of a proofreader, so we get the information (in the first paragraph on the first page!) that the show started with the Sousa march and a huge "bear" foot. It does not improve. As far as grammer and punctuation go, I'm not the type of person to hate a book for bad grammer and horrifying punctuation -- but if I were, I would hate this book. Nontheless, even though its flaws are terribly annoying, my interest in Python and post-Python was renewed, so I suppose that it did its job.

I find this flawed effort nevertheless very enjoyable; but I am of two minds about its not quite beign what it professes to be. An encyclopedia should (as Sgt. Friday used to insist) just give the facts. Almost every sentence here is concerned with Mr. Ross's personal opinion about the facts--opinion, by the way, stated as fact. When he says, for example, that episode 7 of the lst series of MP's Flying Circus is "one of the most unfunny," this can scarcely be accepted as fact (it is the one about the transformation into Scotsmen). The format is also inconsistent. A complete treatment of an Avengers episode is offered because John Cleese makes a brief appearance but another episode in which Carol Cleveland plays a major role is not featured and barely mentioned in her own write up. Also--and this is a Good Thing--Ross includes any film or tv show in which even a single Pythonite has had a hand. So with an eye open for typos and occasional inaccuracies, I will continue to peruse this book but always careful to separate fact from opinion. And all the more so now that the MPFC tapes and DVDs are being made available by A&E!

I'm a big Monty Python fan,and this book leaves a lot to be desired.Whereas I am not as rabidly annoyed as some readers,I am bothered by the lack of accurate information.We consult "Encyclopedias" for facts not guessess. There is a lot missing here. I question how hard it is to mispell names from screen credits.(example: The Missionary - Ishaq Bux is labeled as "Ishay Bex").Information on various Books,CD's and vinyl are missing too. And yes, "Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas" is never mentioned by its correct name!(Ross calls in "Love & Drugs in Las Vegas" and "Down & Out in Las Vegas"). Shoddy work. I would love to praise this book for having good photos,but they have all been printed before! (Except the 3 Autographed to Ross,but then I have Python photos autographed to me too.). For the Python purest I recommend any other book! This one is the pause that regurgitates on the reader!

I found this book somewhat informative as far is just raw data is concerned but poorly written. The author seems more intent at getting his opinions across than providing information. Specifically I refer to his occasional remarks about how British comedy is far superior to anything that the United States could produce (I was actually waiting for him to refer to the States as "the colonies").

LUCKILY I received this book free for purchasing the complete set of Python videos. Had I paid money for it I would have been very disappointed.

The ONLY reason I gave this two stars instead of one is because it does have good information. However reading through the author's comments are just too frustrating. At some point in the future it will provide me with kindling for a nice warm fire. I haven't touched it since my first and only reading.

The back cover alone,should be the biggest tip off,to this gigantic rip-off! Mr.Ross is payed to write books about British television shows. Besides Python,he has written books on The Avengers,and The Saint. ( Heaven help their fans as well! ).He doesn't have to be a fan of the show,just a flunky who collects information. It's easy enough to get a Python endorsement as well,since a book about them,obviously generates intrest in their own projects.

One thing I wonder about is this: why do the authors of books about funny people,naturally assume they themselves are the comic event of the decade? ( Please,leave the comedy to the professionals.). Mr.Ross is no more a comedian,than Geoffrey Guiliano is a musician. Mr.Ross's overly long decriptions of every Python episode,are like being trapped in a pub with a drunken neo-Python fan,intent on retelling every joke to you until you laugh at it.

Frankly,if you wanted a run down of cast and crew for any Python film,you could run it down on the Internet Movie Data Base.( And more than likely see the information spelled correctly as well.).Obviously all Mr.Ross had to do,was pay someone to surf for the information,and copy it down for his book.

This book would benefit from being,simply,the facts. Most "encylopedias" tend to state facts,rather than personal opinions. As a Python fan,I frankly don't care if Mr.Ross laughs at the same jokes I do,or "gets" the social ramifications of certain subjects.We all laugh differently,and Python offers much to laugh about.

Instead of having every film,ruined by a full out synopsis that kills every joke,why not give just a general overview? Instead of merely listing the albums,why not list the variants? ( And yes,original Python vinyl came with extras!). Instead of going over every episode with a fine tooth comb,why not give just a season intro?

Mr.Ross wants too hard to be Kim Johnson,and fails.

This encyclopedia is filled with information not just on Monty Python, but on the individual members as well. What I mean is, not only do we read about things like "Life of Brian" and "The Meaning of Life," but we also hear about "Silverado" and "Splitting Heirs."

The book provides a chronology starting with John Cleese's birthday in 1939 to 1997. There is also a list of videos and books as well as addresses for the British and American fan clubs.

The focus for the entries is on the Monty Python cast. For instance, not a lot of information is given on the movie "Silverado," but there is quite a bit of information about John Cleese's role in the movie.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of pictures in the book. Personally, I think that would be a grand addition to this work.

I would recommend this for diehard fans of Monty Python.

The Monty Python Encyclopaedia is fantastic. I know it's low on pictures, and has a lot of typos and font errors, and I know some of it's a touch wrong, but in the end, someone who has the mammoth task of writing a huge compendium on Monty Python is bound to make mistakes. And who cares - it's someone who appreciates the class and criticises the dross that has written it. I agree with him on several points - 1) 'Fierce Creatures' is a lot better than 'A Fish Called Wanda'; 2) The ending to 'Holy Grail' is not a hilarious ending, it's a poor get-out ploy; 3) 'Meaning of Life' is great entertainment; and 4) Some Python sketches are extremely poor. I shall look forward to buying the revised edition, and expect more magic from Robert Ross soon!

Part of the reason I give it 5 stars is simply because it's Monty Python. Moreover, this helped me prepare a report on influences on modern humor. Got an "A+" on it, so I guess it worked!

If you are a new Python fan or an old Python fan,avoid this book like the clap! This is one of the worst researched books on the market! Most of the material found here,you probably have in other Python related books. Lacking in photos and illustrations and plenty of mis-information,to send you screaming!! Ever hear of a Bonzo Dog Band song called, "Death Camp For Charlie"?? Did Terry Gilliam direct, "Down & Out In Las Vegas"?? My version of "Monty Python's Previous Record" contained an inner sleeve....but not according to THIS book! (and I call it a "book" loosely). Obviously the source material for this book,was lifted from other sources...mis-informed sources.This book lists some so-called deleted sketches...oddly enough,they WERE broadcast. Several cast errors.And lots of missing information.The author took the time to write miles of information on small subjects...then writes very little on other subjects. And no seperate entry for MARTY FELDMAN??It is sad the number of people whom see Monty Python as their cash cow. Perhaps sadder still that 3 Pythons endorsed this one! There has yet to be a definitive,well researched book,on Python. (If you said Kim Johnson...Bruno,that gorilla with the big stick, shall be seeing to you!). Let's leave the PYTHON books to the members of Monty Python.And not the quick buck grabbing flogging a dead parrot nincompoops,whom are producing these rip-off books!

Alright, this has gone a little too far. Perhaps the reason why 3 Pythons have endorsed the book is because they *ACTUALLY LIKED IT*. Mr. Frankenstein, or whatever his name is who wrote that lousy review probably right above this one, has not a clue what humor is. Probably the best way to write about a topic is to know it firsthand, and the second best way is to be objective. To leave writing Python books to the Pythons themselves would probably leave us with a bunch of books to be reviewed badly by uninformed persons such as Mr. Frankenstein, or whatever his name is. I have read through the book and have found nothing but pure Python emerging from its pages, pure humor, comprehensive and complete, and pretty well written. To give it one star is a lousy show of action. The only people who would give the Monty Python Encyclopedia ONE LOUSY STAR would be people who don't appreciate British humor for what it's worth. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, even though it's paperback and doesn't have many pictures. It's got everything else, what's wrong with it?