Customer Reviews

Monty Python's Flying Circus - Set 6 (Epi. 33-39)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Monty Python is a sacred institution that needs to be treated respectfully. What a shame that A&E didn't see things that way.

There are many of us for whom these classic sketches are basically burned into our brains from having seen them countless times. This is because they stand up so well to repeated viewings. How, then, did A&E figure they could, so criminally, do the following, without some of us noticing:

- completely chop out the "Dad's Pooves" sketch
- completely chop out the "Choreographed Party Political Broadcast" sketch (right before the Book at Bedtime sketch at the start of the show)
- put in a horrific blip in the middle of "Biggles Dictates a Letter" in which a few seconds of dialogue are completely ruined

As has already been mentioned, the transfer is also poor in places. My efforts to point these matters out to A&E were shrugged off when I reported them, which leads me to believe there is no plan to fix these offensive errors. Buyers beware! At present it appears there is no way for the completionist to actually obtain the complete works of Monty Python in DVD format due to these omissions.

It is Monty Python, and as such it is good per se. However, whoever took care of DVD edition, did not pay much attention. Together with the usually arcane and mostly impractical title/chapter navigation found on all MPFS discs, the Set 6 DVD's show some serious image problems. While most of it is in line with the age of the masters, there are some obvious artefacts related to MPEG2 coding schemes - such as awfully shimmering endcredits in some episodes (in obvious contrast with the same credits when not in motion - and they are part of the show), and occasional swimming wall textures and auras surrounding some of the actors etc. It wouldn't be so annoying if it weren't possible to avoid this with better quality control.

Another wonderful collection of MP episodes. The only disappointments here were the editing of the Bus Conductor Sketch and the ommission of Dad's Doctors/Dad's Pooves sketch. Otherwise, a great collection and I can't give enough praise for Monty Python's Flying Circus. Eric is my favorite by the way! :)

To this day, Monty Python remains THE idol and source of inspiration to humourists all around. »Monty Python's Flying Circus« made the group famous, and it is the best ever to come out, not only from Monty Python, not only from Britain... but humour in general!

Highlights on this tape: »Cheese Shop«, »Mr Pither«, »Olympic Hide And Seek«, »Silly Disturbances (The Rev. Arthur Belling)«, »What The Stars Foretell« and »Penguins«.

Own it!

these sketches are taken from the 3rd season, and some of the freshness of the first two seasons had worn off by now, but this collection still contains some of my favorite sketches (cheese shop, dennis moore, et al.). i give all these discs 4 stars because they are a little bit light on the number of episodes (3 per disc when they could have fit 6 or more) and the audio/video is early 70's television so you can't expect too much there. the additional material is pretty minimal, consisting mainly of "highlights" of other sketches which can be found on the other sets. still, if you are a python fan, these are a worthwhile addition to make your collection complete.

The missing "Choreographed Party Political Broadcast" in show #38 was not A&E's doing. It's been reported that a tech at either Time-Life (the original syndicators) or the BBC had accidentally erased this sketch once it had shown here in the mid-to-late 70s. The omission of the BBC comedies preview, however, is another case.

There is a glimmer of hope. BBC America will start running Python beginning in a 10-hour marathon on May 26th, and there is word that a new "Megaset" DVD with previously left-out material may be coming.

Okay, we all know that Monty Pythons Flying Circus is the funniest show ever. And that all there movies are great. But this collection is by far the funniest stuff i've ever seen. Spend an afternoon with Dennis moore or Mr. Pither. If you are a fan of the Kids in the Hall or Saturday Night Live this is a must have. The only complaint is WHY DON"T THEY GO ON TOUR AGAIN!

Hight Lights: Salad Days, Cheese shop, Cycling store (Full Half Hour) Dirty vicar, penguins, Dennis Moore (Lupins) and Life Boat.

P.S: Michael Palins the man!

It was just as good as the rest of the monty python tapes- i really enjoyed it and recommend it to everyone!