Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyers Cut)
Encyclopedia
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut) is a 2009 television documentary
series in six parts that cover the members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python
from Flying Circus
to the present day. The series highlights their childhood, schooling and university life, and pre-Python work. It is the first time in two decades that all five surviving Python members have come together for such a project, as well as the archive news footages of Graham Chapman
, and interviews with several associated people of the Pythons, including Carol Cleveland
and Chapman's partner David Sherlock
, along with commentary from modern comedians. The structure of the documentary series is similar to The Beatles Anthology
series.
, the second part focuses on their coming together and starting Flying Circus, the third part focuses on the Python records, their personal lives, and the end of Flying Circus, the fourth part focuses on their transition to film with And Now for Something Completely Different
and Holy Grail
, the fifth part focuses on Life of Brian
and the various controversies it caused, and the sixth and final part focuses on Live at the Hollywood Bowl
, The Meaning of Life, Chapman's death, and the five surviving members going on their separate ways and doing other projects.
s Bill and Ben Productions (half of which is Terry Jones' son Bill) in association with Eagle Rock Entertainment
.
in the same 2 one-hour episodes every Saturday night starting on 13 November 2010. The full cut became available in Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray Disc
on 27 October 2009.
's Channel 8, beginning in 10 January 2010.
television channel ABC1
on 14 and 21 February 2010.
from 13 September to 7 October 2010.
in celebration of the 40th stage anniversary.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
series in six parts that cover the members of the surreal comedy group Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
from Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
to the present day. The series highlights their childhood, schooling and university life, and pre-Python work. It is the first time in two decades that all five surviving Python members have come together for such a project, as well as the archive news footages of Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, and interviews with several associated people of the Pythons, including Carol Cleveland
Carol Cleveland
Carol Cleveland is a British actress/comedienne, most notable for her appearances as the only significant female performer on Monty Python's Flying Circus.-Early life:...
and Chapman's partner David Sherlock
David Sherlock
David Sherlock is a British writer and was the life partner of Graham Chapman of Monty Python, whom he met in 1966 in Ibiza.-Biography:David Sherlock was the inspiration for many Monty Python sketches, including "Anne Elk", and was the originator of the Python sketch "Death of Mary Queen of Scots"...
, along with commentary from modern comedians. The structure of the documentary series is similar to The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series, a set of three double albums and a book focusing on the history of The Beatles. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all participated in the making and approval of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the...
series.
Content
The documentary is composed of six parts. The first part focuses on The Pythons' lives before Flying CircusMonty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
, the second part focuses on their coming together and starting Flying Circus, the third part focuses on the Python records, their personal lives, and the end of Flying Circus, the fourth part focuses on their transition to film with And Now for Something Completely Different
And Now For Something Completely Different
And Now for Something Completely Different is a film spin-off from the television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus featuring favorite sketches from the first two seasons. The title was used as a catchphrase in the television show....
and Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
, the fifth part focuses on Life of Brian
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film written, directed and largely performed by the Monty Python comedy team...
and the various controversies it caused, and the sixth and final part focuses on Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
, The Meaning of Life, Chapman's death, and the five surviving members going on their separate ways and doing other projects.
Production
The film was produced by independent UK film producerFilm producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
s Bill and Ben Productions (half of which is Terry Jones' son Bill) in association with Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, high-definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones,...
.
Featured Interviewees
The series includes interviews from modern day comedians and performers that cite the troupe as an influence, including:- Eddie IzzardEddie IzzardEdward John "Eddie" Izzard is a British stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy style takes the form of rambling, whimsical monologue and self-referential pantomime...
- Russell BrandRussell BrandRussell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
- Bruce DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
- Dan AykroydDan AykroydDaniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
- Sanjeev BhaskarSanjeev BhaskarSanjeev Bhaskar, OBE is a British Indian comedian, actor and broadcaster, best known for his work in the BBC Two comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and as host of The Kumars at No. 42...
- Steve CooganSteve CooganStephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
- Julian DoyleJulian DoyleJulian John Doyle was an Australian lawyer, politician and civil servant. He served as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Gisborne from 1967–1971.-Early life :...
- Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
- Seth GreenSeth GreenSeth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
- Hugh M. Hefner
- Neil InnesNeil InnesNeil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
- Simon PeggSimon PeggSimon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
- Tim RothTim RothSimon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for...
United Kingdom
On 29 September 2009, Vue Cinemas in the UK showed a condensed cinema version of the series for one night only. The "BBC Lawyer's Cut", a 59 minute cut, was broadcast on BBC 2 on 3 October 2009.Canada
The full version was broadcast in 2 one-hour episodes per night on IFC from 19 to 23 October and on Bravo! a few days later. It began broadcasting on The Comedy NetworkThe Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
in the same 2 one-hour episodes every Saturday night starting on 13 November 2010. The full cut became available in Region 1 DVD and Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
on 27 October 2009.
Israel
The six one-hour episodes were broadcast on HotHot (Israel)
HOT Telecommunication Systems Ltd. is a company that provides cable television, last-mile Internet access, broadband and telecommunication services in Israel. It also provides various data transmission services and network services at different rates, services to the business sector and other...
's Channel 8, beginning in 10 January 2010.
Australia
A shorter version was shown in two one-hour parts on the Australian Broadcasting CorporationAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television channel ABC1
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
on 14 and 21 February 2010.
Finland
The six one-hour episodes were broadcast on YLE TeemaYLE Teema
YLE Teema is a Finnish television channel owned and operated by Finnish broadcasting corporation Yleisradio. The channel is dedicated to culture, sciences and learning. The channel is known for its "Theme Saturdays" which typically consist of documentaries and classic international films.YLE Teema...
from 13 September to 7 October 2010.
Germany and France
Broadcast as part of the Python week (1-5 May 2011) at arteArte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
in celebration of the 40th stage anniversary.
List of Episodes
All the episodes have slightly different opening credit sequences, and they bear rather Pythonesque titles:- The Not-so-interesting Beginnings
- The Much Funnier Second Episode –
Parrot Sketch– Flying Circus Included - And Now, the Sordid Personal Bits
- The Ultimate Holy Grail Episode
- Lust for Glory
- Finally! The Last Episode Ever (For Now...)