"Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969) TV series 1969-1974

Creators:

Graham Chapman
John Cleese
Terry Gilliam
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

5 October 1969 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.

Plot Keywords:

Monty Python | Comedy Troupe | Sketch Comedy | Surrealism | Social Satire

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Various / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Eric Idle	...	Various / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Jones	...	Various / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Michael Palin	...	It's Man / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Gilliam	...	Various / ... (46 episodes, 1969-1974)
John Cleese	...	Announcer / ... (40 episodes, 1969-1973)
Carol Cleveland	...	Various / ... (34 episodes, 1969-1974)

Series Directed by
Ian MacNaughton		(46 episodes, 1969-1974)
John Howard Davies		(5 episodes, 1969)

Series Writing credits
Graham Chapman		(46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Eric Idle		(46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Jones		(46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Michael Palin		(46 episodes, 1969-1974)
Terry Gilliam		(44 episodes, 1969-1974)
John Cleese		(43 episodes, 1969-1974)
Neil Innes		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Produced by
Ian MacNaughton	....	producer / junior producer: Mafia Films Inc. (42 episodes, 1969-1974)
John Howard Davies	....	producer (4 episodes, 1969)

Series Original Music by
Neil Innes		(1 episode, 1974)

Series Cinematography by
James Balfour		(20 episodes, 1969-1971)
Alan Featherstone		(18 episodes, 1969-1973)
Stanley Speel		(6 episodes, 1974)
Terry Hunt		(2 episodes, 1970)
Max Samett		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Ray Millichope		(40 episodes, 1969-1973)
Robert C. Dearberg		(6 episodes, 1974)

Series Production Design by
Robert Berk		(18 episodes, 1970-1974)
Chris Thompson		(6 episodes, 1969-1973)
Richard Hunt		(5 episodes, 1970-1971)
Geoffrey Patterson		(4 episodes, 1969-1970)
Ken Sharp		(4 episodes, 1970-1971)
Roger Liminton		(3 episodes, 1969)
Ian Watson		(3 episodes, 1972)
Valerie Warrender		(3 episodes, 1974)
Jeremy Davies		(2 episodes, 1969)

Series Costume Design by
Hazel Pethig		(37 episodes, 1969-1973)
Andrew Rose		(6 episodes, 1974)

Series Makeup Department
Magdalene Gaffney	....	makeup artist (21 episodes, 1970-1973)
Joan Barrett	....	makeup supervisor / makeup artist (13 episodes, 1969-1970)
Penny Norton	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1970-1971)
Maggie Weston	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1974)

Series Art Department
Bob Blagden	....	graphic designer (9 episodes, 1970-1973)

Series Sound Department
Peter Rose	....	sound (14 episodes, 1970-1971)
John Delany	....	sound (12 episodes, 1969-1972)
Richard Chubb	....	sound (12 episodes, 1972-1973)
Ron Blight	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1974)
Paul Roberts	....	assistant sound editor (6 episodes, 1974)
Mike Jones	....	sound (5 episodes, 1974)
Jack Sudic	....	sound (2 episodes, 1969)
Doug Smith	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
John Horton	....	visual effects designer / visual effects (19 episodes, 1970-1974)
Bernard Wilkie	....	visual effects designer (6 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James Purdie	....	lighting technician (21 episodes, 1970-1974)
Otis Eddy	....	lighting technician (20 episodes, 1969-1971)
Bill Bailey	....	lighting technician (6 episodes, 1972-1973)
James Balfour	....	camera operator / film camera (5 episodes, 1969)
Joan Williams	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 1970)
Peter Willis	....	camera operator: rostrum camera (2 episodes, 1972-1974)

Series Animation Department
Terry Gilliam	....	animator (46 episodes, 1969-1974)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hazel Pethig	....	costume supervisor (3 episodes, 1969)

Series Editorial Department
Howard Dell	....	editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1969-1971)

Series Music Department
John Philip Sousa	....	composer: theme "Liberty Bell March" (17 episodes, 1969-1974)
Fred Tomlinson	....	choral director (6 episodes, 1969-1972)
Bill McGuffie	....	musical director / musician: piano, "Someone Else I'd Like to Be" (2 episodes, 1969-1974)

Series Other crew
Patricia Houlihan	....	researcher (15 episodes, 1970-1972)
Sarah Hart Dyke	....	researcher (9 episodes, 1969-1970)
Brian Jones	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1974)
Suzan Davies	....	researcher (4 episodes, 1972-1973)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Python (Monty) Pictures

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1969) (UK) (TV) (original airing)
• A&E Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• BBC Video (????) (UK) (DVD)
• BMG Video (????) (UK) (DVD)
• DeVillier Donegan Enterprizes (USA)
• Paramount Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Tokyo Channel 12 Television Ltd. (1976) (Japan) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)  taping location

Also Known As:

Gwen Dibley's Flying Circus (UK) (working title)
Monty Python (UK) (new title)
Owl-Stretching Time (UK) (working title)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
Monty Pythonin lentävä sirkus (Finland) [fi]
Monty Pythons flygande cirkus (Sweden) [sv]
Monty Pythons flygende sirkus (Norway) [no]
Monty Pythons flyvende cirkus (Denmark) [da]
Os Malucos do Circo (Portugal) [pt]

Runtime:

30 min (45 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Arabic | French | German | Italian | Mandarin | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M (DVD rating) (disc 8) | Australia:PG | USA:TV-14 | Japan:R | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 | UK:12 (some epiosodes) | UK:15 (1985-1994) | UK:PG | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (DVD) (2007) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

BBC Television Centre, Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

At least two sketches can trace their origins back to How to Irritate People (1968) (TV), a TV special that John Cleese starred in and wrote with Graham Chapman prior to "Flying Circus". First, the "Silly Job Interview" in which Cleese rings a bell and has people scoring Chapman's reaction came directly from the special. Also the infamous/famous "Parrot Sketch" was adapted largely from a sketch Chapman wrote for the earlier show about a car salesman who flatly refused to admit that there was anything wrong with the car that was literally falling apart on stage.

Quotes:

Vivian Smith-Smythe-Smith: My father needed a waste basket.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Eric Idle/Joe Cocker/Stuff (#2.3)" (1976)

Soundtrack:

The Liberty Bell

How can anyone not like Monty Python?

Monty Python's Flying Circus is superb British humor at it's best! All the Monty Python movies were excellent, too! My favorite actors in this are John Cleese and Eric Idle. I have my older brother to thank for getting me into this show! I got into Monty Python at the ripe old age of 11. My brother was watching it one day, and I asked him if I can watch too. He gave me his okay, and after I saw the delirious humor of this, I quickly became a fan! And watched it everytime it came on.

I also own some Monty Python cassette tapes and my brother has some on vinyl! I have far too many favorite Monty Python bits to name,some of my faves are "The Lumberjack Song", "It's the Mind", and "The Bishop"! And who can forget that caveman who can only say, 'its'? Also, anyone remember that one about the self-defense class involving a 'Poi-ted stick'? Pure timeless classic! Monty Python cracks me up all the time! Even if you're not in a good mood, watching this will put you in one!

I highly suggest this to anyone who is a stickler for British humor. Also, watch their movies: The Holy Grail, And Now for Something Completely Different, and The Life of Brian. I give Monty Python's Flying Circus 5 out of 5 stars! Watch it if you can!