"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 | Sketch Comedy | Comedy Troupe | Cult Comedy | British Comedy

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)

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:

The phrase "And now for something completely different" is taken from a real phrase often used by the BBC during their TV and radio broadcasts.

Quotes:

Veronica Smalls: Hello, last week on "Party Hints" I showed you how to make a small plate of goulash go round 26 people, how to get the best out of your canapés, and how to unblock your loo. This week I'm going to tell you what to do if there is an armed communist uprising near your home when you're having a party...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Britain's 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Liberty Bell

The Circus is On...

Monty Python's Flying Circus is a show with great comedy. It's so weird anything could be done in it. Like selling an albatross, or having a knight hit you with a chicken... It's so hilarious, you'll drop right off. It's a very classic show for people with British taste. The movies were good... but it never made a benchmark like the TV series did. People... get off trashy Saturday Night Live and try "Something Completely Different"!