"Monty Python's Flying Circus" How to Recognise Different Types of Trees from Quite a Long Way Away (1969)

Directors:

John Howard Davies
Ian MacNaughton

Writers:

Graham Chapman (written by) &
John Cleese (written by) ...

TV Series:

"Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969)

Original Air Date:

19 October 1969 (Season 1, Episode 3)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

Court Scene, The Larch, Bicycle Repair Man, Children's Stories, Restaurant Sketch, Seduced Milkmen, Stolen News Reader, Children's Interview, and Nudge Nudge. |

Plot Keywords:

Nose Joke | Monty Python | Sketch Comedy | Comedy Troupe | Cult Comedy

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Mrs. Fiona Lewis / Inspector Dim of the Yard / Second Superman / Man
John Cleese	...	Voice Over #1 / Mr. Bartlett / American Commentator / First Superman / Mungo the Cook / Newsreader / Interviewer
Terry Gilliam	...	Knight with Chicken
Eric Idle	...	Harold Larch / Storyteller / Manager / Eric / Norman Nudge
Terry Jones	...	Judge / Third Superman / Waiter / Terry / Man at Pub
Michael Palin	...	It's Man / Cardinal Richelieu / F.G. Superman / Bicycle Repair Man / Compère / Head Waiter / Michael
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Cleveland	...	Lady / Milkman Seducer
Ian Davidson	...	Clerk of the Court

Filming Locations:

Churchfield Road, Acton, London, England, UK

Trivia:

Carol Cleveland is often mistaken as the woman in the "Seduced Milkman" sketch , owing to a lot of misinformed books. She does NOT appear in the television version, but DOES appear in the re-filmed version for And Now for Something Completely Different (1971).

Quotes:

Mr. Nudge: [Leers, Grinning] Your wife interested in err...
[Waggles Head, Leans across]
Mr. Nudge: photographs, eh? Know what I mean? Photographs, 'he asked him knowingly'.
Man at Pub: Photography?
Mr. Nudge: Yes. Nudge, nudge. Snap, snap. Grin, grin. Wink, wink, say no more?
Man at Pub: Holiday snaps?
Mr. Nudge: Could be, could be taken on holiday. Could be yes - swimming costumes. Know what I mean. Candid photography. Know what I mean, nudge nudge.
Man at Pub: No, no we don't have a camera
Mr. Nudge: Oh. Still
[slaps hand lightly twice]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (#6.13)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Someone Else I'd Like to Be

REVIEW: --- "Monty Python" ( Episode 1.3 )

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Though the 3rd episode to air in season one, this was actually the earliest Python episode to be filmed (on 8/14/69). This episode contains many good sketches, and is consistently funny from beginning to end, which is something that cannot be said of some of the Python troupe's more classic episodes featuring signature sketches.

Among the best sketches are:

COURTROOM SKETCH: This is an entertaining sketch featuring among other things, the questioning of a dead man in a coffin and a personal appearance by character witness Cardinal Richelieu. ( "Sorry I'm late mi-lord --- I couldn't find a Kosher Car Park." )

BICYCLE REPAIRMAN: In which the average Superman costume wearing citizen, S.G. SUPERMAN becomes BICYCLE REPAIRMAN whenever a bike is in dire need of repair. ( "See how he uses a spanner to tighten that nut!" )

RESTAURANT SKETCH: In which a couple who rather innocently bring a dirty fork to the attention of a waiter set in motion a series of psychotic and chaotic events. Very funny indeed. ( "It's a good thing we didn't mention the dirty knife!" ).

CHILDREN'S STORIES: In which the host of the show encounters (much to his dismay), various pornographic scenarios while reading aloud Children's bed-time stories. ( "With a Melon?" ).

SEDUCING THE MILKMAN: This is a very short sketch, but a classic. An unsuspecting milkman meets a strange fate after being led to the bedroom of a very comely and scantily clad blonde.

KNUDGE, KNUDGE: As close to a signature sketch as you're going to get in this episode, and a very good one. A Seedy, but sharply dressed man makes apparent sexual insinuations and asks rather personal questions concerning the wife of an upper class Englishman. ( " Purley? Purley! --- Saaaaay no MWOOAAH!" )

OVERALL RATING: 9/10.