Monty Python: New Holy Grail sketches found in Michael Palin’s archives
Written by News on 02/08/2018
Never before seen sketches from Monty Python have been discovered, hidden away in paperwork belonging to Michael Palin.
Unearthed characters include an “amorous pink knight” and a Wild West book seller, both originally penned for Monty Python And The Holy Grail.
The discovery was made after Python member Palin donated a collection of notebooks and scripts to the British Library last year, according to The Times.
Some of the unused material was apparently due to it being deemed too controversial for public viewing at the time.
Palin, 75, who has given permission for the sketches to be reproduced, told the paper: “Sometimes you have things like that. I can’t think why it wasn’t used.
“The Holy Grail took shape gradually and at the beginning it had far more ideas in it than ended up on screen because you had to have a narrative.
“In the end the story of the knights was strong enough.”
Well-loved characters who made it into the film include the Black Knight (who is always up for a fight); the Guards of Swallow Castle (who prefer coconuts to real horses) and the cute but deadly Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog.
The comedy group – containing Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones – made their last film 35 years ago.
However, in 2014 the troop came together – minus Chapman who died in 1989 – to perform the reunion gig Monty Python Live (Mostly).
With the slogan, “One down, five to go”, the irreverent show ran for 10 nights, and reportedly earned its performers over £2m each.
Earlier this week, Cleese, 78, who in 2009 launched a solo tour to raise money for a costly divorce, suggested the reason Monty Python’s Flying Circus is no longer regularly shown on TV is because it’s “too funny” compared to modern comedies.
The unseen sketches, along with more than 50 of Palin’s notebooks on Holy Grail and Life Of Brian, will be going on public display at the British Library.
They span the Python era for more than 20 years, from 1965 to 1987.
(c) Sky News 2018: Monty Python: New Holy Grail sketches found in Michael Palin’s archives
