1. The Crimson Permanent Assurance (The Meaning of Life)
image source: imdb.com
The opening of Monty Python’s Meaning of Life sees the older staff at the Permanent Assurance Company fight against the Very Big Corporation of America by sailing a whole building across to the Corporation like they were pirates on a sea battle. Very over budget, to say the least!
2. Brave Sir Robin’s Minstrel (The Holy Grail)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
Neil Innes had fast become an extra member of the Python crew, and appeared in many roles – including the iconic Brave Sir Robin’s minstrel, following him around and coming up with the most ridiculously hilarious songs to keep tabs on the adventures of his master.
3. Hell’s Grannies (And Now For Something Completely Different)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
When the Hell’s Grannies sketch hit the big screen, it had been updated to make the group of mere hoodies into a fully fledged gang, with the most memorable moments being their shrill cackles as they fled the scene from various high jinks like tripping people and vandalism.
4. The Rabbit of Caerbannog (The Holy Grail)
image source: villains.fandom.com
Going down in history as one of the best villains ever, the Rabbit of Caerbonnog may look cute and fluffy, but that’s the whole point. The hilarity of watching a tiny white rabbit launch itself at men’s throats and go on a murderous, bloody rampage through King Arthur’s men is something we’ll never forget.
5. Albatross (The Hollywood Bowl)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
The Hollywood Bowl was the proud recipient of this particularly hilarious Python sketch for the intermission, where Cleese served up a whole load of Albatross as a sporting snack for the game, coupled with Terry Jones’s keen interest, which all made for very happy Bowl fans!
6. Rugby vs The Masters (The Meaning of Life)
image source: imgur.com
Most of us will relate to the embarrassing debacle that was school P.E., but this Monty Python skit took that to the next level. The kids in this school were at the mercy of their sadistic teachers when trying to get a taste of sportsmanship in the usual British weather: rain.
7. The knights who say Ni (The Holy Grail)
image source: syfy.com
Just when you thought Holy Grail couldn’t get any more ridiculous (in the best possible way), enter the knights who say Ni. These giant knights wrapped in shrubbery, keepers of the word Ni, then transform to become something even better: The Knights Who Say Ekke Ekke Ekke Ekke Ptangya Ziinnngggg Ni.
8. Killer Cars, Dancing Venus (And Now For Something Completely Different)
image source:
Originally, Killer Cars was a standalone sketch where murderous cars battled against monster-sized housecats, but with this one, the sketch was updated to include the dancing Venus de Milo. The whole thing was very self-aware about how cheaply it had been made – which made it even funnier.
9. Internationale Philosophie (The Hollywood Bowl)
image source: x.com
In the ultimate battle of the brains, we see classic Greek philosophers going up against The Germans. The entire sketch, shown during the Hollywood Bowl, saw the two sides wandering thoughtfully around the pitch until one of them had the good sense to put the ball in the net.
10. Upper class twit of the year (And Now For Something Completely Different)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
Taking the mick out of posh idiots always works well for sitcoms, and Monty Python knew how to do it perfectly. This sketch had ‘upper class twits’ take part in sports fails, competing on a child-like athletics course, and – of course – behind all the humour we’re reminded of the fact twits like this actually exist, unfortunately.
11. French taunting (The Holy Grail)
image source: villains.fandom.com
If you don’t have a friend to reenact this entire scene with, you need to find one, stat! One of the best exchanges in Python history has to be this scene between the Frenchman John Cleese and the poor Englishmen who though it wise to question him. Bonus: “your father smelt of elderberries”!
12. Biggus Diccus (Life of Brian)
image source: knowyourmeme.com
A true testament of trying not to laugh at one of the most ridiculously hilarious bits in movie history, Biggus Diccus sees a very ‘I’m-so-done-with-this’ Pontius Pilate repeating the name to as many of his guards as he can to see who breaks first – made all the better by his speech impediment.
13. Mr Creosote (The Meaning of Life)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
One of the most disgusting Python sketches, but still one of the most hilarious, is that of the huge whale of a man, Mr Creosote, who just can’t stop eating. We’re then treated to his stomach entirely exploding, not to mention the whole of his internal organs being exposed. Classic.
14. The Black Knight (The Holy Grail)
image source: reddit.com
The scene of the Black Knight is one of the best in Python’s history – “tis but a scratch!” is a mantra we all try to repeat, after all. King Arthur is thrust into battle with the overly determined Black Knight, who isn’t phased by anything as tedious as losing a few limbs or two – or three.
15. Every sp*rm is sacred (The Meaning of Life)
image source: www.cardinalfang.net
The Third World – otherwise known as Yorkshire – sings its own ballad about the evils of birth control, for a hilarious mock up of both Oliver Twist and a dig against the Church. In case you didn’t know, every sp*rm is, in fact, sacred. To make it funnier, the kids on set had no idea what they were supposed to be singing about.
16. What have the Romans ever done for us? (Life of Brian)
image source: kevinnebula.com
For some people, this sequence from Monty Python may actually be their Roman Empire. What have the Romans ever done for us? Oh, nothing much, just you know… public health, roads, sanitation systems, access to freshwater, baths, better education… nothing worth mentioning.
17. The Camelot sequence (The Holy Grail)
image source: montypython.fandom.com
In terms of Monty Python’s best moments, their musical numbers have to come out on top – such was the case with Camelot. King Arthur and his table knights arrive at Camelot, resulting in a silly little singing and dancing number, complete with perfect rhyming, to stick in our heads forever.
18. He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy (Life of Brian)
image source: stokesentinel.co.uk
How many of us quote this on a daily basis? The Life of Brian showed us Brian’s very persistent and disgruntled mother trying her best to convince the masses that Brian was not, under any circumstance, the Messiah, but in fact a very naughty boy. We don’t know what upset her more: Brian in bed with a woman, or a couple of hundred people turning up at the door as his biggest fans.
19. S*x education (The Meaning of Life)
image source: archive.org
Any sort of s*x education in school makes for an awkward lesson, but Monty Python thought the best way to teach the boys how it works was to show it in action – quite literally. The teacher calls on his wife – and a bed conveniently placed in the classroom – to show them how it’s done.
20. Always look on the bright side of life (Life of Brian)
image source: thepieatnight.co.uk
One of the best and most memorable Monty Python moments has to be Eric Idle’s performance of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life while being crucified at the finale of the movie, joined in merrily by the whistling of the others at his side. Nothing hits harder for a Brit than being merrily told to look on the bright side in the worst circumstances! Stiff upper lip, and all that.
