It's the Monty Python Story (1993)

Country of Origin: UK / USA
Date of Original Broadcast: 1993
Number of Seasons: n/a
Total Number of Episodes: 1
Average Episode Running Times: 125 mins
Format: colour
Ratio: 1.33:1
Sound:

CREDITS

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: BBC / A&E Television Networks Inc / Python (Monty) Pictures Limited
Executive Producer: Elaine Shepherd
Assistant Producers: Ralph Lee, Selina Mehta
Associate Producer: Martin Lewis

SCRIPT
Script: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin

DIRECTION
Director: Elaine Shepherd

PHOTOGRAPHY
Camera Operator: Colin Waldeck

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Michael Duly
Videotape Editor: Adrian Udal

SOUND
Sound: Anthony Wornum
Dubbing Mixer: Steve Hudson
Dubbing Editor: Kian Wong

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Graphic Artists: Steve Bonnet, Keith Haynes
Python Family Tree: Pete Frame

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Assistant: Mark Walden-Mills

CAST
Graham Chapman (himself in archive footage)
John Cleese (himself)
Terry Gilliam (himself)
Eric Idle (himself)
Terry Jones (himself)
Michael Palin (himself)
Carol Cleveland (herself)
Eddie Izzard (host)
Ronnie Corbett (himself)
David Frost (himself)
Kevin Kline (himself)
Meat Loaf (host of Spam To Sperm segment)
Trey Parker (himself)
Peter Sissons (himself)
Matt Stone (himself)

PLOT SUMMARY

Eddie Izzard hosts a collection of clips and interviews that tell the full story of the Monty Python team, with looks at their films and television shows.

CAPSULE REVIEW

An excellent look back at the work of British television’s finest comedy team, written and performed by the Python’s themselves. In-depth, affectionate and hilarious, it’s easily the best documentary on the Pythons – if you’re a fan, you’ll want them all, but if you’re a casual viewer or just curious to see what the fun was all about, this is the only one you need.

AVAILABILITY

UK
Television Distributors: BBC

USA
DVD Distributors: A&E Home Video (AAE 70132)

TIMELINE

1993
March
6: USA - television broadcast

2000
October
31: USA - DVD release (A&E Home Video (AAE 70132))

ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Life of Python – US DVD title

LINKS

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967 - 1969)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983)
Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969 - 1974)
Q5 (1969)

REFERENCES

NEWSPAPERS

New York Times 21 June 1998 (USA)
review (The Naughty, Surreal Pleasures Of the Python 6 by Jeff MacGregor)

KEYWORDS

documentary, interviews, television history

Last Updated: 1 March, 2009