Monty Python and the Holy Grail(1975)

1h 31m

Release Date: May 10, 1975 | Limited

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table embark on a surreal, low-budget search for the Holy Grail, encountering many, very silly obstacles.

Note: In theatres 12/3 & 12/6/23

Releases

Original Release | May 10, 1975

2001 Re-release (Independent) | Jun 15, 2001

2023 Re-release (48½th Anniversary) (Iconic Events Releasing) | Dec 3, 2023

2025 Re-release (50th Anniversary) (Fathom Entertainment) | May 4, 2025

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Box Office Results

All Releases (4)
Total US & Canada:
$2,562,392
Total International
$367,156
Total Worldwide:
$2,931,902

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Director & Top Cast

Terry Gilliam
Director

Terry Jones
Director

Graham Chapman
King Arthur

John Cleese
Second Swallow-Savvy Guard

Eric Idle
Dead Collector

Terry Gilliam
Patsy

Terry Jones

Dennis's Mother

Michael Palin

First Swallow-Savvy Guard

Connie Booth

The Witch

Carol Cleveland

Zoot

Neil Innes

First Monk

Bee Duffell

Old Crone

John Young

Dead Body

Rita Davies

Historian's Wife

Avril Stewart

Dr. Piglet

Sally Kinghorn

Dr. Winston

Mark Zycon

Prisoner

Elspeth Cameron

Girl in Castle Anthrax

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Mono,(original release)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Language: English,French,Latin,Swedish

Summaries

Plot Summary

In 932 AD, King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his squire, Patsy (Terry Gilliam), travel Britain searching for men to join the Knights of the Round Table. Along the way, Arthur debates whether swallows could carry coconuts, recounts receiving Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake (People say that executive power cannot come from strange aquatic ceremonies, and only from a democratic system of voting), defeats the Black Knight (when he wouldn't let him cross a bridge) and observes an impromptu witch trial (deciding whether a woman is a witch or not, by weighing her against a duck). Many Britons don't know they have a king and believe they are living in a self-governed commune (which sounds very much like a parliamentary democracy). He recruits Sir Bedevere (Terry Jones) the Wise, Sir Lancelot (John Cleese) the Brave, Sir Galahad (Michael Palin) the Pure and Sir Robin (Eric Idle) the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir-Lancelot, along with their squires and Robin's minstrels. Arthur leads the knights to Camelot, but, after a musical number, changes his mind, deeming it "a silly place". As they turn away, God appears and orders Arthur to find the Holy Grail.Arthur and his knights arrive at a castle occupied by French soldiers, who claim to have the Grail and taunt the Britons, driving them back with a barrage of barnyard animals. Bedevere concocts a plan to sneak in using a Trojan Rabbit, but no one hides inside it, and the Britons are forced to flee when it is flung back at them. Arthur decides the knights should go their separate ways to search for the Grail. A modern-day historian filming a documentary on the Arthurian legends is killed by a knight on horseback, triggering a police investigation.On the knights' travels, Arthur and Bedevere are given directions by an old man and attempt to satisfy the strange requests of the dreaded Knights Who Say "Ni!" (Sandy Johnson). Sir Robin avoids a fight with a Three-Headed Knight by running away while the heads are arguing. Sir Galahad is led by a grail-shaped beacon to Castle Anthrax, which is full of young women (led by Zoot and Dingo (Carol Cleveland), identical twin sisters and Dr. Piglet (Avril Stewart) & Dr. Winston (Sally Kinghorn) who "examine" Galahad) but is unwillingly "rescued" by Lancelot (after Dingo tells Galahad to spank Zoot as a punishment for lighting up the grail shaped beacon).Lancelot receives an arrow-shot note from Swamp Castle. Believing the note is from a lady being forced to marry against her will, he storms the castle and slaughters several members of the wedding party, only to discover the note was from an effeminate prince Herbert (Jones) (who was being forced by his father to marry a fat, ugly princess).Arthur and his knights regroup and are joined by three new knights, as well as Brother Maynard and his monk brethren. A year passes and during the harsh winter, the knights are forced to eat Robin's minstrels. They meet Tim the Enchanter, who directs them to a cave where the location of the Grail is said to be written. The entrance to the cave is guarded by the Rabbit of Caerbannog. Underestimating it, the knights attack, but the Rabbit easily kills Sirs Bors, Gawain and Ector. Arthur uses the "Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch", provided by Brother Maynard, to destroy the creature. Inside the cave, they find an inscription from Joseph of Arimathea, directing them to Castle Aarrgh (In France).An animated cave monster devours Brother Maynard, but Arthur and the knights escape after the animator unexpectedly suffers a fatal heart attack. The knights approach the Bridge of Death, where the bridge-keeper challenges them to answer three questions to pass, or else be cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril. Lancelot easily answers the simple questions (Name, quest and favorite color) and crosses. Robin is defeated by an unexpectedly difficult question (name, quest and capital of Assyria), and Galahad fails an easy one (name, quest and favorite color); both are magically flung into the gorge. When the bridge-keeper poses an obscure question about swallows (what is the air speed velocity of sparrows) to Arthur, he asks the bridge-keeper to clarify what he means (African or European sparrow); the bridge-keeper cannot answer and is thrown into the gorge.Arthur and Bedevere cannot find Lancelot, unaware that he has been arrested by police investigating the historian's death. The pair reach Castle Aarrgh, but find it occupied by the French soldiers. After being repelled by showers of manure, they summon an army of knights and prepare to assault the castle. As the army charges, the police arrive, arrest Arthur and Bedevere and break the camera, ending the film.

Storyline

History is turned on its comic head when, in tenth-century England, King Arthur travels the countryside to find knights who will join him at the Round Table in Camelot. Gathering up the men is a tale in itself but after a bit of a party at Camelot, many decide to leave only to be stopped by God, who sends them on a quest: to find the Holy Grail. After a series of individual adventures, the knights are reunited but must face a wizard named Tim the Enchanter, killer rabbits and lessons in the use of holy hand grenades. Their quest comes to an end however when the Police intervene - just what you would expect in a Monty Python movie. — garykmcd In search of brave and faithful supporters to join the Knights of the Round Table, the legendary British leader, King Arthur of Camelot, rides around Britain's countryside atop his noble steed. Before long, a handful of good men answer his call; however, after careful consideration, they decide to go their separate ways, only to provoke the wrath of the omnipotent being in the clouds, who commands Arthur and his followers to find the fabled Holy Grail. Now, on a mission from God himself, five men must brave taunting French soldiers; confront sexually obsessed virgins; do battle with the notorious Black Knight; face a mysterious enchanter named "Tim", and slay a vicious furry protector. But, are King Arthur's knights up to the task? — Nick Riganas Arthur, King of the Britons, is looking for knights to sit with him at Camelot. He finds many knights including Sir Galahad the Pure, Sir Launcelot the Brave, the quiet Sir Bedevere, and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Launcelot. Through satire of certain events in history, they find Camelot, but after literally a quick song and dance they decide that they do not want to go there. While walking away, God comes to them from a cloud and tells them to find the Holy Grail. They agree and begin their search. Throughout their search, they meet interesting people and knights along the way. — Zucco