LIFE - Monty Python: 40 Years of Insanity

http://www.life.com/images/logo.png LIFE - Monty Python: 40 Years of Insanity http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/34232/monty-python-40-years-of-insanity 'My Nipples Explode With Delight!' http://www.life.com/image/2666349

On October 5 1969 BBC One first broadcast a quirky little show called "Monty Python's Flying Circus." And now, for something completely different, the headlines in this gallery will have absolutely nothing to do with the photos and will instead be quotes from the show. Here's a shot of the boys imitating broadcaster Alan Whicker.]]> 2666349 Thu, 18 Nov 1971 03:00:00 EST

(L-R) John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle at the show's debut.]]> ugc1011012 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:12:09 EDT

(L-R) John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle at the show's debut.]]> Archive Photos/Getty Images 2010 gettyImages.com 'Well, He's... He's, ah... Probably Pining for the Fjords' http://www.life.com/image/ugc1011002

Joined here by Terry Gilliam (Upper Right) before their epic performance at the Hollywood Bowl.]]> ugc1011002 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:11:54 EDT

Joined here by Terry Gilliam (Upper Right) before their epic performance at the Hollywood Bowl.]]> Hulton Archive/Getty Images 2010 gettyImages.com 'One Thing is for Sure; a Sheep Is Not a Creature of the Air' http://www.life.com/image/51240125

A few favorite characters from the show.]]> 51240125 Sun, 01 Jan 1978 03:00:00 EST

A few favorite characters from the show.]]> Evening Standard 2010 gettyImages.com 'And Are You Still Intending to Purchase This Second Shed? To Bring You in Line With Your Epithet?' http://www.life.com/image/3180560

Knights duel on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> 3180560 Wed, 01 Jan 1975 03:00:00 EST

Knights duel on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> Columbia TriStar 2010 gettyImages.com 'Your Wife... Does She, Er, Does She 'Go' - Eh?' http://www.life.com/image/3136137

(L-R) John Cleese, Neil Innes, Michael Palin, and Eric Idle on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> 3136137 Tue, 21 May 1974 03:00:00 EDT

(L-R) John Cleese, Neil Innes, Michael Palin, and Eric Idle on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> John Downing 2010 gettyImages.com 'So I Curtailed My Walpoling Activites, Sallied Forth, and Infiltrated Your Place of Purveyance to Negotiate the Vending of Some Cheesy Comestibles' http://www.life.com/image/3136120

Palin and Cleese.]]> 3136120 Tue, 21 May 1974 03:00:00 EDT

Palin and Cleese.]]> John Downing 2010 gettyImages.com 'Telephone, Mr Hilter. It's That Nice Mr. McGoering From the Bell and Compasses. He Says He's Found a Place Where You Can Hire Bombers by the Hour' http://www.life.com/image/3088496

Eric Idle and Graham Chapman, on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> 3088496 Tue, 01 Jan 1974 03:00:00 EST

Eric Idle and Graham Chapman, on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> Evening Standard 2010 gettyImages.com 'Our *Three* Weapons Are Fear, Surprise, and Ruthless Efficiency... And An Almost Fanatical Devotion to the Pope...' http://www.life.com/image/3136147

Cleese and Chapman.]]> 3136147 Tue, 21 May 1974 03:00:00 EDT

Cleese and Chapman.]]> John Downing 2010 gettyImages.com 'And Now for Something Completely the Same - a Man With Three Buttocks' http://www.life.com/image/3136140

Michael Palin reads through his script on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> 3136140 Tue, 21 May 1974 03:00:00 EDT

Michael Palin reads through his script on the set of "Holy Grail."]]> John Downing 2010 gettyImages.com 'Yes, But I Think That With Government Backing I Could Make It Very Silly' http://www.life.com/image/3135010

Graham Chapman, silly walking.]]> 3135010 Wed, 25 Jun 1980 03:00:00 EDT

Graham Chapman, silly walking.]]> Stuart Clarke 2010 gettyImages.com 'An Argument Is an Intellectual Process. Contradiction Is Just the Automatic Gainsaying of Any Statement the Other Person Makes.' http://www.life.com/image/3136270

Cleese and Chapman, joined by (L-R) comedians Tim Brooke-Taylor, Aimi McDonald, and Marty Feldman.]]> 3136270 Wed, 13 Sep 1967 03:00:00 EDT

Cleese and Chapman, joined by (L-R) comedians Tim Brooke-Taylor, Aimi McDonald, and Marty Feldman.]]> Larry Ellis 2010 gettyImages.com 'Ah, No, No. My name Is Spelled 'Luxury Yacht' But It's Pronounced 'Throatwobbler Mangrove'' http://www.life.com/image/3134930

(L-R) John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Graham Chapman on the set of "The Life of Brian."]]> 3134930 Mon, 01 Jan 1979 03:00:00 EST

(L-R) John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Graham Chapman on the set of "The Life of Brian."]]> Evening Standard 2010 gettyImages.com 'Wainscoting ... Sounds Like a Little Dorset Village, Doesn't It? Wainscoting' http://www.life.com/image/3255030

Terry Jones, on the set of "Brian."]]> 3255030 Mon, 01 Jan 1979 03:00:00 EST

Terry Jones, on the set of "Brian."]]> Evening Standard 2010 gettyImages.com 'Aren't You Going to Say, 'What's all this then?'' http://www.life.com/image/2672754

Chapman and Palin on Westminster Bridge.]]> 2672754 Tue, 29 Oct 1974 03:00:00 EST

Chapman and Palin on Westminster Bridge.]]> Evening Standard 2010 gettyImages.com 'After Three Years of Study These Apprentice Idiots Receive a Diploma of Idiocy, a Handful of Mud, and a Kick to the Head' http://www.life.com/image/51951593

Terry Jones receives a Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for "The Meaning of Life" in 1983.]]> 51951593 Thu, 19 May 1983 03:00:00 EDT

Terry Jones receives a Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for "The Meaning of Life" in 1983.]]> GATTI-DUVAL 2010 gettyImages.com 'He Has Hidden Himself Well, But He Has Chosen a Rather Obvious Hiding Place' http://www.life.com/image/51951592

Terry Jones receives a Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for "The Meaning of Life" in 1983.]]> 51951592 Thu, 19 May 1983 03:00:00 EDT

Terry Jones receives a Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for "The Meaning of Life" in 1983.]]> GATTI-DUVAL 2010 gettyImages.com 'I've Been Told Dinsdale Piranha Nailed Your Head to the Floor' http://www.life.com/image/86295146

Graham Chapman later in life.]]> 86295146 Tue, 08 Dec 1987 03:00:00 EST

Graham Chapman later in life.]]> John Downing 2010 gettyImages.com 'I'm Afraid I'm Not Personally Qualified to Confuse Cats, But I Can Recommend an Extremely Good Service' http://www.life.com/image/3086911

Michael Palin with his BAFTA for Best Supporting Role in ''A Fish Called Wanda.'']]> 3086911 Sun, 01 Jan 1989 03:00:00 EST

Michael Palin with his BAFTA for Best Supporting Role in ''A Fish Called Wanda.'']]> Dave Hogan 2010 gettyImages.com 'Hello! Well, It's Just After Eight O'Clock, and Time For the Penguin on Top of Your Television Set to Explode' http://www.life.com/image/73076873

Eric Idle poses with dancers during a launch event to introduce ''Monty Python's Spamalot'' at The Grail Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas.]]> 73076873 Mon, 22 Jan 2007 03:00:00 EST

Eric Idle poses with dancers during a launch event to introduce ''Monty Python's Spamalot'' at The Grail Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas.]]> Ethan Miller 2010 gettyImages.com 'The Larch. The Larch.' http://www.life.com/image/77723037

Tim Curry (C) performs a scene from ''Monty Python's Spamalot.'' ]]> 77723037 Sun, 05 Jun 2005 03:00:00 EDT

Tim Curry (C) performs a scene from ''Monty Python's Spamalot.'' ]]> Ke.Mazur 2010 gettyImages.com