Parrot Sketch Not Included: Twenty Years of Monty Python

The night before the Pythons celebrated their 20th anniversary of their first television shows, Graham Chapman died after a long illness.

Steve Martin, a fan gives a deadpan commentary to this celebration of all things Python.

Its an excuse for us to see clips of the Python shows. Dead Parrot sketch excluded.

Monty Python which debuted on BBC1 launched a new type of absurd, surrealist comedy and its been heavily influential on both sides of the Atlantic. The final scene leaves us with all of the team trapped in a cupboard, Chapman included.

This video was my first experience with Monty Python. Since then I have become a rabid fan. This compilation is fabulous. All the sketches included are top notch and outrageously funny. Steve Martin's commentary is also quite amusing and the video leaves nothing to be desired. If you are a python fan, you should buy this video. The miriad of hilarious sketches will leave you rolling on the floor. If you've never seen Monty Python on the other hand, watch this video. It will make you a fan. It made me one.

A decent compilation of python sketches, and according to the host Steve Martin, some clips never before seen. Rather disapointing however, some of the funniest sketches are noticably cut short, leaving out the punch line. Great introduction sampler for folks who are less familiar with the comedy groups Flying Circus matereal, but fanatic devotees might be somewhat distraught with sketches being trimmed. Final television appearance of the entire python team together shown briefly at the end of the film, which is a shame and a poor final tribute due to Graham Chapman dying soon there after.

With the exception of the Dead Parrot sketch which hands this compilation it's title, this is the ultimate collection of Python classics that have been suitably squeezed into 72 minutes. The Ministry of Silly Walks, Spam, The Lumberjack Song..they're all here along with some other lesser-known delights (e.g. the Queen Victoria Handicapp, fantastic!).

Presented by Steve Martin, a collection of sketches from Monty Python's Flying Circus.

A good intro for those less familiar with the work of Monty Python. Covers some of their most well-known sketches.

However, by making this a 'Greatest Hits', you remove the continuity of the original Flying Circus episodes. There the skits may have seemed independent in their setting and plot but there was often a running joke through the whole episode and certain things linking the skits. Here we have none of that.

Furthermore, for those of us already familiar with the work of Monty Python, we'd rather watch Monty Python's Flying Circus in its entirety.