Well in 1971 they made a legendary first film And Now For Something Completely Different entirely derived from their TV series and half a decade after this film two of their best albums The Final Rip Off and Monty Python Sings were just re-edited series of sketches and songs woven together. So is it logical to assume that like their early albums relying on the TV show material that Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl might just be another rehash of Monty Python instant nostalgia? Yeah sort of, but it isn't. But when it comes to their legendary material everything is here except the Dead Parrot (he's just resting) and the Spanish Inquisition (I wasn't expecting a Spanish Inquisition). The Ministry of Silly Walks, The Lumberjack Song, Nudge Nudge, The Argument Sketch, Travel Agent etc. are here. And there are some stuff from their hard to find album Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album namely "Sit On My Face" and "Never Be Rude To An Arab" but many other great tunes and sketches from this album can be heard on The Final Rip Off. So does it look like I'm giving the film a weak review, it shouldn't. I'm just given a cautionary synopsis. Yes a lot of the film is pulled from existing material sadly even from the less glorious material that was put on Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus. However and this is a strong however, Graham Chapman does great pantomime of wrestler challenging himself for the title (yes I know it sounds weird to say pantomime and great in the same sentence). Followed a sketch or two later by The Last Supper with John Cleese as the Pope and Eric Idle as Michelangelo having "artistic differences" over the title painting, Eric wanting to be more liberal in it's interpretation and John Cleese playing the frustrating protagonist/antagonist (depending on your viewpoint) and Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam (who gets more parts in this film!) do a college lecture analysis on the evolution of humor. The highlights include Neil Innes performing "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" and a very funny "Urban Spaceman" featuring the delightful Carol Cleveland who also does a great job in the Travel Agent sketch. The low points of the film clips from the German TV show and a moderately okay Lumberjack performance by Idle (not the traditional Palin who is always great in such parts). It just seemed like Eric Idle was already getting a lot of the attention at this point in their career, why take the best part away from someone who gave them the great material in the first place and anyway Eric would still be using it in Spamalot and Eric Idle Sings Monty Python. But I digress and finish off by saying it might not be be as great as And Now For Something Completely Different or The Final Rip Off but it almost is not even taking into account that some of the stuff can only be found in this film anyway.
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