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The budget for “Monty Python & the Holy Grail” was raised by rock bands including Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd & Jethro Tull

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a British slapstick comedy film made in 1975, concerning the Arthurian legend. It tells the story of King Arthur and his attempt to build a court in Camelot.

The comedy was written by the comedy group Monty Python and directed by Gilliam and Jones. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their BBC television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

UK quad poster. Photo Credit
UK quad poster. Photo Credit

 

The Monty Python crew. Photo Credit
The Monty Python crew. Photo Credit

 

Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.

The movie, full of random quips, hilarious stand-alone scenes, and the type of comedic anarchy that practically defines British comedy even to this day was a low-budget success story and has become a Cult Classic over time.

Helmet of the Black Knight from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Photo Credit
The Helmet of the Black Knight from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Photo Credit

Jones and Gilliam, as co-directors, shared the responsibility of corralling the low-budgeted production across the location shoot in Scotland and at Epping Forest outside London.

Shooting for five weeks in 1974, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was denied access to most of the castles that had been scouted, so Castle Dome stood in for three different locations. Also, they used Castle Stalker in Scotland for shooting the final scene of the movie.

Doune Castle, used in several scenes. Photo Credit
Doune Castle used in several scenes. Photo Credit

 

Castle Stalker, the location of the final scene. Photo Credit.
Castle Stalker, the location of the final scene. Photo Credit

Originally the knight characters were going to ride real horses, but after it became clear that the film’s small budget precluded real horses, the Pythons decided that their characters would mime horse-riding while their porters trotted behind them banging coconut shells together.

French Soldier's helmet. Photo Credit
French Soldier’s helmet. Photo Credit

 

The extras in the movie were either students or tourists.
The extras in the movie were either students or tourists.

The film’s initial budget of approximately $319,000 was raised by convincing 10 separate investors to pitch in.

It was funded by a coalition of rock stars and record labels such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Jethro Tull, Island Records, Chrysalis Records and Michael White.

Still a classic film to this day.

Marija Georgievska

Marija Georgievska is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News