Monty Python's Flying Circus
| series | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Monty Python's Flying Circus |
| Country of production | Federal Republic of Germany |
| original language |
German (episode 1) English (episode 2) |
| year | 1972 |
| Manufacturing company |
Bavaria Atelier Python (Monty) Pictures Westdeutscher Rundfunk |
| length | 38-40 minutes |
| Episodes | 2 |
| genre | Comedy |
| production |
Alfred Biolek Thomas Woitkewitsch |
| First broadcast | January 3, 1972 on German television |
| occupation | |
The British comedian group Monty Python shot two episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus especially for German and Austrian television in 1971 and 1972 respectively . Basically, these are two special episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus .
production
Both episodes were produced in Germany; the first episode was spoken entirely in German, although none of the pythons could speak German at the time. The result is a bit weird (which makes for an added laugh) but for the most part understandable, especially with John Cleese . Alfred Biolek was (together with Thomas Woitkewitsch ) a producer and also appears as a speaker and performer in the flying circus .
Many of the skits contained therein were written especially for the German series; the only reissue of an existing skit was the lumberjack song as a lumberjack song ("I am a lumberjack and feel strong, I sleep at night, and hack during the day ..."). The second episode was then shot in English, supposedly because it meant that it could be sold better internationally.
The first episode begins and ends with a TV announcer, who is then "disturbed" by the Pythons in her moderation. This is Claudia Doren .
German television has been two-piece under the title "Monty Python in Germany" sent ( EPG , teletext and program guides ).
Participating companies:
- Bavaria Atelier GmbH
- Python (Monty) Pictures Limited
- West German Broadcasting (WDR)
- Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF)
The shooting location was, among other things, the area in and around Füssen (the license plates of the vehicles therefore also bear the identifier FÜS from the Füssen district at that time ), Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle , the Hopfensee and the Schwansee .
Alternative versions
The versions that were broadcast on ARD differ from the versions that were released on DVD abroad. The ARD version of the first episode ('Blödeln für Deutschland') lacks the 6-minute sketch 'Das Bayerisches Restaurant-Stück'. In the second episode ('Fooling around the fine English way') there are considerably more deviations: for example, the hearing aid sketch by Eric Idle has been postponed to the end; the 'Happy Valley' fairy tale sketch was shortened by several shots in the ARD version. On the other hand, the ARD version contains two more sketches than the international version: 'Swimming course with Arthur Lustgarten' and 'Important information for smokers' .
The DVD version released in Germany in 2018 contains the longest possible versions of both episodes (the scenes cut in the ARD version in episode 2 are in English with German subtitles). The two ARD-exclusive clips, for which no English original sound is available, are included in the bonus material, as well as an ARD cut of the 'Happy Valley' sketch without the OmU passages.
literature
- John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Monty Python's Flying Circus. All German shows (both of them) , with prehistoric introductions by Alfred Biolek and Thomas Woitkewitsch, translated by Heiko Arntz, Haffmans, Zurich 1998, ISBN 3-251-00414-X
Web links
Monty Python's Flying Circus in theInternet Movie Database(English)