Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group of Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), as directed by Gilliam and Jones. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their popular BBC television programme Monty Python's Flying Circus.
In contrast to the group's first film, And Now for Something Completely Different, a compilation of sketches from the first two television series, Holy Grail was composed of new material, and is therefore considered the first "proper" film by the group. It generally parodies the legend of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. The film was a success on its initial release, and Idle used the film as the inspiration for the 2005 Tony Award-winning musical "Spamalot".
The film was a box-office success, grossing the highest of any British film exhibited in the U.S. in 1975. It has remained popular since then, receiving critical acclaim. The film received a 97% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus; "a cult classic as gut-bustingly hilarious as it is blithely ridiculous".
If anyone, anywhere starts asking questions about the "general air velocity of a coconut laden swallow", or starts comparing "maternal linkage to squirrels", then they have likely seen this film and can quote large parts of it by memory.
