The 1975 classic was the first film to be directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. The now veteran directors told the story of King Arthur’s search for the mythical grail during breaks between filming the TV series Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Python heroes Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin all starred in the first of the group’s original films, following And Now for Something Completely Different – a feature-length compilation of sketches four years before, in 1971.
To celebrate, here are some of the best lines that made the original legendary – and why it is still worth a watch half-a-century on.
The best quotes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail as cult film turns 50
Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his accomplice Bedevere (Terry Jones) cannot pass through a misty wood unless they can appease the feared Knights Who Say “Ni!”
But the knights’ leader (played by Michael Palin) makes a bizarre request of demanding a shrubbery, and one that’s not too expensive, ideally.
The gang approach The Bridge of Death towards the end of their quest when a scary bridge keeper (Terry Gilliam) asks three (not five) questions to allow passage.
Sir Lancelot is the first to volunteer and is allowed to pass when he answers three very straightforward questions with ease. Unfortunately, the bridge keeper makes the third question by the time Sir Robin (Eric Idle) and the others follow, resulting in their untimely deaths.
Arthur comes up against the powerful Black Knight (John Cleese) in a wood and our hero is challenged to a duel to the death. The adversary though does not know when he is beaten and passes off his mortal injuries as mere flesh wounds as he loses one limb after another.
“You don’t vote for kings!”
Not long into the mission, Arthur demands to know from some of his villagers who lives in a nearby castle – but finds his authority has not reached the shires.
Dennis (Michael Palin) and his mother (Terry Jones) explain their society is built on a bureaucracy too boring for Arthur to be bothered to comprehend.
“Is there someone else up there we can talk to?”
The castle, it appears, is occupied by the French and, unfortunately for Arthur, he is only able to communicate to a taunter-in-chief (John Cleese).
After being insulted by the gatekeeper (“I fart in your general direction”) the Knights of the Roundtable demand to talk to someone else, to no avail.