Graham Chapman (from Monty Python) Smoking a Pipe

[numbersix]

And smoking a pipe on the set of Monty Python and the Holy Grail:
Graham Chapman - Monty Python
I was a big fan of Monty Python back in the day. I rarely laughed so hard at a movie than when the king (played by Chapman) rode into view...

From wikipedia:
Described as a "tall (6'2"/1.88 m), craggy pipe-smoker who enjoyed mountaineering and playing rugby...[After his death in 1989] the speculation of a Python revival was inevitably diminished. Idle stated: "We would only do a reunion if Chapman came back from the dead. So we're negotiating with his agent."

 

[teufelhund]

It's funny that you bring this up... I saw a two guys yesterday; one dressed up as King Arthur and the other dressed as his servant complete with coconut halves. It made my week...

 

[simnettpratt]

In case you didn't know, they originally planned to use real horses, but they couldn't afford them. The coconuts (and the entire first scene), were a very fortunate accident. I used to own the script, and could quote the first three quarters of that movie. Best scene that didn't make it into the movie:
MERLIN'S WORKSHOP
(A knight in full plate mail is hanging from the ceiling with a horseman's lance stuck through the center of his chest, as Merlin tinkers with the armour)
Merlin: Well, all magic armour does this when it's new...
Knight: It just went right through.
Merlin: Well, there's always a break-in period...
Knight: Just went right through.
Merlin: I mean, it's supposed to give a little with the body...
Knight: Right through.
Funniest movie ever, and Python at their best.

 

[numbersix]

MERLIN'S WORKSHOP

That is awesome - can't believe it was cut!

 

[simnettpratt]

Favorite Python show was the one where all the Englishmen were turning into Scotsmen. They'd be walking down the street and *poof!*, they'd be wearing a kilt and playing bagpipes. Then you see the Terry Gilliam animation of all the little Brits beedle-eedle-eedling into Scotland, and it turns out what was causing it was these aliens, because they wanted to win Wimbledon, but the aliens were actually giant blancmanges.
The blancmanges entered Wimbledon and ate Billy Jean King, and ate Jimmy Conners, so there was only one British guy left for the finals against the blancmange. Being a British tennis player of course, he kept falling over and tripping on his shoelaces and couldn't get his serve in, so the match was taking a really long time and the crowd got bored and ate the blancmange and England was saved.
Try getting that past the demographic group surveys and Hollywood bigwigs today; the Pythons just did what they thought was funny.

 

[kashmir]

Lest we forget John Cleese's eulogy at Graham Chapman's funeral.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBCouCYjYUA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[philobeddoe]

The philosopher Olympics, Greece vs. Germany. Best sketch ever!

 

[simnettpratt]

That was awesome kashmir, hadn't seen that - thanks.
@phil: There's the ball, there's the ball...

 

[kashmir]

Yeah, Cleese is always good for a chuckle, even at his best friend's funeral. Did you see Chapman's brother in the audience? Takes a lot to get a laugh out of a bereaved family member ... But, like he said, its what Graham wanted.