Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus
Encyclopedia
Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (Monty Python's Flying Circus) consisted of two 45-minute Monty Python
German television comedy
specials produced by WDR
for West German television. The two episodes were first broadcast in January and December 1972 and were shot entirely on film and mostly on location in Bavaria
, with the first episode recorded in German and the second recorded in English and then dubbed into German.
caught notice of the Pythons, and excited by their innovative, absurd sketches, he invited them over to Germany in 1971 and 1972 to write two special German episodes of their show Monty Python's Flying Circus
and act in them. The result, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, was produced by Biolek in co-production with Westdeutscher Rundfunk
. Eric Idle has described the conception of the specials as "The Germans came to us and said 'Look, we haven't got a sense of humour, but we understand you do. Can we use yours?'"
The second episode was recorded in English because of issues with the German accents of some of the members: only John Cleese
and Michael Palin
spoke German in linguistic perfection that could be easily understood by native speakers. The other Python performers all had very thick accents (particularly Terry Jones
), making them difficult to understand. In some cases, the episode was broadcast with German subtitles.
.
Footage from these specials was used to fill time between live stage performances, as seen in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
. Also, "Ten Seconds of Sex" from episode two was shown in Series 3 episode 9, "Nude Organist," of the TV show.
Several new sketches were written specifically for this show, including "William Tell
", "Little Red Riding Hood
", and "The Merchant of Venice
" as performed by a herd of cows. Only "The Lumberjack Song
" was translated from a previously existing BBC "Monty Python" episode.
on 3 Jan 1972, at 9 pm CET)
The "Little Red Riding Hood" (in a much shorter edited form) and "Silly Olympics" sketches were dubbed into English and included in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
; "Stake Your Claim" turned up on the English language record Another Monty Python Record
.
Episode 2 (produced in 1972 and originally broadcast on ARD on 18 Dec 1972, at 9 pm CET)
An English language version of "The Philosophers' Football Match" was included in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
. "The Tale of Happy Valley" turned up on the English language record Monty Python's Previous Record
.
used this release as the basis of their DVD releases of the same material, with the first episode being included on Monty Python Live
and the second episode included on The Life of Python.
The Australian DVD company Rainbow Entertainment also released both episodes, on one DVD.
The Swiss publisher Haffmans released a hardbound book containing the scripts of both episodes, with introductions and essays by the German producers, in 1998. This book has not been translated into English, as of 2007.
Both episodes have been shown on the Paramount Comedy Channel in the UK.
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
German television comedy
German television comedy
Germany has a long tradition of television comedy stretching as far back as the 1950s, and with its origins in cabaret and radio.-1960s:*1963: Der 90. Geburtstag is a comedy sketch recorded on July 8, 1963 at Theater am Besenbinderhof in front of a real audience by Norddeutscher Rundfunk...
specials produced by WDR
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Westdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
for West German television. The two episodes were first broadcast in January and December 1972 and were shot entirely on film and mostly on location in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, with the first episode recorded in German and the second recorded in English and then dubbed into German.
Production
While visiting the UK in the early 1970s, German entertainer and TV producer Alfred BiolekAlfred Biolek
Alfred Biolek is a well-known German entertainer and television producer...
caught notice of the Pythons, and excited by their innovative, absurd sketches, he invited them over to Germany in 1971 and 1972 to write two special German episodes of their show Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
and act in them. The result, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, was produced by Biolek in co-production with Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Westdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
. Eric Idle has described the conception of the specials as "The Germans came to us and said 'Look, we haven't got a sense of humour, but we understand you do. Can we use yours?'"
The second episode was recorded in English because of issues with the German accents of some of the members: only John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
and Michael Palin
Michael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
spoke German in linguistic perfection that could be easily understood by native speakers. The other Python performers all had very thick accents (particularly Terry Jones
Terry Jones
Terence Graham Parry Jones is a Welsh comedian, screenwriter, actor, film director, children's author, popular historian, political commentator, and TV documentary host. He is best known as a member of the Monty Python comedy team....
), making them difficult to understand. In some cases, the episode was broadcast with German subtitles.
Sketches
Some of the material was reworked from At Last the 1948 ShowAt Last the 1948 Show
At Last the 1948 Show is a satirical TV show made by David Frost's company, Paradine Productions , in association with Rediffusion London...
.
Footage from these specials was used to fill time between live stage performances, as seen in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
. Also, "Ten Seconds of Sex" from episode two was shown in Series 3 episode 9, "Nude Organist," of the TV show.
Several new sketches were written specifically for this show, including "William Tell
William Tell
William Tell is a folk hero of Switzerland. His legend is recorded in a late 15th century Swiss chronicle....
", "Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
", and "The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic...
" as performed by a herd of cows. Only "The Lumberjack Song
The Lumberjack Song
"The Lumberjack Song" is a song by the Monty Python comedy troupe. The song was written by Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Fred Tomlinson.It first appeared on the ninth episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus, "The Ant: An Introduction" on BBC1 on 14 December 1969...
" was translated from a previously existing BBC "Monty Python" episode.
List of episodes
Episode 1 (produced in 1971 and originally broadcast on ARD TVARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
on 3 Jan 1972, at 9 pm CET)
- An Introduction to Monty Python By Frau Newsreader Claudia Doren
- The Journey of The Olympic Flame
- Monty Python’s Guide to Albrecht DürerAlbrecht DürerAlbrecht Dürer was a German painter, printmaker, engraver, mathematician, and theorist from Nuremberg. His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance ever since...
- Anita EkbergAnita EkbergKerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg is a Swedish model, actress and cult sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita which features the legendary scene of her cavorting in Trevi Fountain alongside Marcello Mastroianni.-Biography:Ekberg was born in...
Sings Albrecht Dürer - The Merchant of Venice as performed by a herd of cows
- Doctor Breeder
- Little Red Riding Hood
- Silly Olympics
- Stake Your Claim
- The Lumberjack Song with The Austrian Border Police
- The Bavarian Restaurant
The "Little Red Riding Hood" (in a much shorter edited form) and "Silly Olympics" sketches were dubbed into English and included in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
; "Stake Your Claim" turned up on the English language record Another Monty Python Record
Another Monty Python Record
Another Monty Python Record is the second album produced by the Monty Python comedy group, released in 1971. It was packaged as "Beethoven Symphony No. 2 In D Major", but defaced by the Pythons to serve as their own record jacket...
.
Episode 2 (produced in 1972 and originally broadcast on ARD on 18 Dec 1972, at 9 pm CET)
- William Tell
- Euro Sex Maniacs
- The Sycophancy Show
- Mouse Reserve/Fish Park
- Chicken Mining
- The Philosophers' Football MatchThe Philosophers' Football MatchThe Philosophers' Football Match is a Monty Python sketch depicting a football match in the Olympiastadion at the 1972 Munich Olympics between philosophers representing Greece and Germany...
– Greeks vs Germans, First Half - Colin "Bomber" Harris vs Colin "Bomber" Harris
- The Philosophers' Football MatchThe Philosophers' Football MatchThe Philosophers' Football Match is a Monty Python sketch depicting a football match in the Olympiastadion at the 1972 Munich Olympics between philosophers representing Greece and Germany...
– Greeks vs Germans, Second Half - 10 Seconds of Sex
- I Want A Hearing Aid
- The Tale of Happy Valley (The Princess with The Wooden Teeth)
An English language version of "The Philosophers' Football Match" was included in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a 1982 concert film in which the Monty Python team perform many of their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. The show also included filmed inserts which were mostly taken from two Monty Python specials, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which had been...
. "The Tale of Happy Valley" turned up on the English language record Monty Python's Previous Record
Monty Python's Previous Record
Monty Python's Previous Record was the third album by Monty Python, released in 1972. When packaged in 1994's The Instant Monty Python CD Collection the order of some of the sketches was changed...
.
Media
Guerilla Films released both episodes on a single VHS tape, available in either PAL or NTSC format, in 1998. The American A&E NetworkA&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
used this release as the basis of their DVD releases of the same material, with the first episode being included on Monty Python Live
Monty Python Live
Monty Python Live is a two-disc DVD set featuring three TV specials and a live concert film of the British comedy group Monty Python. The set includes:*Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl*Parrot Sketch Not Included - 20 Years of Monty Python...
and the second episode included on The Life of Python.
The Australian DVD company Rainbow Entertainment also released both episodes, on one DVD.
The Swiss publisher Haffmans released a hardbound book containing the scripts of both episodes, with introductions and essays by the German producers, in 1998. This book has not been translated into English, as of 2007.
Both episodes have been shown on the Paramount Comedy Channel in the UK.
Lost sketches
Several behind-the-scenes photos from the specials' production were published in the group's autobiography, some of which were from sketches cut from the specials:- A version of the Marriage Guidance CounsellorMarriage Guidance CounsellorThe Marriage Guidance Counsellor sketch is from the second Monty Python's Flying Circus episode, "Sex and Violence", first broadcast late on Sunday, 12th October 1969...
sketch. - A sketch involving a flute player (Graham Chapman) in front of a German sign.
- A version of the Sir Edward Ross sketch
- An alternate ending to the first special, in which two stage hands are carrying a giant sign that says ENDE off a huge field. Behind the sign is Terry Jones' singer character from the Albrecht Dürer sketch.
External links
- PythoNET transcripts and multimedia from orangecow.org
- Guerilla Films site with history and interviews