OT: Monty Python series film sequences

[David Huggins]

Does anyone know if the original film elements for Monty Python survive? If so perhaps they could be re-transferred for the DVD release, as per some of the Doctor Who restorations.

While re-watching some episodes recently, I kept noticing the rough picture quality of the film sequences...

For example, something like the ‘Milkman Psychiatrist’ sketch looks very grainy with de-saturated colour. Didn’t stop it being side-splittingly funny though :-)

Regards,

David

[H Hartley]

good idea as the sequences were probably edited on film and then again on video- so maybe some considerable generations away from the master?

also has two things going for it that they may have survived.
1 in colour
2, monty python1 was first repeated in circa 1976/77 . So with considerable interest in the series at this time it may have survived the great junkings of this era?

[everyone]

"Does anyone know if the original film elements for Monty Python survive? If so perhaps they could be re-transferred for the DVD release, as per some of the Doctor Who restorations."

The BBC returned a large amount of Flying Circus film stock to the Python office a while back. No idea if this is complete - there's also been suggestions that the BBC still holds the celluloid for Series 4.

Some info about this and other Python DVD potentials can be found here:

web.ukonline.co.uk/sotcaa/python.html

The de-saturated colour of the Milkman sequence - do you mean the Deja Vu sequence which comes afterwards? I've noticed that whenever they had to 'repeat' a section on film (eg Cleese emulating a stylus-stick which making his announcement) the repeated bit of film always looks a further generation down the line.

[Martin OGorman]

It wasn't just film stock either - SOTCAA claimed that the Python office has a few 2-inch videotape inserts from series 3, including alternate takes. Someone get on to Terry Jones, now!

[Noddy]

I think this has been covered before, read some other threads

[Deleted]

H said:

good idea as the sequences were probably edited on film and then again on video- so maybe some considerable generations away from the master?

also has two things going for it that they may have survived.
1 in colour
2, monty python1 was first repeated in circa 1976/77 . So with considerable interest in the series at this time it may have survived the great junkings of this era?

Series 1 and 2 (I think) of Monty Python was originally going to be wiped c1974, but around that time, TV stations from outside the UK had a growing interest in this series (it was at this time when it was first seen in the USA), and that saved the master tapes from being junked.

[andrew martin]

There are film sequences from one or two of series 3 and all of series 4 still in existence in the BBC archive. There's no film logged for series 2, while for series 1 there's some titles material, plus film inserts for one episode (10). Additionally for series 1 and 3 there are some telerecordings of episodes (including in the case of one 3rd series episode, the uncut version that no longer exists on VT).

It's always possible some other material is held by the Pythons' company... There are some odds and sods on VT too.

If we do get a proper DVD release, let's hope all the material gets properly looked into!

[Robbie]

Andrew,do you have any idea of the likelihood that we'll get a proper DVD release?Is it up to the BBC or the Pythons?

[andrew martin]

I haven't heard anything definite, but I think it would be down to the Pythons as they own all the rights to the series nowadays - when episodes were last repeated they were treated as purchased programmes (ie like feature films or foreign series).

[Robbie]

Thanks for that.If the Pythons now own the UK rights it's difficult to see why they wouldn't do a full release here like they have in the US.That Best of box set is a BBC release,so I suppose the BEEB had to purchase the rights to do that from the Pythons aswell.

[andrew martin]

Let's hope it happens, it would be great to have the definitive set - or as far as can be managed with the available material...

[RWels]

andrew said:

There are film sequences from one or two of series 3 and all of series 4 still in existence in the BBC archive. There's no film logged for series 2, while for series 1 there's some titles material, plus film inserts for one episode (10). Additionally for series 1 and 3 there are some telerecordings of episodes (including in the case of one 3rd series episode, the uncut version that no longer exists on VT).

It's always possible some other material is held by the Pythons' company... There are some odds and sods on VT too.

If we do get a proper DVD release, let's hope all the material gets properly looked into!

Andrew, where did you get all this information?

[James Phillips]

Andrew works at Windmill Road, I believe.

[RWels]

I thought something like that - what exactly is at Windmill Road? (I have a hunch, to be sure, but just to be sure... )

[andrew martin]

It's the BBC archives.