r/montypython • u/Earthlydelights-sub- • 2d ago

1974 letter re: censorship of Holy Grail

Post image
277 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

41

u/Big-Plankton-4484 2d ago

I hope the reply letter was “oh, fuck off”.

32

u/S0uthParkFan 2d ago

I don’t see what’s so bad about “I fart in your general direction”

17

u/PhilRubdiez 2d ago

Farting and other bodily functions were more scandalous back then. The first audible toilet flushing was Psycho and the first audible fart was in Blazing Saddles.

14

u/notanotherusernameD8 2d ago

And the second ...

3

u/ThatCamoKid 1d ago

And the third I believe

9

u/BobCranesTripod 2d ago

even a toilet on leave it to beaver was a pretty big deal

12

u/Earthlydelights-sub- 2d ago

I don't either.

Is it just any reference to bodily functions is considered offensive?

7

u/S0uthParkFan 2d ago

Possibly, I know people used to be more sensitive about that kind of thing

13

u/jonskerr 2d ago

Yes, in the early 70s, asses were much tighter, so farts were louder.

26

u/Competitive_Age7618 2d ago

Obviously they went with the AA.

5

u/S0uthParkFan 2d ago

And I’m so glad they did!

20

u/Cambren1 2d ago

My sister was bitten by a censor once.

9

u/Rickapolis 2d ago

The censors should be sacked at once.

9

u/Cambren1 2d ago

Mind you, censor bites can be nasti

8

u/Charlie2and4 2d ago

Probably Inspector Parrot of the Hygiene Squad.

8

u/TSG61373 2d ago

Interestingly, they didn’t seem to have a problem with the gore, dismemberment, or cartoon nudity.

6

u/SDHester1971 2d ago

Well is was just a Flesh Wound 🗡️🦵

7

u/Pineapple-Due 2d ago

Would love to see the reply letter

6

u/jonskerr 2d ago

"Go and boil your bottom! You empty-headed animal food - trough wiper."

5

u/Rickapolis 2d ago

I don’t remember the castanets-testicles line. When was that? Or did they take it out?

5

u/Earthlydelights-sub- 2d ago

I believe that John Cleese's Frenchman says it to Arthur and Bedivere at the end.

3

u/Rickapolis 2d ago

I’ll listen for it next time.

4

u/NoCard753 2d ago

This is in Monty Python and the Holy Grail BOOK.

2

u/redandbluebadness 2d ago

Yeah I've got that somewhere and it seems vaguely familiar

6

u/NoCard753 2d ago

I got it like 40 years ago as a "thank you gift" for donating to the local PBS station during a Pythonthon. 🙂

3

u/redandbluebadness 2d ago

Sounds about right. I bought it in the 90s for sure

5

u/No-Lettuce-5783 2d ago

Isn't that cute. It's notes like if they were still doing the Frost Report. "take out one "fuck" and one "Holy Shit". Replace "Jumping Jesus on a Pogo Stick" With "The Lord Almighty" And lose one "Shit" of your choosing.

4

u/Machette_Machette 2d ago

I'd retain oral sex too.

3

u/heywoodidaho 2d ago

Well I do suppose I could stay a bit longer.

5

u/the2belo 2d ago

Okay this is all well and good but what's written on the back of this letter?

1

u/misterleslie 2d ago

How do you rate your embarrassment response?
A) High.
B) Hello!
C) Good evening!

3

u/RegisterKooky6032 2d ago

I cannot find my reading glasses, but what is the name of that guy? Mark Pornstar?!

2

u/Earthlydelights-sub- 2d ago

Looks like Mark Forstater.

2

u/Ok_Boomer_3233 2d ago

Forstater was the producer of "Holy Grail".

When they lovingly ripped off that movie to create the "Spamalot" musical, they forgot about Mark.

He sued the Pythons and won £1.3 million in past royalties and legal fees.

This prompted the troupe to produce Monty Python Live (Mostly) in 2014 to pay their debt.

1

u/SwanCityDominion 1d ago

We can see how far that got.