1982: PALIN and CLEESE on THE MEANING OF LIFE | Film 82 | Classic Movie Interviews

1982: PALIN and CLEESE on THE MEANING OF LIFE | Film 82 | Classic Movie Interviews | BBC Archive

2 роки тому

Iain Johnstone is joined by a reluctant John Cleese (who hates interviews, especially ones including Michael Palin) and Michael Palin, who discuss the trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs of shooting their latest film, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.
Like all right-thinking people, they will do anything to get hold of a coveted Film 82 sweatshirt.
Originally broadcast 20 December, 1982.
You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of tv to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic tv clips from the BBC vaults.
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КОМЕНТАРІ: 152

@kojombasi506 Рік тому

They’re like giggling schoolboys. Two absolute comedy legends.

@butcherax Рік тому

"If I can't hyphenate 'dog's breakfast' I can't describe the film in one word" 😂 what a wordsmith

@Hysteria98 2 роки тому

God, this is a blast from the past. Interviews to this day with these chaps never disappoint, lol.

@hilaryepstein6013 2 роки тому

Thank you for this and thank goodness for Michael Palin's inability to stop talking. Graham Chapman said of Meaning of Life that it was obvious that six different minds had written it.

@notreallydavid Рік тому

Love this film - their bleakest, nastiest and cleverest. I wish the guys who made it liked it more than they do.

@followtheboat 2 роки тому

My favourite Python film by a country mile. This was great, another gem from the BBC vaults. Thank you.

@A-small-amount-of-peas Рік тому

I did enjoy it but if did have the whiff of a rushed cash grab

@MarcosElMalo2 Рік тому

I laughed so hard the first time watching that I felt high midway through. I was euphoric walking out of the theater.

@nmeau Рік тому

Absolutely the best - they took it to the edge and no-one has gone further since

@gaskellr44 11 місяців тому

I feel it's a mixed bag, not as solid and flowing as L O B, but some great sketches but also some duds, hence why they feel it is their worst. Possibly H G fares better as more good sketches than M O L. but then again, M O L has 1 or 2 killer sketches.

@deltabilly1 Рік тому

Hilarious for Cleese to accuse anyone else of talking too much. He just liked the sound of his own voice! (As do I)

@advancelast1740 Рік тому

What, like the sound of his voice or yours ?

@andydixon2980 Рік тому

@@advancelast1740 I like the sound of Jeremy's voice, more than John's.

@planetX15 Місяць тому

Clarkson?

@taragrace2928 Рік тому

Michael and John are so delightful!

@davidbull7210 2 роки тому

John Cleese now wears an "I'm 82" t shirt.

@Jalliams Рік тому

What a delightfully candid interview. Thank you!

@TheTruthKiwi 2 роки тому

I love how they never took interviews seriously. So much dry humour 😁😁😁

@PeterSteelesWombat 11 днів тому

Two work colleagues who get along like a house on fire, enjoy their work but do the classic British thing of "having a bloody good moan about work". Superb! That moment where Cleese goads Palin with "He never allows a pause of silence to just hang in the air." and he waits knowing full well that Palin can't resist jumping in.

@stege9979 Рік тому

Cleese and Palin...what legends.

@78mitch Рік тому

John Cleese has a standup tour across Europe now in 2022 ! I already have the tickets for the show this August in Sundsval (Sweden). I'm so happy to see this legend at the sunset of his career.

@mrmaxaxl Рік тому

Whaat?? Kommer han till Stockholm?

@oskarvikstrom229 Рік тому

@@mrmaxaxl Menar han Sundsvall? Har inte en susning.

@coffeecigarettes9422 Рік тому

I guess he is doing it especially for paying off his bills after several divorces. But anyway I'm sure it will be and I wish you a lovely evening. But don't forget to cheer him up - as you heard during this interview; don't do it like the Icelanders ;-)

@jamesdettmann94 2 місяці тому

Well clearly the sunset of his career is just like August sunsets in Sweden, lasts forever.

@zingzangspillip1 Рік тому

I love how it's the interviewer who came up with "Jones is Welsh", rather than John or Michael.

@DusanPavlicek78 Рік тому

This is absolutely delightful 😊

@wyskass861 Рік тому

Comedians and engineer are my favorite types of people.

@Chasworth Рік тому

Crazy

@sebastianb.1926 Рік тому

Recently watched a David Kelly interview about the Icelandic studio audience for The Builders episode of Fawlty Towers. I have no idea if it was the algorithm that recommended me this precise video in which Cleese passingly mentions the same thing or if it was pure serendipity.

@jeremyjohnson9817 Рік тому

Exact same thing happened to me. Must be the algorithm.

@Jimfowler82 2 роки тому

I was nearly 2 months old when this was filmed. I still remember people wearing clothes like this deep into the 90s 🤣

@welshlad6427 2 роки тому

Great film. Great comedy. Great times ❤️

@brendancadogan6235 Рік тому

Superb but Welsh.

@Costa_Conn Рік тому

@@brendancadogan6235 he's not Welsh, he's a very naughty boy

@Cortinaman63 Рік тому

Welsh Lad: Thanks for your nice comments about "The Meaning Of Life", As an Actor it is always nice to hear from people that enjoy a Production I have appeared in, together with a fantastic fellow Cast & Crew, I am so pleased you enjoyed the film, it was one of my personal Favourite Productions over many years in the industry to have worked on.

@masercot Рік тому

The two were in a movie called "Fierce Creatures" and Palin played a zookeeper who couldn't stop talking...

@iwaisman Рік тому

Thanks

@gus4u2c 2 роки тому

Meaning Of Life is my favorite Monty Python film! ❤️

@Cortinaman63 Рік тому

gus4u2c: I am so pleased you enjoyed the Film, and thanks for your nice comment, as a member of the Cast, with a small featured part in the Film, it is nice to hear the work all my fellow Cast & Crew put in to making this is appreciated and enjoyed by people like yourself, and many thank for your support of the Film.

@planetX15 Місяць тому

Life Of Brian edges it for me, but the Meaning Of Life is a definite second, both very close, great shows!

@excelents 2 роки тому

2:30 context for the rainfall comment Ripping Yans starring Michael Palin ukposts.info/have/v-deo/kYmhp7BpnHd8sKc.html "It were always raining in Denley Moor, except on days when it were fine. And there weren't many of those. not if you include drizzle as rain."

@MrSimonmcc 2 роки тому

I watched that very episode only yesterday.

@RodericSpode Рік тому

I have to watch those again. That's a great line.

@andyloren442 Рік тому

Love this film

@unchattytwit Рік тому

My favourite Python film - brilliant - it was all worth it.

@Cortinaman63 Рік тому

Senkigtully 1 ; It was a lot of fun working on this film as one of the Cast, in Part Two "Growth & Learning" and I am so pleased you enjoyed it, thanks for your kind comment, about The Meaning Of Life, it is very much appreciated by myself, and I am sure by my fellow Cast & Crew,

@chuckselvage3157 Рік тому

Cleese sarcasm is gold.

@nowthenzen Рік тому

The world was simple then and we were younger and more beautiful

@markkavanagh7377 Рік тому

I wasn't.

@MoosesValley Рік тому

Brilliant !

@MrJamBluejam Рік тому

Meaning of Life in one word? John: "If I can't hyphenate dog's breakfast then I can't do it in one word". Lovely stuff.

@theguitardude5613 2 роки тому

My god I love these guys. If you could be anybody? A python.

@julianaylor4351 2 роки тому

They ate the salmon mousse!!!! John Cleese was brilliant as The Grim Reaper. 😁

@andypalin3287 2 роки тому

Palin heaven! 🤘🎸😎

@MarcosElMalo2 Рік тому

It was the dog’s breakfast aspect that I loved. It was a a return to form in a way, sketches loosely tied together thematically and absurdly.

@A-small-amount-of-peas Рік тому

I fear its too late now but I always wanted a 2 man John and Michael movie where it's mainly them. They all had great chemistry but I always thought these 2 had the best

@Kasino80 Рік тому

Considering Terry and Michael had the best writing partnership, it really is quite extraordinary how good these two are together. Most of the Python sketches with them are in the top ten of all their skits.

@charlie-obrien Рік тому

The movie "A Fish Called Wanda" had both Cleese and Palin featured in very funny roles.

@A-small-amount-of-peas Рік тому

@@charlie-obrien yes I know, but they had very little dialogue with each other

@wyskass861 Рік тому

Comedians like these are keen observers of life and can't help be see the many absurdities. Then then point them out in exaggerated fashion in the their comedy. It's a necessary reflection for humans. You can see it when he jokes about the process of making movies. People who perceive can often get tired of th experience but allow us to laugh and notice things we haven't before.

@michaeltimothycole Рік тому

Can you upload HangaRRR 17 the complete series.With grandmothers.With the grandmothers corolla forfeits.Uncut.30 minutes.ALL 32 episodes.PLease Paul Leyshon?.

@c.m.9369 Рік тому

I‘m so glad to hear Cleese describe it as this incoherent mess of a film, because that‘s how I always saw this movie X-D Obviously, it‘s hillerious in so many ways, but damn is it a rambling, meandering piece!

@andyg208 Місяць тому

My grandmother had the exact same tree

@greenvelvet Рік тому

When Palin mentioned the most uncomfortable scene in the movie, I thought he was going to mention the 'schoolmaster' scene

@OGRE_HATES_NERDS 3 місяці тому

its christmas in heaven theres great films on tv

@ABC-yt1nq Рік тому

I think that was the cheapest studio setup I've ever seen. Having said that, Python. Simply awesome.

@andrewphippsphillips1455 Рік тому

Classic tree. On a par with the Steptoe Christmas tree

@charlie-obrien Рік тому

But those were some quality sweatshirts the host gave out at the end. There's your budget.

@ankavoskuilen1725 Рік тому

Cheap but effectieve, better than meaningless glitter.

@CricketEngland Рік тому

Would love to see what material was left out of the film..

@charlie-obrien Рік тому

There was a bit about Martin Luther being a rather lustful monk, that was cut out of one of the films. You can view it on UKposts and it's classic Python.

@bewareofchild2462 6 місяців тому

thank god for people like this in this world of.... well it's like that.

@emailyclake1706 2 роки тому

Superb but welsh. 🤣🤣🤣Taffy would love that one.🤣🤣

@ZEUSDAZ 2 роки тому

Please put up Rocky III and Rocky IV "Film 82 and Film 85" :-)

@DJ-bj8ku Рік тому

If I were a network exec, I’d give them total freedom to produce whatever they wanted. Imagine the possibilities.

@Nifilheimur Рік тому

As an Icelander im amazed they managed to find 40 Icelanders that were so dry and boring?? They must have been banned from drinking in the studio then!

@reconquista1911 7 місяців тому

when saying "Happy Christmas" was still legal ;)

@onlyme219 Рік тому

Can we talk about that Christmas tree?

@mickeydodds1 2 роки тому

Where's Barry Norman?

@mikemorgan7893 Рік тому

He left the film show for a couple of years

@treadstone1970 Рік тому

@@mikemorgan7893 actually Barry Norman always had other reviewers deputies for him while he took a little break. Michael Parkinson and Russell Harty were two who sat in for him on separate occasions.

@Mojo16011973 Рік тому

I want him to talk about trains

@postmodernrecycler Рік тому

Maybe this film is dismissed as a string of comedy sketches, but I prefer to view it like 'The Decameron' or 'The Canterbury Tales': a series of tales told on a journey to the holy of holies. That's right, a tits-out Christmas pageant in Vegas.

@lexvonghoul6996 2 роки тому

This is great 😂

@ozzie-sk9dh Рік тому

It was….. THE SALMON MOUSSE 😂

@gaskellr44 11 місяців тому

Can you imagine interviews nowadays? Where have all the Intellectuals gone!

@clayz1 Рік тому

Here: The fish slapping dance.

@LordBingham1 Рік тому

Have you ever seen a sadder tree?

@steveb6103 Рік тому

Have you confused your cat lately?

@user-xd9yo3le7o Рік тому

No expense spared on the Christmas Tree 🤔

@paulcallan8714 Рік тому

Just thought the same thing .But maybe we just bling things up to much these days

@ethanblackhurst8593 Рік тому

No expense spared on that Xmas tree. BBC looking after my money.

@andrewphippsphillips1455 Рік тому

Steptoes Christmas tree, they borrowed it. In those days it wasn't about how garishly you decorate a studio

@exessex3522 Рік тому

"The Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood of England"? Which one is which? I reckon Cleese could do a Jimmy Carrey-class impersonation of Eastwood's squinting, mouth-contorting tough-guy face. So that leaves Palin as Paul Newman. Well, look at him - doesn't he just ooze Butch Cassidy?

@treadstone1970 Рік тому

Well John Cleese has actually appeared in a western before.

@simpsonsdiva 2 роки тому

This is just before I was born...so much brown

@mikearchibald744 Рік тому

This was after the seventies, have you SEEN what people wore in the seventies? Eighties stepped down to brown and purple except for pop bands and punk, now everybody all wears black and we think we're more individualized.

@krashd Рік тому

80's grey and brown was preferable to the 70's orange and yellow.

@mikearchibald744 Рік тому

@@krashd Thats a matter of opinion, it was garish, but you ever notice since the vibrant colours of the sixties each decade has gotten increasing drab until there is no colour left at all.

@jaybenny7719 2 роки тому

How hilariously dry! Fantastic.

@billybronco4223 Рік тому

The Christmas tree budget at the BBC was quite low that year.

@johnhague5155 Рік тому

I sugest we shoulde as refer to john cleese as John Cheese. An immediate referendum should be called for to clear his name of all those dredful women who rob him of his money. Beastful those ladys. 💛🙏 Amen. JMH.

@clareswinney1087 2 роки тому

Superb but Welsh! 😂

@themeaningoflifeexpert 2 роки тому

My free book has the answer to the meaning of life.

@ctcurry1777 2 роки тому

The worst of the python films in my opinion...but still 10x better comedy than 99% of the crap produced today.

@mikearchibald744 Рік тому

Absolutely, when three films are THAT good and for completely different reasons its hard to 'rank' and probably shouldn't even be attempted. The sketch form at least made up for 'and now for somethig completely different". Like they said in the interview, people always say they don't like it til they remember the sketches. Given that MOST comedies have about five good jokes in them, there really needs to be a different name for mel brooks and monty python.

@charlie-obrien Рік тому

I rank it the third best Python film, but as you said that still puts it in the top 50 comedies of all time.

@advancelast1740 Рік тому

Icons

@mikearchibald744 Рік тому

"superb, but welsh"

@Jeff_Vader Рік тому

I love it. When I was younger one of my brother's friends was being philosophical after he had a bad day in Wales (don't know what happened) and he came out with the wonderful phrase "I think, therefore I am.....not Welsh"

@mikearchibald744 Рік тому

@@Jeff_Vader I'm not laughing at that as its not politically correct:)

@jonathanhough2203 Рік тому

@@mikearchibald744 I’m not laughing because it’s about as amusing as eating a bowl of dogshit but yknow….each to his own😐

@moaningpheromones Рік тому

What the F is that thing he's sitting behind? I witnessed a vandal destroying origami artwork. I saw it all unfold. Isn't it odd we've got armpits but not legpits?

@Seminal_Ideas Рік тому

The BBC at it's best. How I lament the decline of the beeb. Over 40 years ago now. A different country.

@lexkanyima2195 Рік тому

How it is a decline ?

@aum3.146 Рік тому

the meaning of life is where they came down from everest. it was a mess

@zogzog1063 Рік тому

Boring. Impossible? This is like the outtakes of a comedy where instead of all the best bits ...

@jamietrev Рік тому

Wasn’t that sweet

@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists Рік тому

and now we got ESSEX......🤮

@sarahdee374 Рік тому

Love Cleese's work, but always found him kind of a whiny baby in interviews. If being a working comedian and writer is so miserable, maybe he should have quit and went to work digging ditches.

@garethhanby Рік тому

It's called the "Sad clown paradox". Many comedians suffer from it.

@sarahdee374 Рік тому

@@garethhanby True. I think Basil Fawlty probably voices a of of Cleese's genuine thoughts. As I said, I do love his work and sense of humor.

@charlie-obrien Рік тому

If he hadn't become a comic actor he would have been a lawyer, and lord knows we've enough of that sort.