Jabberwocky (film)

Last updated

Jabberwocky
JabberwockyPoster.jpg
Theatrical re-release poster
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Screenplay by Charles Alverson
Terry Gilliam
Based on"Jabberwocky"
by Lewis Carroll
Produced by Sandy Lieberson
Starring Michael Palin
Harry H. Corbett
John Le Mesurier
Warren Mitchell
Max Wall
Rodney Bewes
John Bird
Bernard Bresslaw
Terry Gilliam
Neil Innes
Terry Jones
CinematographyTerry Bedford
Edited byMichael Bradsell
Music by Modest Mussorgsky
Hector Berlioz
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Jacques Ibert
Production
companies
Python Films
Umbrella Films
Distributed by Columbia-Warner Distributors
Release dates
  • 28 March 1977 (1977-03-28)(London)
  • 8 April 1977 (1977-04-08)(United Kingdom)
  • 15 April 1977 (1977-04-15)(United States)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£587,668 [1]
Box office£479,219 [1]

Jabberwocky is a 1977 British fantasy comedy film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam. Jabberwocky stars Michael Palin as Dennis, a cooper's apprentice, who is forced through clumsy, often slapstick misfortunes to hunt a terrible dragon after the death of his father. The film's title is taken from the nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass (1871). [2]

Contents

The film is Gilliam's solo directorial debut, after he co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Terry Jones in 1975. The film received a mixed response from critics and audiences. [3]

Plot

In the depths of the Dark Ages, a carnivorous monster ravages the domains of King Bruno the Questionable. Life carries on as normal in isolated villages; in one of which, innocent young Dennis Cooper pursues a career as a cooper in his ailing father's workshop. Mr. Cooper, senior, despises his son for valuing profit over craftsmanship, and when his illness becomes terminal, he publicly disinherits Dennis in an abuse-ridden deathbed speech. Dennis decides to travel to the kingdom's capital city, establish a new career, and then return to marry his love, a local woman named Griselda Fishfinger who doesn't reciprocate his affection. While trying to say goodbye to an inattentive Griselda, she throws away a rotten potato which Dennis catches and keeps as a cherished memento.

King Bruno's city is full of terrified refugees from villages destroyed by the monster. The only people pleased with the situation are a cabal of rich merchants selling overpriced goods to the refugees. None of the overburdened local craftsmen will listen to Dennis' suggestions for "improving efficiency", and he struggles to find work or food. Meanwhile, the king has decided to send a knight against the monster, and organizes a jousting tournament to find the best warrior for the job. If successful, the knight will be promoted to prince and married to the Princess, who lives in a tower, wishing a true prince will arrive and marry her.

A man named Ethel, squire to the Knight of the Red Herring, befriends Dennis and gives him a meal. Misunderstandings ensue and Dennis finds himself fleeing from a tavern keeper whose wife Ethel seduced. He seeks refuge in the tower, where the Princess, in a great feat of wishful thinking, takes him for an adventuring prince disguised as a peasant, and takes the potato, thinking he has brought it as a love token for her. Dennis is too bewildered to explain the truth, but he does convey that he already has a lover and the Princess sorrowfully lets him go. She lends him a nun's habit to use as a disguise, which leads to a run-in with a group of religious fanatics who believe he is Satan in the guise of a nun (or possibly a nun in the guise of Satan).

The joust grows increasingly bloody, and Passelewe, King Bruno's chamberlain, worries that all the knights will end up killed or incapacitated. He convinces the king to call off the fighting and instead pick a champion based on the outcome of a game of hide and seek. Red Herring emerges victorious. Ethel wants to stay in the city and pursue his affair with the tavern keeper's wife, so he bullies Dennis into taking his place as squire. The huge and dimwitted knight appears never to notice.

In order to continue profiting from the crisis the city merchants hire another warrior, the Black Knight, who rides to the monster's lair and assassinates Red Herring. He is about to kill Dennis as well, but the monster appears—a horrific, dragon-like biped—and the Black Knight is compelled to fight for his own life. After a titanic struggle, he appears to slay the monster, but it revives and knocks him off a cliff. Dennis accidentally slays it when it impales itself on a sword he was holding while cowering, and then cuts off the monster's head, brings it to the king, and is credited for the exploit. Griselda is more interested in Dennis now that he is a hero, but he never gets the chance to marry her. King Bruno the Questionable keeps his word, and Dennis is given half the kingdom, married to the Princess, and swept off to his honeymoon and an uncertain fate.

Cast

Production

The film is close in setting and comic style to Monty Python and the Holy Grail , on which Gilliam had co-directed. In addition to Palin, Python Terry Jones and Python contributor Neil Innes appeared in Jabberwocky, giving it a Python-esque feel, with many scenes (such as the "hide and seek" jousting tournament) reminiscent of Holy Grail. [4] For its American premiere the film was advertised as Monty Python's Jabberwocky despite protests from Gilliam. [5]

Filming locations

The film was shot on location in Wales. There are two castles in the film: Pembroke Castle and Chepstow Castle. The Jabberwocky battle scenes were filmed in an old Pembroke stone quarry.

Monster

The Jabberwock, as illustrated by John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, which includes the poem "Jabberwocky". Jabberwocky.jpg
The Jabberwock, as illustrated by John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass , which includes the poem "Jabberwocky".

The Jabberwock is a man in costume similar to the classic Japanese Godzilla film effects. To recreate the illustrated monster of the 19th century storybook, the costume is designed to be worn by a man walking backwards. Hip and knee joints are reversed giving it a bird-like gait. The actor's head is hidden within the monster's torso – the large marionette head on a serpentine neck is controlled by an offscreen pole and lines, which are visible on the print. Long bird-like claws extend out of his shoe heels and his arms become the Jabberwock's wings. Film speed is altered in some scenes to slow the monster's movements and camera angles manipulate perspective in scenes with live actors to depict the monster's immense size. Director Terry Gilliam, during the DVD commentary, stated that the Jabberwock's 'Death Fall' came about accidentally when the actor tripped during filming but because the fall was so natural it was used in the final print.

Themes

Commerce

One of the most noticeable themes in the film is that of commerce.[ citation needed ] Dennis Cooper is unable to continue his work as a cooper after being gleefully disowned by his dying father. Despite Cooper having good ideas about raising productivity, the merchants and businessmen he meets are unwilling to listen to him. He moves from his village to the enclosed town in search of business opportunity. Dennis discovers that the guilds and merchants control business and that outsiders are struggling to survive. While in the city he discovers Wat Dabney, a legendary cooper and inventor of the "inverted firkin". Despite his skill, Wat is excluded by the guilds and has cut his foot off in an attempt to become a beggar – an act so successful that he ends up cutting off his other foot by the film's end.

The top merchants in the town profit handsomely from fear of the Jabberwock and are reluctant to help the King end the crisis. The Bishop is happy that fear has led to increased donations to the church and increased attendances at mass and confession ("piety ain't never been higher!"). The Bishop is so unimpressed by the King's choice of a champion to slay the monster that he blesses the champion by simply flicking holy water at him with his index finger. The merchants conspire to send the "black knight" (portrayed by David Prowse in his last pre-Darth Vader role) to kill the king's champion (also played by David Prowse) and are aghast when Dennis comes back with the monster's head.

"Creaking bureaucracy"

King Bruno the Questionable and his aide, Passelewe are aged rulers in a castle that is falling apart. Darkness, dust, cobwebs and fallen plaster lie everywhere. It is so dark and decrepit that the town outside is refreshing in comparison. So entrenched are these two in their misrule that the only way the King can find an answer to the Jabberwock is to emulate the deeds of his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather (Max the Vainglorious) and hold a tournament to select a champion; a decision which works because Dennis manages to accompany the champion (Dennis chances to slay the Jabberwock after the champion is killed by the Black Knight).

The "creaking bureaucracy" also includes the inept behaviour of his herald, who is far more concerned with heralding than in the message he is communicating, a process which eventually prevents the King from speaking and ends with the herald losing his head.

Accidental and unconventional happiness

An important theme that Gilliam cited on the film's audio commentary is happiness. By the end of the film Dennis gets everything a fairy tale hero would want (recognition for killing the beast, the princess' hand in marriage and half of the kingdom) by accident. All Dennis wanted was to live a humdrum life, with an overweight peasant girl who didn't even like him. [6]

Reception

Critical response

Jabberwocky received a mixed response from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 45%, based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. [7]

Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote the film a positive review, describing it as "the most marvelously demented British comedy to come along since Monty Python and The Holy Grail, to which Jabberwocky is a sort of stepson." [8] Variety gave the film a mixed review, praising the monster as "inspired dark imagination," but ultimately describing the film as "long on jabber but short on yocks." [9] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film a one-star negative review, calling it "a film suitable for those who like unfunny comedies" and added that "to link it to Lewis Carroll or to his poem is to insult both." He further commented, "Jabberwocky is being billed as made by the Monty Python comedy crew, with artwork that suggests it's a sequel to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That's misleading on both counts. Only a couple of the Python gang (seen regularly on WTTW-Ch. 11) contributed to the script, and the result is a crude and totally unfunny picture. [...] When in doubt, the script resorts to jokes about urination, defecation, or dismemberment." [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knights Who Say "Ni!"</span> Monty Python characters

The Knights Who Say "Ni!", also called the Knights of Ni, are a band of knights encountered by King Arthur and his followers in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the play Spamalot. They demonstrate their power by shouting "Ni!", terrifying the party, whom they refuse to allow passage through their forest unless appeased through the gift of a shrubbery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monty Python</span> British surreal comedy group

Monty Python were a British comedy troupe formed in 1969 consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. The group came to prominence for the sketch comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired on the BBC from 1969 to 1974. Their work then developed into a larger collection that included live shows, films, albums, books, and musicals; their influence on comedy has been compared to the Beatles' influence on music. Their sketch show has been called "an important moment in the evolution of television comedy".

<i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i> 1975 British comedy film

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film satirizing the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group and directed by Gilliam and Jones in their feature directorial debuts. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their BBC Television series Monty Python's Flying Circus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Gilliam</span> American-British filmmaker, comedian and actor (born 1940)

Terrence Vance Gilliam is an American-British filmmaker, comedian, collage animator and actor. He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. Together they collaborated on the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). In 1988, they received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. In 2009, Gilliam received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Jones</span> Welsh actor, comedian, director, historian and writer (1942–2020)

Terence Graham Parry Jones was a Welsh actor, comedian, director, popular historian, writer and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Knight (Monty Python)</span> Character from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Black Knight is a fictional character who first appeared as a minor antagonist in the 1975 comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail by the Monty Python comedy troupe. A knight dressed in black who wears a helmet completely concealing his face, he is based on the black knight of the Arthurian legend. Like most of the characters in Holy Grail, he is played by a member of Monty Python, namely John Cleese, who primarily portrays Lancelot in the film.

<i>The Crimson Permanent Assurance</i> 1983 British film by Terry Gilliam

The Crimson Permanent Assurance is a 1983 British swashbuckling comedy short film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Sydney Arnold and Guy Bertrand. It plays as the prelude to the film Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983).

<i>Spamalot</i> Musical comedy play by John Du Prez and Eric Idle

Spamalot is a stage musical with score by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, with lyrics and book by Idle. Based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the musical offers a highly irreverent parody of Arthurian legend, with the title being a portmanteau of Spam and Camelot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabbit of Caerbannog</span> Fictional animal in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog is a fictional character in the Monty Python film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The scene in Holy Grail was written by Graham Chapman and John Cleese. The rabbit is the antagonist in a major set piece battle, and makes a similar appearance in Spamalot, a musical inspired by the movie. The iconic status of this scene was important in establishing the viability of the musical.

<i>The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i> 1975 soundtrack album by Monty Python

The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the first film soundtrack album by Monty Python, released in 1975. It features selected scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail interspersed with a large volume of new studio material, much of which centers on a spoof screening of the film at the Classic Silbury Hill Theatre. Also among the new items is the "Marilyn Monroe" sketch, which Graham Chapman co-wrote with Douglas Adams – the pair having recently collaborated on the fourth series of Monty Python.

<i>Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail</i> 1996 video game

Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail is an adventure game created by 7th Level in 1996 for Windows. The game is based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and was the second of three Monty Python games created by 7th Level.

<i>Monty Python Live at Aspen</i> 1998 American TV series or program

Monty Python Live at Aspen was a reunion show featuring the surviving members of the Monty Python team: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, appearing on stage together for the first time since their Hollywood Bowl shows in 1980. Filmed on 7 March 1998 at the Wheeler Opera House in Colorado as part of The US Comedy Arts Festival, it featured the five Pythons in an interview with host Robert Klein. The late Graham Chapman was also allegedly in attendance as his "ashes" were brought out in an urn with his portrait attached to the front, only to be knocked over by Terry Gilliam.

Julian Doyle is a British filmmaker who is best known for his work as a longtime collaborator on the films of Monty Python, including effects photography for Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and editing Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, as well as directing the second-unit on the Python affiliated films The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, Erik the Viking, The Wind in the Willows, and Absolutely Anything. He also edited and shot the special effects for Terry Gilliam's films Brazil and Time Bandits.

<i>Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years</i>

Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years, dedicated by Michael Palin to his mother and father, has reduced "mountains to molehills", according to his own words, to take the reader inside the period of the author's life that corresponds to the Monty Python era. In the introduction Palis states that he began keeping this specific diary in April 1969, at 25 years of age, one month before the Python experience began in earnest. The diary started as a means to keep away from smoking, after fellow Python Terry Gilliam accused him of being addicted to cigarettes. Palin has continued the diary, written on Ryman's reporter's notepads, for 37 years . The first entry on the book-diary corresponds to 17 April, 1969, and there is a four-month gap after 11 August, 1971, owed, according to the Palin's family folklore, to William's stage of "putting things inside other things"; in this case the reporter's pad in the rubbish bin. The diary is resumed on resumes December, 1971, and the last entry corresponds to 31 December, 1979.

<i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book)</i> Tie-in book linked to a film

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book), also known as Mønti Pythøn ik den Hølie Gräilen (Bøk), is the literary companion to the 1975 film of the same name, assembled by co-director Terry Jones.

<i>The Pythons</i> (film) BBC documentary film about the Monty Python team

The Pythons is a BBC documentary film about the Monty Python team which was shot in Tunisia in 1978 during the making of Monty Python's Life of Brian. As well as promoting their upcoming film, the documentary also serves as a tenth anniversary profile of the team, despite the original broadcast date of 20 June 1979 being some months ahead of both the tenth anniversary of their TV debut and the UK release of their new film.

<i>A Pocketful of Python</i>

A Pocketful of Python is a series of five books by the Monty Python team, in which each of the surviving members selects their favourite material from the group’s TV series, films, records and books. The first two volumes, by Terry Jones and John Cleese, were released in 1999 as part of the team’s 30th anniversary celebrations. Two further volumes, by Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, followed in 2000 while the final volume, by Eric Idle, was eventually released in 2002. Each team member’s volume includes a preface written by one of the other Pythons. In 2006 all five volumes were released as a single paperback edition, entitled The Very Best of Monty Python.

Valerie Charlton made props, models and special effects for movies in the 1970s and 1980s, especially those by the Monty Python troupe and Terry Gilliam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monty Python and the Holy Grail in popular culture</span>

Monty Python and the Holy Grail was released in 1975 and is a British comedy satire film of the Arthurian legend. It was written by the Monty Python comedy group, consisting of comedians Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Since its release, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has garnered both criticism and praise, inspired a musical adaption and gained a cult following.

References

  1. 1 2 Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 357. Income is distributor's receipts, combined domestic and international, as at 31 Dec 1978.
  2. ↑ Shail, Robert (2007). British film directors: a critical guide . Edinburgh University Press. p.  80. ISBN   978-0-7486-2231-3 . Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  3. ↑ New York Media, LLC (1977). "New York Magazine". Newyorkmetro.com. New York Media, LLC: 76. ISSN   0028-7369.
  4. ↑ Gilliam, Terry; Sterritt, David; Rhodes, Lucille (April 2004). Terry Gilliam: interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 150. ISBN   978-1-57806-624-7.
  5. ↑ Costa, Jordi; Sanchez, Sergi. "Jabberwocky: Analysis". Dreams. gilliamdreams.com. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  6. ↑ Engberg, Mark. "Jabberwocky, 1977". Wildsound Movies. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Jabberwocky (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Canby, Vincent (16 April 1977). "Jabberwocky". The New York Times . Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Jabberwocky". Variety . 31 December 1976. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Siskel, Gene (2 August 1977). "'Allegro' a noteworthy piece of animation". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.