The kingdom is besieged by the dreaded Jabberwocky. Most people have fled to the capital city to hide behind it's strong wall... Dennis (Palin) and his father (Curran) live in one of the surviving communities outside the wall and make barrels. Dennis dreams of a different life, and his wish comes true when he is disowned by his dying father. Before leaving, he goes to see the woman of his dreams, the fat and rude Griselda (Badland) who is not interested and throws a rotten potato at him (which he believes is a token of her love). With his faith renewed, he goes to the city.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths in the city has risen to the point that the Chamberlain (Le Mesurier) asks the king to do something, if only to keep the number of tax paying citizens from decreasing more. King Brutus the Questionable (Wall) decides to hold a joust-to-the-death to find a knight to defeat the monster, but changes to a game of hide-and-seek because he lost too many knights. In addition to killing the monster, the victorious knight also wins "win half of the Princess's hand and all of the kingdom" or "the King's hand and half the Princess's land" or "the Princess's hand and half of the King's land" (the herald isn't quite sure). The Princess (Fallender) has other plans, she resides in the East tower and waits for a heroic prince to wisk her off her feet. Instead, she is charmed by Dennis. Will Dennis be forced to face the mysterious beast? Will he ever be reunited with his beloved Griselda? Will he find a job in the city?
Two years after the success of the first Monthy Python film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (co-directed by Python's Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam), Terry Gilliam embarked on his solo directorial debut with another medieval film. Other Python's appear in the film, Michael Palin is Dennis and Terry Jones begins the film with a short cameo (picture below).
Terry Jones as the Poacher
And Gilliam appears in a brief cameo as the Man with a rock (he thinks it is a diamond). Other than these appearances, the film bears little resemblance to the works of the Pythons. Using the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky" as the background, Gilliam shows the world that his films will be different from what he had done to that point.
Palin's Dennis is an innocent man with small goals, who never fully realizes what is happening around him. Over the course of the film he is beaten by various characters, impersonates a nun, is almost a sacrifice to the monster, and leaves a wake of destruction in his path. In spite of all this, you can't help but hope he meets his potential (and figures out the truth of his love life). King Brutus is another memorable character, with is love of carnage and oblivious / apathetic response to the chaos around him. He has a few funny lines and some great facial expressions. A good film, but at some points it feels a little long. Don't expect it to be a Monty Python film, and you will enjoy it.
Jabberwocky (1977) 105minutes
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Michael Palin as Dennis Cooper
Max Wall as King Bruno the Questionable
Deborah Fallender as The Princess
Harry H. Corbett as The Squire
John Le Mesurier as The Chamberlain
Warren Mitchell as Mr. Fishfinger
Annette Badland as Griselda Fishfinger
Paul Curran as Mr. Cooper
Neil Innes as the 2nd Herald
Terry Jones as the Poacher
Terry Gilliam as Man with Rock
Meanwhile, the number of deaths in the city has risen to the point that the Chamberlain (Le Mesurier) asks the king to do something, if only to keep the number of tax paying citizens from decreasing more. King Brutus the Questionable (Wall) decides to hold a joust-to-the-death to find a knight to defeat the monster, but changes to a game of hide-and-seek because he lost too many knights. In addition to killing the monster, the victorious knight also wins "win half of the Princess's hand and all of the kingdom" or "the King's hand and half the Princess's land" or "the Princess's hand and half of the King's land" (the herald isn't quite sure). The Princess (Fallender) has other plans, she resides in the East tower and waits for a heroic prince to wisk her off her feet. Instead, she is charmed by Dennis. Will Dennis be forced to face the mysterious beast? Will he ever be reunited with his beloved Griselda? Will he find a job in the city?
Two years after the success of the first Monthy Python film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (co-directed by Python's Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam), Terry Gilliam embarked on his solo directorial debut with another medieval film. Other Python's appear in the film, Michael Palin is Dennis and Terry Jones begins the film with a short cameo (picture below).
And Gilliam appears in a brief cameo as the Man with a rock (he thinks it is a diamond). Other than these appearances, the film bears little resemblance to the works of the Pythons. Using the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky" as the background, Gilliam shows the world that his films will be different from what he had done to that point.
Palin's Dennis is an innocent man with small goals, who never fully realizes what is happening around him. Over the course of the film he is beaten by various characters, impersonates a nun, is almost a sacrifice to the monster, and leaves a wake of destruction in his path. In spite of all this, you can't help but hope he meets his potential (and figures out the truth of his love life). King Brutus is another memorable character, with is love of carnage and oblivious / apathetic response to the chaos around him. He has a few funny lines and some great facial expressions. A good film, but at some points it feels a little long. Don't expect it to be a Monty Python film, and you will enjoy it.
Jabberwocky (1977) 105minutes
Director: Terry Gilliam
Starring: Michael Palin as Dennis Cooper
Max Wall as King Bruno the Questionable
Deborah Fallender as The Princess
Harry H. Corbett as The Squire
John Le Mesurier as The Chamberlain
Warren Mitchell as Mr. Fishfinger
Annette Badland as Griselda Fishfinger
Paul Curran as Mr. Cooper
Neil Innes as the 2nd Herald
Terry Jones as the Poacher
Terry Gilliam as Man with Rock
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