The Night the
Monty Pythons Reunited

We should treasure our living legends while they're still here. And that's exactly what I did when the cast of Monty Python and the Holy Grail reunited in 2015.

One of the best comedy films of all time, Monty Python and the Holy Grail boasted a stellar cast, including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and more. All five surviving Pythons attended the reunion event at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, a 40th-anniversary screening at the Beacon Theatre on April 24.

It was the first time the cast had reunited in that capacity. Most of them were still active, but not as public as they used to be. Since Graham Chapman died in 1989, I'd always wished the five surviving Pythons would reunite for an anniversary event or another special occasion. Fortunately, they did just that in 2015.

What a reunion it was! If you thought these men were funny in the movie, they're even more hysterical in person. They cracked jokes every chance they got, to the point that I don't think I'd ever laughed that hard at a film festival before.

They were also much friendlier than I expected. It's not that I thought they'd be arrogant or anything like that. You just never know what you're gonna get with big stars of a certain age. I've met a good number of British actors, and let me just say they were some of the kookiest characters I've ever encountered.

I'd put the Monty Python cast in the same category, but in a good way. They were definitely kooky on film and on the panel, but they're much nicer in person.

All of them, except Terry Jones, signed my poster when I asked. The only reason Jones didn't was that I didn't get to him quickly enough. I only got to interact with Cleese, Idle, Gilliam, and Palin. It still stings, especially now that we've lost the late Terry Jones.

But whatever regret I may still feel about it is drowned out by how happy I am to see their autographs on this poster. It hangs in my apartment, and when friends come over, it's usually the first poster I show off.

You can't call yourself a cinephile, or even a comedy fan, if you haven't heard of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I think it's a must-see for anyone who likes comedy films. And if you're a true fan, you'll go on to watch the series and the other movies in the franchise.

Some people skip British comedies, and to that, I say you should broaden your horizons. Hollywood is great, but there are more, often better movies out there. This just happens to be one of the funniest comedies you'll ever get to see.