Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (literally "Monty Python's Flying Circus") was a pair of Monty Python TV specials produced for German television. It was produced by Alfred Biolek, who is better known in Germany as a talk show host. The first was done almost entirely in German, and featured translations of familiar Monty Python sketches. The second was done mostly in English and featured a great deal of new material. Both specials were shot entirely on film.
Most of the film interludes in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl are from Fliegender Zirkus. In addition, much of the material on Monty Python's later albums such as Monty Python's Matching Tie and Hankerchief were adapted from the second special.
The specials have rarely been seen on American television and are generally not available in DVD or VHS compilations. They are available in special compilations of material and are available in DVD.
Most of the Pythons were fluent in German and handled their lines brilliantly during the first German episode. A notable exception was Terry Jones who performed most of his material phonetically.
List of episodes[]
Episode 1[]
- An Introduction to Monty Python By Frau Newsreader Claudia Doren
- The Journey of The Olympic Flame
- Monty Python's Guide to Albrecht Dürer
- Anita Ekberg Sings Albrecht Dürer
- "The Merchant of Venice" as performed by a herd of cows
- Doctor Breeder
- Animation - Flashers' Love Story
- Little Red Riding Hood
- Silly Olympics
- Stake Your Claim
- The Lumberjack Song with the Austrian Border Police
- The Bavarian Restaurant
Edited versions of the "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Silly Olympics" sketches were dubbed into English for use in the Python stage shows. The "Flashers' Love Story" animated segment was also used. The Stake Your Claim sketch was included on the English language record Another Monty Python Record.
Episode 2[]
- William Tell
- Euro Sex Maniacs
- The Sycophancy Show
- Mouse Reserve/Fish Park
- Chicken Mining
- Animation - Heinrich Bonner, Fleabuster
- The Philosophers' Football Match – Greeks vs Germans, First Half
- Colin "Bomber" Harris vs Colin "Bomber" Harris
- The Philosophers' Football Match – Greeks vs Germans, Second Half
- 10 Seconds of Sex
- I Want A Hearing Aid
- The Tale of Happy Valley (The Princess with the Wooden Teeth)
Both parts of "The Philosophers' Football Match" were included in the Python stage shows. An abridged version of "The Tale of Happy Valley" was recorded for the English language record Monty Python's Previous Record. "Colin 'Bomber' Harris vs Colin 'Bomber' Harris" and "I Want a Hearing Aid" were both originally performed on At Last the 1948 Show, which predated Monty Python.
A cut sketch spoofing smoking commercials.
Lost Sketches[]
Several behind-the-scenes photos from the specials' production were published in the group's autobiography,[1] some of which were from sketches cut from the specials:
- A version of the "Marriage Guidance Counsellor" sketch.
- A sketch involving a flute player (Graham Chapman) in front of a German sign.
- A version of the "Sir Edward Ross" sketch
- An alternate ending to the first special, in which two stage hands are carrying a giant sign that says ENDE off a huge field. Behind the sign is Terry Jones' singer character from the Albrecht Dürer sketch.
Watch[]
