Monty Python: The Case Against

by Robert Hewison

What have been the motives and the methods of those who have sought to censor and ban Python? How have the pythons responded to the censor's and the editor's pressures? How do these pressures operate in the entertainment business generally? Robert Hewison answers these questions and many others in this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Tv, Comedy, Film, Humor, Law

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 1981

Reviews

[Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book addresses the legal complications the Pythons faced, primarily involving censorship, up to and including Monty Python's Life of Brian--so we are overdue for an updated edition! It is short and easy to read (except for the reproduced primary documents, which are often too small or not clear enough to be read by the unaided eye--at least these unaided 54-year-old eyes), written in a straightforward, accessible style. That is, it is not, despite the legalese-sounding title, written from the point of view of legal scholarship. Basically, it's a book on Python legal issues for a general audience. It's also not really "the case against" but rather a history of many of the cases that have been made against Python; its own point of view is decidedly pro-Python, and Hewison clearly had the Pythons' cooperation in making the book, as he had access to a great many primary source documents. It makes for interesting reading, notably the account of the lawsuit against ABC, who edited episodes without consent. That led to a landmark case that the Pythons more or less won, though not on the grounds I would have expected. Anyway, this is a worthwhile read for Python fans, though it is not really a deep or analytical study but rather more of a history/summary of some of the opposition the Pythons have faced. Especially now, some thirty or more years later, some of the objections to their work look quaint and even absurd.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hewison's book is an important addition to the body of critical & supporting literature on Monty Python and its creators, due in no small part to the detail of its study of the relationship between censorship and the comedy team's work. This is a significant aspect of forming an understanding of what was achieved by the Pythons, as their comedy was often underpinned by an anarchic and anti-establishment ethos. It is an obvious corollary that sketches, books, films, images and songs that provoke laughter in conjunction with shock, anger, ridicule and derangement would in turn lead to opposition forces attempting to restrict or even put an end to elements of the Python's comedy.

This book takes a straight forward and detailed approach to its subject, addressing each of the key moments in the history of the group where and when censorship reared its head. At times this censorship may be seen as based on some kind of political or moral basis (as seen as the influence of the intellectually moribund Festival of Light on 70s British TV and society in general), or commercial and legal concerns. Then there is the notorious history of how numerous bodies, evangelical or council based reacted to the most affronting work by the Pythons, "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Hewison does a very good job indeed in describing how this movie faced resistance from religious groups and certain government authorities based almost always on wilful ignorance. The chapter focused on '...Brian' is fascinating as history; considering this is the 40th year since that movie was first released there have been some seismic changes in how film and censorship interact since then, and yet there are also some hints that we have not come that far at all.

The earlier parts of the book are all informative, with perhaps the most important contribution form Hewison on Python scholarship being the chapter on the legal action taken by the group to circumvent the butchering of their work by the American TV conglomerate ABC. The study of this episode is coherent and well founded with documentary evidence from the case. At this point it is necessary to pass comment on a problem with the publication, viz its design and layout. Several items presented in the book (e.g. legal memos, letters etc) are shown as photos; they are almost all hard to read (bordering on the impossible). If the editorial and design staff at Methuen had done their job better these documents either would have been printed in a larger format or perhaps supplied as appendices at the back of the book. It is not a minor problem, and one that does detract from the overall impact of the book.

The fact that Hewison devotes considerable space and energy on the Pythons' books and audio releases is to be commended. Whilst the former may not have been as corporately developed by the group (relying on Eric Idle for much of their creation), it is important to always remember that Monty Python was a multi-media comedic enterprise from its earliest days. It must be said that the importance of books in this account is facilitated by Hewison's title being published by Eyre Methuen, the publisher of Python-related books in the 70s and 80s.

Aside from the aforementioned issue with the documentary items included within the text, there is little else to fault in the book. The prose is clear and without too much reliance on either an intimate knowledge of the Pythons nor of laws and conventions that informed the censorship encountered by the group. The author's use of primary source material from the Pythons is valid and significant, though it may be argued that combined with Hewison's acquaintance with several of the group's members means that he is open to charges of bias. Another concern, though not one of the author's making is that it is limited to the first ten years of the Pythons' activities. It would be interesting to see what further censorial activities resulted from Python-projects post 1979 (specifically 'Monty Python's Meaning of Life').

In conclusion, for anyone who is a fan of Monty Python and wants to understand more about their work then Hewison's book is a must. It is also worth reading for anyone who is intrigued by the relationship between censorship and the arts.

[Mina · Rating 2 out of 5]

great anecdotes and reproductions of artefacts from Monty Python's history and creative process. discussion of censorship is thin and rather centres around a systematic summary of the group's run-in with broadcasters. more journalistic stenography rather than anaylsis and insight. keep it as a textbook.

[Iain Watson]

Monty Python The Case Against by

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit dated, from 1981 or so, but fascinating what they had to deal with.