MovieChat Forums > And Now for Something Completely Different (1972) Discussion > is this scene anti-gay?

is this scene anti-gay?

posted 19 years ago by drmalama
34 replies | jump to latest

Last week in class my professor was discussing stereotyping, and he mentioned that in Monty Python's earlier films, there were definitely some bits that were derogatory towards gays. I can only assume one of the bits he was talking about was the military drill scene in "And Now For Something Completely Different." I don't really know if I agree with him on this one. After all, I think that the "squad" in this scene was no more of a stereotype than many gay characters portrayed today (i.e. Jack on Will & Grace). Do you think that even Monty Python couldn't get away with this bit today? Was anyone offended by this scene?

[–] tipsy-star 19 years ago

i don't think it was meant in a derogatory manner
they were just jokes
unfortunately they problably would have gotten in a bit trouble today
but if people can't take it in the humour it was inteded as then thats their problem

[–] evil_ed 19 years ago

Graham Chapman himself was gay. so I think anyone perceiving that their sketches were homophobic are misreading the content.

[–] Andi09 19 years ago

Yeah like with the "Shoot the poof" in the 'Prejudice' sketch on the Flying Circus, so gratuis, it's funny! When they aborded homosexually, it's was always done to the extreme for them to not be taken seriously, they're smart enough to know that!

| ''But where's the ambiguity?... It's over there, in a box!'' |

[–] idontlikeyouanymore 19 years ago

ghay schmay--
comedy is comedy,
it is meant to be offensive, rude, and a little dodgy at times
thats what makes it funny. :)
i dont think that monty python would get away with half of thier old stuff today,
and really, its quite sad.
shouldnt have to go back to the 70's to find original stuff :(

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ghostshadow187 18 years ago

The only scene in this film that could be percieved as homophobic is the one with the soldiers mincing in formation. And personally say the target of that sketch isn't gays, it's the army.

Republicans dont watch stand up, theyre busy watching cartoons, trying to see who's gay.

[–] rx_tyler 17 years ago

actually, democrats would have more of a problem with it. they are more against homophobia. republicans wouldn't accuse someone of homophobia, because a lot of them are homophobic.( not to stereotype the two party's)

[–] old_fluffy_possum002 18 years ago

I don't think so, Graham Chapman was gay

[–] heffrc 18 years ago

That did enter my mind but I thought it was funny. Ghostshadow187 was absolutely right when he said it's target is the army, not gays. Graham Chapman was gay, so none of the sketches are homophobic. Graham kept his homosexuality a secret for many years, he told John Cleese first. And eventually he went public with it.

[–] shmul 18 years ago

if comedy starts to be politically correct it wil mean the end of the earth is coming :\

[–] fantaglow 18 years ago

cant be anti gay because Chapman was gay. does anyone know the words to that scene? I laughed so much

- we interrupt this program to increase dramatic attention -

[–] fantaglow 18 years ago

nevermind I found it!

- we interrupt this program to increase dramatic attention -

[–] g_green_dani 17 years ago

we have to remember that this was a time before political correctness

even though i wasnt alive for the 70's 80's or the first year of the 90's (wasa born in 91)

i still feel that old british humour is the best kind of humour

[–] Andi09 17 years ago

Again I gotta agree with the rest, I've never found this scene offensive because it makes fun of the army and not the gay community. It's very much like the Frenchmen's routine at the Silly Exhibition, only here to make it work they need to show the soldiers in an inappropriated manner, acting very effeminated. The contrast is what makes it funny, nothing else. I'll say it again, just look at the French, Scottish and American people they've played, they were always living stereotypes. So I don't think playing a gay man that way is that different. Python is known for giving you sincere laughs with smart and calculated jokes.

| ''But where's the ambiguity?... It's over there, in a box!'' |

[–] laurence01 17 years ago

I love monty python. I also love "little britain". But lets face it comedy has always been anti things. "Little britain" at times has been anti prety much everything.

[–] Norfolk-Enchants 17 years ago

The Pythons were just stretching the boundries of comedy and anyone was fair game. This has continued through Saturday Night Live, up to Little Britain (I'm the only gay in the village) and Southpark, Team America etc. I think wneh it comes to humor any thing goes. Unless you are Kramer :-)

[–] Startanew 17 years ago

'only gay in the village' wasn't anti gay though. It was just paying out that issue where some gay people feel all alone but then feel all excited about being 'special'.

Just like the military drill in MP was just paying out the stupid idea that military people are all secretly gay.

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[–] LovelyDeadAdam 17 years ago

Actually, Graham Chapman was gay, so I don't think they were trying to offend anyone.

[–] JordanClarkson11 17 years ago

i dont think it matters- this scene is one of the best in the whole movie. if you look really closely, i'd say eric idle looks more gay than graham chapman does- but it was bloody funny- 'military fairy'- that kind of comedy is gold and is wasted in people today- i'm 16 and the only one of my friends who enjoy monty python- such a shame.

[–] iamfinethx 17 years ago

it was probably mocking people's stereotypes of gays as girly women in men's bodies. and in the military of all places. "i'll scratchhh your eyes out!" comedy gold!

[–] Summerisle1961 11 years ago

Eric Idle tells the story about how the team received a letter from a viewer stating that she'd heard one of the Pythons was gay and how disgusting she thought that sort of thing was.

They wrote back thanking her for bringing it to their attention, that they'd found the gay one and had taken him outside and shot him. However this was between the third and fourth series during which time John Cleese left Python and Graham Chapman thought it hilarious that this woman probably thought they'd shot Cleese for being gay.