The 1970s:

The Men of Monty Python

Monty Python members posing for a picture.

H I L A R I T Y

Though the '70s were a great time for satire to flourish, with directors like Woody Allen releasing movies such as "Bananas" and "Sleeper," the 1970s were truly centered around Monty Python. Monty Python, or The Pythons, are The Beatles of comedy. The British sketch group began as television show, airing from the late '60s through the mid-70s on the BBC. Their influence on sketch television can still be seen today through the American institution Saturday Night Live. From television, The Pythons became an international phenomenon through the production of comedy classics like "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Monty Python's Life of Brian." Holy Grail parodies classic Arthurian tales and the quests of the Knights of the Round Table. Life of Brian DOES NOT parody Jesus Christ, and the members of Python agreed he should be portrayed with respect when seen in the limited scenes of the movie. The film actually pokes fun at the followers of false deities. The misconception that the film was created to mock Christ has caused great controversy over the years, but remains one of the best comedies of all time.