MovieChat Forums > The Loved One (1965) Discussion > Influence on Monty Python?

Influence on Monty Python?

posted 15 years ago by wvmcl
3 replies | jump to latest

Having missed this one over the years I finally caught up with it on TCM the other night, and I was struck by how much it anticipated the feel of Monty Python, which came along five years later. Think for example, of the Terry Jones overeating scene in "Meaning of Life." Robert Morley's character was very much like the pompous Brits played by John Cleese and Graham Chapman in sketches like "The Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things."

I'm sure that Messers Cleese, Chapman, et al. would have seen this film along with the other black comedies of the day, and I can't help but think that this one was particularly influential. Anyone else have the same feeling?

[–] joemama69-1 14 years ago

Absolutely! When Mom stuffed her face, I kept thinking, "That's the origin of Mr. Creosote!"

Also, the smug toffs at The Club are definitely predecessors of a number of the pompous asses MP sprinkled liberally throughout the TV show and films. Of course nobody does that better than Morley.

[–] Immy 12 years ago

Great observations! I'll throw in the pet mortuary options that Robert Morse rattles off to Milton Berle, pretty much a precursor to MP's notorious "Undertaker Sketch" ("Burn her, bury her or dump her").

[–] eagle-78 12 years ago

Wonder if it influenced John Waters as well? Think of the scenes with Mr. Joyboy and his mother - Edith Massey could have played her!