The Ministry of Silly Walks
The Ministry of Silly Walks (English: The Ministry of Silly Walks ) is a sketch by the comedy troupe Monty Python, and was broadcast in the television show Monty Python's Flying Circus in 1970 in the second season in episode 14 the first time. Written and Sketch by Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
Content
The sketch begins with John Cleese, which is refined and with a bowler hat on the way to work. After buying the Times, he goes to his work at the Ministry of Silly Walks. Because his gait is always funny, he needs more time.
Having arrived at his workplace, even Mr. Putney (played by Michael Palin ) is waiting for him. He reported that he had a silly passage also, the he would like to leave foster state and is asked to give a taste. As it turns out, the transition from Mr. Putney is not particularly silly: the right leg is not silly at all and the left represents only at every second step in the air a half-turn.
Cleese as a Ministry employee stands up and demonstrates the visitors once again its course. He also uses a scissor-like motion as it occurs only in individuals with spastic paralysis. In particular, the transition from Cleese, who is strongly contradict the seriousness of a Ministry employee, has made the sketch famous.
Cleese explains that remain after the government spending on defense, social security, health, housing and education hardly more funding for Silly Walks. At the moment the Ministry of Silly Walks only get £ 348 million a year.
He asks his secretary to bring two cups of coffee. However, the Secretary also has a passage so silly that she spilled everything and entrains the tray again. After Cleese has his visitors presented a short silent film about Silly Walks, the sketch finally ends with Cleese offers its visitors to participate in an English -German joint project " La Marche Futile ", a parody of the then Anglo- French cooperation in connection with the supersonic aircraft Concorde. This is presented by a man ( Terry Jones), carrying a mixed English - French clothes and a faster and faster version of the Marseillaise recites Silly Walks.
Others
- A shortened version of " Silly Walks" was used in the comedy film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
- At the film festival in Montreux in 1971 a special edition was performed by Monty Python, which was then awarded with a silver rose. This special edition also contained " Silly Walks".
- The sketch was later imitated by numerous shows, comics and video games. Also Cleese himself was repeatedly prompted to show " Silly Walks ".
- Cleese found it increasingly difficult over the years to carry forward the sketch again, although he was often prompted. Eventually, he said, "I 'm not silly courses more ".
- Some observers believed to see in the sketch a satire on British government projects. The comedy troupe itself questioned, however, commented that they had nothing further in the sense as mere silliness. Some fans told Cleese that they kept this sketch for the best of the troops.
- In 2005 the sketch was chosen of all time in a poll in the UK ranked 15 of the best skits.
- In a later German dubbed version of the title was " gone The Ministry of stupid" in translated.
- In the Norwegian province Örje signs were erected with the image of a stylized, silly- fulling John Cleese instead of the normal crosswalk signs.