Historical Impersonations

[ciaobebbo050]

John the baptist's impersonation of graham hill is my favorite

[oiopi]

What's song singing Richelieu?

[SpiderJukebox]

@oiopi Don't Sleep in the Subway, by Petula Clarck

[eleanor883]

Napoleon as the R101 disaster - gets me in hysterics every time!

[ShopliftersUnite]

hahah someone needs to make a compilation movie of all cardinal richelieu appearances in flying circus, might be one of my favourite characters, such a smooth showman ze cardinal

[Tholrek]

love michael palin as cardinal richelieu :D

[Novazi74]

Nice. May I know what all the impersonations are?

[BillZombiee]

Does anyone know what episode this is?

[osiristheog]

Its called 'Intermission".

[BillZombiee]

thank you :D

[rohaneowyn]

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES. omg.

[ShadShadow18]

Awesome Clip

[leanaf82]

"Cardinal Richelieu, sixteen stone of pure man."

[iwtbfy]

I love Cardinal Richelieu!!!

[PrettySmartAndHappy]

What the heck is Ceasar saying?

[Elric33239]

I think he's reciting the names of rugby teams. Waring was a sports commentators for rugby games.

[canadiansaint]

yeah they are rugby league teams

[Elric33239]

Thanks for confirming that. Also, Graham was re-inacting Brian London's loss to Jerry Quarry, the American boxer, and Graham Hill was a Formula 1 racer whose car crashed in the 1969 US Grand Prix. I guess you had to be immersed in British culture to get most of the punchlines of these sight gags, funny though they were.

[melodiemaker]

Emonii, I agree! I play "Don't Sleep in the Subway" all the time, and it's sort of an ongoing joke with my dad. When we're at the store and no one's looking, we'll start doing the Cardinal Richelieu/Petula Clark song & dance. We're a crazy bunch. :P

[elvispresleyweeps]

oh, cardinal richlieu bit was the best

[iluvcheezitsheyhey]

yes! On the gumby clips vid, though, they piece that bit with the gumby's request for John the Baptist and it had me confused.

[Emonii]

since I saw this I am sort of addicted to this petula clarke song...

[mpythonfan]

I remember seeing the Ivan the Terrible bit when I was litlle and I couldn't help but say "What the hell just happened there?"

[Elric33239]

John was re-enacting Ivan striking his son in the head with his pointed staff after a heated argument, causing Young Ivan's (accidental) death. This event is depicted in the famous painting by Ilya Repin, "Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on Friday, November 16, 1581" better known as "Ivan the Terrible killing his son." The Pythons were heavily into classic art!

[hiiqk9s]

A pointed stick, huh?

XD

[Elric33239]

Yes, that was also the inspiration for the "Self Defence Against Fresh Fruit" sketch as well.

[coldplayisawesome]

"we start off with cardinal richlieu and his impersonation of.. petutlia clark!"

lmao i love this sketch

[electricKJ]

haha! good one that is.... now go ore i will taunt u a second time! hmm, maybe i have to taunt u first, =/ bah! say no more, say no more!!