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A medieval comedy-adventure starring Michael Palin and directed by Terry Gilliam, Jabberwocky is an episodic adaptation of Lewis Carroll's surreal poem. Having previously directed Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975) with Terry Jones, Jabberwocky marked Gilliam's solo directorial debut--is it coincidental that Jones is killed by the titular monster in the opening scene? Palin plays the naive Dennis Cooper, a man seeking his fortune just as the Jabberwocky is laying waste to the country. It's much the same world as Holy Grail, with all the trappings of the romantic Hollywood epic being liberally coated with literal and metaphorical muck.
Palin's character causes unwitting mayhem wherever he goes--one stand-out scene involves the destruction of a maintenance shop for damaged knights-in-armour--though as much humour comes from exposing the foibles of the people he meets. And those people constitute a roll call of contemporary British comedy: Harry H Corbett as a sex-mad squire, Warren Mitchell's Mr Fishfinger, plus Annette Badland, Max Wall, John Le Mesurier, Rodney Bewes, John Bird, Neil Innes and John Gorman. Jabberwocky lacks the hilarity of Holy Grail, but is a consistently amusing, exceptionally atmospheric, gleefully gory yarn which points the way to Gilliam's Time Bandits (1981) and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988).
On the DVD Jabberwocky is distinguished by an engaging and enthusiastic commentary from Gilliam and Palin, in which they delight in the amazing cast and ponder how such a handsome film was made. Otherwise the extras are a short sketch-to-screen comparison, three posters and three trailers (only one for Jabberwocky). Transferred anamorphically enhanced at 1.77:1, the picture is variable, with many beautifully lit indoor scenes looking fine, while other exterior, daylight shots appear washed out. There is some minor print damage. The sound is a revelation for a low-budget 1970s film originally released in mono. Given a full Dolby Digital 5.1 remix the tremendously detailed, rich and involving soundscape really brings Gilliam's world alive and puts many much more recent and expensive titles to shame. --Gary S Dalkin
Product Description
Set in the medieval period, this light-hearted comedy was written by Terry Gilliam and Charles Alverson and stars Michael Palin, supported by the Monty Python team. Dennis Cooper (Palin), a cooper's apprentice, is mistaken for a prince and declared the Dragonslayer. However, he must live up to his name by killing the 'Jabberwocky', a beast who is terrorising the kingdom. Is Dennis brave enough to face the beast and prove himself to be a true Dragonslayer?
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45 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By A. J. Watson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Based on Lewis Carrol's 'The Jabberwock', Terry Gilliam unleashes the full force of his creative talents in this brilliant film.
We follow the adventures of Dennis Cooper, besotted with love for the gruesome Griselda Fishfinger, as he is disowned by his dying father and goes off to seek his fortune in the city. The city is however besieged by the eponymous monster, so the king (played to wonderful effect by Max Wall) arranges a tourney to select the best knight to kill the beast. Of course, Dennis is carried along and wins the day.
Doresn't sound much of a story, does it? - but the intricately detailed sets, the wonderful staged humour and brilliant direction make this a cut and a half above anything else in the genre. It knocks the Monty Python films into a cocked hat - and they are GOOD! Not for nothing did this film win the best comedy at Montreux. Particularly good performances from Max Wall, John leMesurier, Harry H Corbett and of course, Michael Palin, who just IS Dennis.
I don't understand how a great film like this has been allowed to fall out of circulation. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.
We follow the adventures of Dennis Cooper, besotted with love for the gruesome Griselda Fishfinger, as he is disowned by his dying father and goes off to seek his fortune in the city. The city is however besieged by the eponymous monster, so the king (played to wonderful effect by Max Wall) arranges a tourney to select the best knight to kill the beast. Of course, Dennis is carried along and wins the day.
Doresn't sound much of a story, does it? - but the intricately detailed sets, the wonderful staged humour and brilliant direction make this a cut and a half above anything else in the genre. It knocks the Monty Python films into a cocked hat - and they are GOOD! Not for nothing did this film win the best comedy at Montreux. Particularly good performances from Max Wall, John leMesurier, Harry H Corbett and of course, Michael Palin, who just IS Dennis.
I don't understand how a great film like this has been allowed to fall out of circulation. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By M. Stribley
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Plenty have written more detailed reviews, suffice to say Jabberwocky is much darker than the usual Monthy Python productions and the story works really well in this style than, say the slapstick style of other Python productions. Some of the character acting by many well-known faces is great and there are some scenes that are both hilarious and grotesque simultaneously.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Gille Liath
Format:DVD
Don't write this off as failed Python. In the entertaining commentary on this disk, TG and Michael Palin not only state that they were trying to get away from the Python style with this film, but even that they think there are too many gags in it. I wouldn't go so far as that; Lewis Carroll's eerie source poem doesn't really have a great bearing on this story, but what they share is an ambiguous tone somewhere between epic, comic and surreal. All Gilliam's early films are about the relationship between real and fantasy worlds, and this is really no exception: Palin is the modern-minded mediocrity unwittingly (and unwillingly) caught up in a fairy tale.
Visually there's a certain similarity to `Holy Grail' (this is far more accomplished); in comedy terms, the closest thing is Palin's quirky, understated `Ripping Yarns' - but that doesn't have the same deep, ineluctable strangeness. In all honesty there's no other film like this. Just see the `you might also like' films trailed on the disc - `First Knight' and `Knight's Tale'! Good grief.
I'm also indebted to the commentary for the following fascinating trivia: TG's `diamond mine' character was originally to have been played by Dudley Moore; both the Black Knight and Palin's master are played by David Prowse (of Darth Vader fame), voices by Max Wall (King Bruno); and John Boorman apparently showed the film a dozen times to his crew before making Excalibur. How's that for a recommendation?
Visually there's a certain similarity to `Holy Grail' (this is far more accomplished); in comedy terms, the closest thing is Palin's quirky, understated `Ripping Yarns' - but that doesn't have the same deep, ineluctable strangeness. In all honesty there's no other film like this. Just see the `you might also like' films trailed on the disc - `First Knight' and `Knight's Tale'! Good grief.
I'm also indebted to the commentary for the following fascinating trivia: TG's `diamond mine' character was originally to have been played by Dudley Moore; both the Black Knight and Palin's master are played by David Prowse (of Darth Vader fame), voices by Max Wall (King Bruno); and John Boorman apparently showed the film a dozen times to his crew before making Excalibur. How's that for a recommendation?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
silly and fun
This is ideal for my purposes, many thanks for this item, much appreciated indeed, its exactly as described and very handy.
Published 2 days ago by another consumer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aaaaaaarrgggh!
A fabulous classic - Michael Palin stars as the inept hero, with fabulous performances by Max Wall and John LeMesurier.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. D. Boocock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jabberwocky DVD
Excellent product - in good condition. Does exactly what it says in the description. Would recommend to those looking for something similar. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Shanley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Humurous
If you enjoy the humor of Monty Python then I recommend this film. Witty, funny and hilarious, laughing will come easily.
Published 1 month ago by Suz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jabberwocky
Whilst credited to Michael Palin, not surpisingly, Jabberwocky has all the classic features of a Monty Python film. Read more
Published 2 months ago by W. Baker
2.0 out of 5 stars
Weird film, not for kids
I bought this dvd as there were many good actors in it but to be honest I thought it was weak and boring. Read more
Published 3 months ago by DGNB
5.0 out of 5 stars
The jabberwocky
The jabberwocky is still as funny as when I first saw it on the cinema. Definitely recommend you get your friends to watch
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Dw Berrington
5.0 out of 5 stars
Birthday gift.
I bought this for a friend as a gift and by all accounts he was very happy to receive it and there have been no complaints.
Published 10 months ago by Barbara A. Bennetts
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some memories should be left as memories
Obviously age has wearied me. I cannot recall the first time that I saw this film, but I was significantly younger than I am now. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Peter I
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'm not in over-awe of Python....
Having just seen and reviewed the TV movie "Jabberwock", made by and for the sci fi satellite channel Sy-fy, I thought it high time I re-investigate the only other film made about... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tim Kidner
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