I learned a valuable lesson from Cleese on Holy Grail. There’s a scene on a set of stairs going about the castle where Michael Palin was ridiculously funny and Cleese admired him for it, but when they played the final assembly of the film that scene was dry and dull. Angry, Cleese charged into the editing bay demanding an explanation and was told that was the best take, but when Cleese insisted on seeing all the takes sure enough there was a far better, truly funny one, the one he remembered. He was told that take was no good because on the left edge of the screen you can just make out the shoulder of a crew member’s very modern jacket.  Cleese exploded in rage, pointing out no one would notice because their attention would be on Palin who was at his funniest and he realized that the editor understood that, but was worried about other editors in the industry who would notice. Cleese demanded the funny take be used and of course no one noticed the crew member’s jacket, they were too busy laughing at Palin.

On App Central I shot a scene in a room where there was a photo of a topless woman hanging on the wall. I pointed it out to our camera man who agreed to avoid it and we did a few takes until it all came together. When I got back to the station I realized I had the Cleese problem, that in my best take our camera man was so focused on me on the right side of the screen he forgot to frame up the shot to avoid the breasts on the left side of the screen. Hmmm, remembering Cleese I submitted the scene with a dull, safe, no breasts take, but without mentioning the breasts added in the folder the better take. Neither our editor nor my producing partner noticed and used the better take, which I noted with amusement when it was broadcasted. The topless woman had large, beautiful breasts, but thankfully no one noticed or at least didn’t complain if they did. I’m no Palin, but am chuffed that I managed to be good enough to hold people’s attention

   It was a real treat seeing and hearing John Cleese in person, and watching that movie with a big crowd.  BTW, all three Python movies (Holy Grail, Brian and Meaning of Life) will be airing this Wednesday on Turner Classic Movies.