
The RAH Humor Review: More Python Alumni Tapes
by Dave Bealer

Apparently someone has figured out that virtually any video tape
featuring one or more of the Monty Python troop is guaranteed to sell
at least 100,000 copies.  Two more such tapes have been acquired by
yours truly in the past month.  After viewing these latest attempts
at squeezing bucks out of any stray scrap of film containing one or
more of the Python boys, I find myself fervently hoping that no
cameras were rolling during Graham Chapman's briss.

 o  The Strange Case of the End of Civilization As We Know It
      - featuring John Cleese as Arthur Sherlock Holmes, a
        bumbling, modern-day descendant of the famous detective.
        Connie Booth plays Mrs. Hudson, and several well known
        performers (e.g. Denholm Elliot) also appear, although it's
        a safe bet none of them list this turkey on their resume.
        One (sort of) redeeming feature: the absolute worse Kojak
        impression in the history of the genre.  "Who loves ya,
        baby?"  In the case of this tape, precisely no one.

 o  Romance With A Double Bass
      - Based on a short story by Anton Chekhov, this one actually
        isn't that bad.  John Cleese plays Smichkoff, a double bass
        player whose clothes are swiped while he's skinny dipping.
        Connie Booth, a princess, suffers the same fate.  The naked
        Cleese gallantly carries her back to the palace in his double 
	bass case.  Major redeeming feature: a couple of full frontal
	nude shots of Connie Booth (circa mid-1970s).  Major
	drawback: a nude John Cleese.  (Feel free to reverse these  
	feature/drawback judgments as desired.)  Although strained
	at times, at least this one has an innately funny premise at
	its core.

Both tapes were released by White Star Films.                   {RAH}

