Scene of the Week: The Crimson Permanent Assurance
Monty Python is a successful British comedy troupe whose comedy might not be everyone’s cup of tea. The people that love the comedy LOVE Monty Python, but others either don’t find the jokes funny or don’t get the jokes at all. I, for one, enjoy the films and sketch comedy from Monty Python, but we are here to talk about action… and yes, Monty Python does action. While the comedy is not for everyone, there is one thing that we can all agree on and that is The Crimson Permanent Assurance, the short film at the beginning of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, is the greatest action scene featuring geriatric businessmen-cum-pirates fighting against the evils of big corporate takeover.
The Crimson Permanent Assurance originally was not meant to be at the beginning of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life until director and Monty Python member Terry Gilliam convinced his troupemates to let him direct and it ballooned from there and even features later in the film (people are still not wearing enough hats.) Getting to see the old timers (who 20 years ago were running the world) fighting the major financial markets with just office supplies is as exciting to watch as it sounds. While it is not the best action scene in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (that award goes to the bouncier, but perhaps not appropriate for this site, Death segment) it is very fun and has all of the Monty Python trademarks including a delightful song and absurdist ending.
The Crimson Permanent Assurance (Monty Python’s) from EpicFilmsGlobal on Vimeo.
