Ministry of funny walks john cleese biography

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

"The Ministry of Silly Walks" is a sketch from the Monty Python comedy troupe's television show Monty Python's Flying Circus, episode 14, which is entitled "Face the Press".

The episode first aired in 1970. A shortened version of the sketch was performed for Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl.

Ministry of funny walks john cleese biography

This sketch involves John Cleese as a bowler hattedcivil servant in a fictitious British government ministry responsible for developing Silly Walks through grants. Cleese, throughout the sketch, walks in a variety of silly ways.

It is these various silly walks, more than the dialogue, that has earned the sketch its popularity. Cleese has cited the physical comedy of Max Wall, probably in character as Professor Wallofski, as important to its conception.

The sketch

The sketch as originally depicted in the series begins with John Cleese, playing a nameless civ