The Real Reason Monty Python And The Holy Grail Ended With Police

It’s hard to imagine what would have become of «Monty Python and the Holy Grail» had the comedy group been able to afford their preferred ending for the film. The ending involving the police that was released felt downright avant-garde for the time and showcased Monty Python’s irreverent style of comedy. Without that fourth wall break, other elements of the film would have felt shaggier, whereas with it, the gags and tangents throughout feel more deliberate.

In fact, the ending wasn’t the only part of «Monty Python and the Holy Grail» to be affected by budgetary constraints. In place of real horses, the knights famously mime horse riding, and the sound of coconuts clapping together was used to simulate the sound of hoofs. As John Cleese reiterated in a 2018 interview on «Late Night with Seth Meyers,» that beloved gag was conceived after it became clear the production couldn’t afford real mounts. The coconuts, too, were Michael Palin’s idea. As Cleese explained, «That’s why Michael Palin came up with the idea of the coconuts. You know, necessity is the mother of invention, and sometimes you don’t have much and you have to improvise. That’s sometimes when the very best ideas come through.»