Monty Python's 1974 pre-'wardrobe malfunction' bit of lunacy
If you’re a broadcaster or producer, you just thought your clashes with the FCC began back in 2004 and Janet Jackson’s infamous “wardrobe malfunction” incident. A full 30+ years prior to that special Sunday, one of the producers of the brilliant Python film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail was approached by a member of the British Board of Film Classification after a screening in Twickenham of the then unreleased soon-to-be classic.
Thanks to Shaun Usher over at Letters of Note for unearthing this classic exchange between Holy Grail producers, Mark Forstater and Michael White (Rocky Horror Picture Show) following Forstater’s meet-up with British Board of Film Classification member, Tony Kerpel.
Graphic via Jason Permenter blog
Thankfully, for us all, cooler heads prevailed with much of the ‘naughty bits’ remaining while still maintaining the “A” rating. Unfortunately, the ‘suitable content’ battle rages on to this day as evidenced by a recent case in which a lengthy meeting too place during the premiere season of the British situation comedy hit, Miranda, ending with a meeting between Hart, show producers and top-level BBC executives before the series made the leap from BBC Two to BBC One.
Can’t wait to see what happens now after this years Super Bowl ‘gesture malfunction’ during Madonna’s halftime performance.
