Along with the other Python’s Cleese starred in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) The Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983) These films turned the television stars into movie stars, and Cleese was quick to exploit the chance to make more films, starring in the The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as we Know It as early as 1977.
Non-Python Python Films
Although Cleese had broken away from the Flying Circus, he continued to collaborate with his fellow Python’s on various film projects, and in fact these were some of his most successful film outings. In 1981 he appeared as Robin Hood in Time Bandits, a fantasy adventure written by Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, and directed by Gilliam. Two years later he took the role of Harvey ‘Blind’ Pew in Yellowbeard, which had been penned by his old writing partner Graham Chapman, along with Peter Cook. The film also featured the talents of Eric Idle, and a man who had done much to inspire the Pythons: Spike Milligan.
In 1989 Cleese performed in Erik the Viking, a project written and directed by Terry Jones, and by the time he played Raoul P Shapgrind in Splitting Heirs (1993) he had appeared in films written by all his fellow Pythons, Heirs having been written by Idle.
However perhaps the best of the non-Python Python films was A Fish Called Wanda (1988) which was written by Cleese himself, and featured only Palin of the other Python’s. The script was sharp and Cleese and Palin on great form, although both were arguably out-shone by Kevin Kline, who picked up the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of a psychotic Nietzsche-reading Buddhist. The cast of Wanda, including Jamie Lee Curtis, reunited in 1997 for the less successful, but still charming, Fierce Creatures.
In 1996 Cleese made a minor appearance in another Terry Jones film, The Wind in the Willows, which also featured both Idle and Palin.
The Distinctive Voice of John Cleese
The global success of the Flying Circus made Cleese one of the most famous faces in comedy, and also, of course, one of the most famous voices. Numerous times in recent years he has put that voice to good use in off-screen roles.
Cleese provided the voice for Cat R Waul in An American Tail: Feivel Goes West (1991)played an ape named Ape in 1997's George of the Jungle, was cast as a talking cricket in Pinocchio (2002) and featured alongside other giants of British comedy Ricky Gervais and Hugh Laurie in Valiant, a 2005 film about World War Two carrier pigeons.
He also voices the King in the smash-hit sequels Shrek 2 (2004) and Shrek the Third (2007) as well as having parts in the 2008 film Igor and the 2009 release Planet 51.
And Now For Something Completely Different
Despite being best known as a comedian, Cleese has appeared in several films which are certainly not comedies. In 1985 he took the part of the sherif in the Western Silverado, playing alongside Kevin Costner, Danny Glover, and the future star of A Fish Called Wanda, Kevin Kline. If that wasn’t serious enough, Cleese then appeared in the Kenneth Branagh version of Frankenstein in 1994, and in the same year featured in a live action version of The Jungle Book.
Cleese has also played light-hearted roles in two globally successful dramatic franchises: as the ghost Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter series; and as a gadget technician in the Bond films, code named ‘R’ in The World is Not Enough (1999) and promoted to ‘Q’ by Die Another Day (2002)
Most recently he played Professor Barnhardt in the Keanu Reeves thriller The Earth Stood Still (2008). He has also played a professor in Planet 51 and Frankenstein, while in Igor and The Jungle Book he played a doctor. Clearly despite his anarchic past casting agents believe he brings a certain gravitas to the screen!
The Dwindling Success of Cleese Films
Following the highs of The Holy Grail and The Life of Brian, it might be suggested the only way for the Python’s film careers was down. Sadly, in the case of Cleese, this has certainly been true in recent years. Although he has won plaudits for many of his cameo roles, and A Fish Called Wanda belongs in the pantheon of comedy classics, Cleese has made a disproportionate number of bad films.
From the 1982 war time farce Privates on Parade, to the 2009 remake The Pink Panther 2 in which Cleese takes over from Kline as Inspector Dreyfuss, the ex-Python has been involved in a succession of flops. Films such as Parting Shots (1998) The Out-of-Towners (1999) Isn’t She Great and The Quantum Project (both 2000) and Scorched (2003) have largely been forgotten, and deservedly so. Bigger budget failures include the Eddie Murphy vehicle The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and Around the World in Eighty Days (2004)
But Cleese is unlikely to be judged on these movies. His legacy will come from the massive enjoyment he has given fans in many great performances, both with and without the other Python’s.
