When Eric Idle unashamedly pillaged “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” for “Spamalot,” it wasn’t unexpected, nor was it difficult to come to grips with; Idle’s been exploiting his Python successes his entire career, it’s easy as both a Python fan and a Broadway fan to come to terms with it, make fun of him for it, and write the show off (though I’m still out the $120).
On the other hand, when John Cleese — one of the greatest writers and most gifted physical performers in sketch history who’s never leaned on the crutch of his successes from decades ago — exploits his film successes, it’s pretty legitimately tragic. Read it and weep:
John Cleese reportedly agreed to waive his full royalties when he was approached by Eric Idle about turning their film Monty Python and the Holy Grail into a musical because he had no idea that it would be such a money-spinner…
Cleese, 68, tells Mandrake that he is turning his 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda, in which he starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, right, into a musical. “I’ve been working on it with my daughter Camilla, who’s 24 and 6ft 2in,” he says. “She’s much funnier and quicker than I am, so I limp along after her.
Cleese could certainly do with the money. He faces a divorce from his third wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger, which could see him hand over two houses, half his earnings and maintenance of almost £1 million a year.
Nothing really funny to say about this news, it’s just, well, sad. I say “sad” not in a “shame-on-you!” looking-down-my-nose angry blogger kind of way, but in a “man, so this is what it’s inevitably come to…” kind of way.
If you gotta do it, Mr. Cleese, please at least be careful.
(via Filmdrunk)
