How to Recognise Different Parts of the Body

Synopsis: British television comedy series. The episodes features a sketch which presents the first underwater production of Measure For Measure. Dubbed over an expanse of sea is muffled Shakespearean blank verse. The camera zooms in to Michael Palin and Terry Jones who leap up, take a deep breath, and go under water again. The muted dialogue continues. Shot of a rowing boat where Shakespearean characters await their cue. One of the two characters leaps up and shouts ‘Servant ho!'. He goes under again. Cut to announcer, up to his waist in sea water. ‘The underwater version of Measure for Measure, and further out to sea Hello Dolly is also doing good business’.
Series: Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Transmission details: 21 Nov 1970 (Channel: BBC1)
Duration: 30 mins

Producer

Writer

Cast

Michael Palin
Terry Jones

Notes: The script of the episode can be read by visiting http://www.ibras.dk/montypython/justthewords.htm
General: Other Python episodes, too brief to catalogue individually, are a sketch entitled SHAKESPEARE in the episode ARCHEOLOGY TODAY (tx 17 November 1970 ) in which Shakespeare, washing up at the sink, gives Beethoven tips on how to compose the Fifth Symphony. He dismisses the name David as a suitable title for his play (preferring the name Hamlet as suggested by Beethoven). Shakespeare tells Michelangelo that he can have the name. HAMLET (tx 21 November 1974) follows some of the action and characters of the play - Terry Jones plays Hamlet. In THE SPANISH INQUISITION (tx 22 September 1970) there is a sketch JULIUS CAESAR WITH AN ALDIS LAMP.
History: Episode 22 in Series 2. The NFTVA copy is an off-air recording from a transmission on 21 December 1990.

British Universities Film & Video Council