Comedy legend John Cleese, born on October 27, 1939, celebrates his 87th birthday, marking another milestone in a career that has kept audiences laughing for more than six decades. From Monty Python‘s Flying Circus to Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, the British comedian has created some of the most unforgettable moments in comedy history.
But even after all these years, Cleese isn’t entirely satisfied with everything he’s made. In fact, he recently discussed how he went back and changed the ending of one of his most beloved films, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, because he never thought the original conclusion was particularly funny.
John Cleese Reveals Why He Changed The Ending Of Monty Python And The Holy Grail
Released in 1975, Monty Python and the Holy Grail follows King Arthur and his knights on a hilariously absurd quest, complete with killer rabbits, coconut-clapping servants, and the unforgettable Black Knight. The film became a cult classic, but its famously abrupt ending has never quite satisfied Cleese.
Speaking with The Main in September 2026, Cleese explained that he believes the movie loses its comedic momentum after the Bridge of Death sequence. He suggested that fellow Python member and co-director Terry Gilliam became more interested in creating impressive cinematic imagery than delivering laughs, leaving the final stretch feeling disconnected from the rest of the film.
Rather than simply complain about it, Cleese decided to do something about the ending himself. “I have actually re-edited the film,” he revealed, explaining that his version condenses the final five or six minutes into approximately 70 seconds. According to Cleese, audiences who have watched his alternate cut generally prefer it. “Most audiences think it’s better than the original,” he said.
Interestingly, this isn’t a recent change of heart. Cleese was already discussing his alternate ending during screenings of Holy Grail in 2017. In an interview with WTOP, he explained that he had recut the ending to make it less boring, and he occasionally showed his version to audiences after screenings.
The Surprisingly Chaotic Story Behind The Comedy Classic
Filming was another adventure entirely.
The production had a budget of just £280,000, and the cast endured cold, rainy conditions in Scotland with few comforts. Cleese recalled that there were only about four umbrellas available, while their hotel lacked enough hot water for everyone to shower after filming. Despite those miserable circumstances, the movie became one of the troupe’s defining achievements.
More than half a century later, Monty Python and the Holy Grail remains a comedy favorite, and Cleese continues to revisit it with audiences through screenings and live appearances. As he celebrates his 87th birthday, it’s clear that the comedian hasn’t lost his sharp sense of humor, or his willingness to criticize his own work. Even a comedy classic, apparently, isn’t beyond a little editing.
