The 7th Python

by Mark Forstater

The book is part memoir, part a history of the making of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and part an account of the dangers of seeking justice. Read and learn. Sue and risk losing your soul – and your shirt. Mark Forstater actually won the case but because of costs he and his family were left financially bereft.

 For years, the Pythons ignored Mark’s pleas for them to play fair and instead let their minions, managers and lawyers deal with the case. So the problem grew to the point where their lawyer's bills were approaching £ 1m. Lawyers never lose. The Pythons put on the 02 reunion shows to cover these costs.

The book includes extracts from Mark's journals and the cross-examinations of Michael Palin and Eric Idle. Celebs insulate themselves with PR, managers and lawyers to maintain their public profile. This is an heroic tale of an underdog who battled against a group that called itself after the man who won El Alamein (Monty) and a deadly snake.  Names r us so it’s not surprising Monty Python’s famous foot came down so hard on the unsuspecting producer.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2016

Reviews

[Simon J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story of a court case that hit the papers a few times, when the Monty Python team were sued for depriving their producer. Mark Forstater, of income stemming from The Holy Grail film. I enjoyed following the story of the suddenly "reinterpreted" contract which had been accepted and adhered to for 40-odd years, at the point when the Pythons suddenly had a huge new sums flowing from Spamalot - the stage musical derived from the aforesaid Holy Grail film. There's good background and run up to the court case, with the making of the original movie as background, and the thoughts of various Python and associated participants, film-makers to interest Python fans and (with the unexplained absence of a key witness) minor conspiracy theorists.
The trial itself is quite short, so that section is not a dry account, indeed it is chilling (the cross-examination of Mr. Forsater by a bullying QC who seemed to know little about showbusiness), and incredible - some of the the statements made by the "nicest Python" in court. The video conference between the Pythons' original lawyer and the courts was a chaotic affair which is like one of the Pythons' own courtroom sketches - and worth the price in itself.
One for Python fans who don't mind their heroes showing they might well have feet of clay. As for the vilified producer who wins the case, there is a pyrrhic vctory, as the biggest winner are the legal profession and courts of chancery - as he makes much of the connection between his case and Dickens' classic, Bleak House.

[Peter Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 7th Python: A Twat’s Tale by Mark Forstater.

This is a very readable and enjoyable book. Mark Forstater’s approach is open-hearted, humble, engaging and entertaining. He is clearly far from being the ‘twat’ that Eric Idle called him as he took on the might of the Python’s in a seven year court battle. When a young man, Forstater produced the UK’s most profitable independent film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He made sure each member of the Python team got a good deal and, being a good producer, made sure he would also benefit in the long term for his work. Cut To: many years later… the Pythons getting themselves in a real tangle when they decide to try and take Forstater’s share of the profits away from him! Mistake. For a start they’d been paying him what he was due across the decades in between. And they’d signed their agreement to his share way back then. But for some perverse reason, led by the self-proclaimed ‘greedy bastard’ Eric Idle, they decided to try and rewrite history. Forstater’s tale is cautionary: read the small print, keep copies of contracts and when hand-writing in any amendments make sure they’re legible and counter signed! The 7th Python: A Twat’s Tale reveals the incredible pressure Forstater was put under during the labyrinthine legal battle and how he coped with it through his self-belief and the profound feeling that he was being treated unfairly. The story is warm, witty and uplifting: a David v Goliath for today.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. If you have ever wondered what really happens behind the curtain of a very successful show biz team (in this case the iconic and multi talented Monty Python) this book is for you. In the movie business success is hard to come by, very hard. But here, against all odds the original Monty Python and the Holy Grail becomes a giant success by British standard and years later begets a stage show, Spamalot, which is the subject of this sad but illuminating read by the film's producer Mark Forstater. He chronicles the story of how for no good reason the Pythons decide to deny him his rightful share of the profits. Actually what the book describes is how this all came about-and perhaps no one decided anything...inertia seems to have propelled the Pythons into court and protracted litigation which ultimately went against them and in favour or Mr Forstater, though, predictably, the case takes such a toll on him that despite his humour and constant self questioning we (and he) wonder if it was all worth it.
Forstater has a great sense of perspective, humour and a world weariness that is beautifully used to explain the whole rotten story. Its like "The Winslow Boy" but with jokes. Recommended.