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Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Witch weighing, African swallows, a bloodthirsty bunny, God himself… We’re talking of course about Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Sure, the movie is epically silly, but behind the humor lay countless cultural and historical references. According to BYU film studies professor Darl Larsen, in crafting their 1975 cult-classic film the Pythons drew from Arthurian legend, the Medieval period, and the hard times of 1970s Great Britain. Larsen joins us Thursday for something completely different.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please accept our apologies for the technical difficulties attending today's podcast audio. We are working forthwith to remedy the situation. Bear with us.

Darl Larsen is a professor in the Media Arts department at the Center for Animation at Brigham Young University, where he teaches film, animation, screenwriting, and pop culture studies. He’s the author of the books Monty Python, Shakespeare and English Renaissance Drama; Monty Python’s Flying Circus: An Uttlerly Complete, Thoroughly Unillustrated, Absolutely Unauthorized Guide to Possibly All the References; and A Book About the Film Monty Python and the Holy Grail: All the References, from African Swallows to Zoot [Amazon|Indiebound]

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.