Michael Palin gives evidence in 'Spamalot' suit

Lifestyle December 05, 2012

Michael Palin gives evidence in 'Spamalot' suit

Photo: AP Pedestrians walk under the marquee of the Broadway show "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the Shubert Theatre in New York. A producer of the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is suing the comedy troupe over royalties from the hit stage musical "Spamalot." Producer Mark Forstater wants a bigger share of proceeds from the show, which is based on the 1975 movie spoof of the legend of King Arthur. Python members Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones are to give evidence during a five-day hearing that began Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 at London's High Court.

Show more Show less

More Photos (1 of )

LONDON (AP) — Michael Palin has rejected a movie producer's claim that the producer was the unofficial seventh member of the Monty Python comedy troupe and is entitled to more royalties from the musical "Spamalot."

Mark Forstater has sued over the show, which is based on the 1975 movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Forstater produced the film and his lawyer claims it was agreed that he would be "treated as the seventh Python" financially.

Palin told a hearing at London's High Court on Wednesday that the idea of a seventh member "was never going to be accepted by the Pythons." And he disputed Forstater's claim to have helped written the film, saying: "There were six of us. We were a tight group. We wrote our own material."

Subjects
Locations
- London,
- Western Europe,
- Europe,
- England

Related Headlines

Alan Parker to get BAFTA's highest honor
Alan Parker, the lauded British director whose work includes "Midnight Express," ''Fame" and "Mississippi Burning," is to receive the British Academy Film Awards' highest ...
Producer sues Pythons over 'Spamalot' royalties
It's no joking matter. A producer of the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is suing the British comedy troupe over royalties from the hit stage musical "Spamalot.
'The Bodyguard' stage musical opens in London
Does "The Bodyguard" have the muscle to be a hit? A stage musical based on the 1992 movie starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner has opened at London's Adelphi Theatre to ...
Captain Peacock actor Frank Thornton dies
British actor Frank Thornton — best known as Captain Peacock in the long-running television comedy "Are You Being Served?" — has died at age 92, his agent said Monday.