Eric Idle considers suing Shrek makers over gag

[Fred Derf Veteran]

Eric Idle considers suing Shrek makers over gag

May 21, 2007 04:30 AM

Comedy legend Eric Idle stormed out of the premiere of Shrek The Third after they nicked one of his gags, according to 99.9 MIX FM.

The furious Monty Python star revealed he had no idea they were going to use the joke ? even though he stars in it.

And he says he is now considering legal action against the makers of the movie ? which also stars fellow Python alum John Cleese - for pinching the infamous coconut gag.

Idle, who is 64 at the end of the month, went on they also stole a lot of jokes from his hot stage musical Spamalot.

In the hit movie ? made by Dreamworks - Prince Charming is seen riding a horse telling how he fought and killed the ogre.

But as the camera pans out he is seen on a hobby horse with a minion banging two coconut halves together to make a clippity clop sound.

The gag is a direct lift from Idle?s 1975 classic comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Speaking on the Mad Dog & Billie show on 99.9 MIX FM Idle explained: ?So many people love the coconut gag from Monty Python ? it?s of course a radio joke.

?It?s been stolen patently by Shrek 3. I?m happy to say ? so we?ll be able to sue their asses.?

Asked to explain he added: ?No, I mean it?s like there it is in the first 30 seconds ? you go ? wait a minute, John and I are in this film and you steal our joke?

?Um, I don?t know how the others are going to take to this? I hope they (Dreamworks) cleared it with them ? and they also steal from Spamalot, you know."

Told by the presenter that it was meant as a mark of admiration Idle, who voices the Merlin character, lashed out: ?Do you think if I stole your wallet that?d be homage to your money?

?You see they neglected to tell us ? so the first I saw it was in the premiere ? and I was shocked ? my whole family went, ?What? How dare you!?

?So I walked out ? calmed down ? and walked back in, but I was shocked and I think if you steal peoples jokes, I don?t think that?s homage, I think that?s theft.?

http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/216027

[Kushan]

Is he serious? I've seen Monty Python get ripped off EVERYWHERE and never actually seen them sue anyone, especially since they're IN the film o_0

[Steffan]

They figured that this movie will make millions and millions of dollars and they want a bigger chunk of it.

[Corris Veteran]

That's a little pathetic, people might as well start suing for every day jokes.

I've seen the Holy Grail, and yes, it is a good movie, but it is now a bit old for the younger generations, a lot who would see this film, so I don't see why he's made such a big deal out of it.

If someone found that part funny, I would be like "yea, was first done in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, good film, you should see it"

People these days.

[Hurmoth]

I'm not sure about this, but I'd say that someone banging two coconut halves together to make a clippity clop sound has been done before Monty Python. Maybe not in film, but since when can someone copyright doing an action in film. That's like if I wrote a book and my serial killer happen to kill with knife, how many other books have a serial killer killing with a knife? :laugh:

Just pathetic!

[Mathachew Veteran]

In case this guy didn't realize, Shrek is all about copying off of what others have done. Watch all three films and you'll see that they're filled with things that have been done already. This is nothing new.

Also Fred Derf, update your little message about 20K to 30K ;)

[Samboini]

So presumably he was disgusted in the previous Shrek films when they ripped off every movie imaginable. Yeah right, it's plain pathetic and money grabbing; sad for someone of his publicity.

[metallithrax]

In case this guy didn't realize, Shrek is all about copying off of what others have done. Watch all three films and you'll see that they're filled with things that have been done already. This is nothing new.

Also Fred Derf, update your little message about 20K to 30K ;)

I agree with this comment, and other comments about how Python have been "used" in other films. It is not the end of the world that someone used a joke of theirs.

Also Mathachew, I think Freds statement is about his avatar size and not number of posts.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

Yes, I spent several good minutes ensuring that my avatar met the size guidelines. I had a higher quality flash avatar that one of the coders designed for me but it appears on top of other pop up information and it might slow down some of our members' computers (that is, if they are still using a Pentium III).

I think Eric Idle was just annoyed since he is was in the movie. They had every opportunity to ask him but instead he only found out at the premiere and was embarrassed in front of his family.

[funkymunky]

It's the very first sketch in the film too.

He must me hard up for cash to try and sue

[dreamz Veteran]

I think Eric Idle was just annoyed since he is was in the movie. They had every opportunity to ask him but instead he only found out at the premiere and was embarrassed in front of his family.

i think this is right.

[Hurmoth]

How do you get embarrassed by something like that? To me, that doesn't make sense, especially considering he was in the film. I won't argue they should have asked him, but still, I just don't get what he's complaining about.

[neufuse Veteran]

What is disney going to sue next too?

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Agreed - had he been informed that this was in it, had it been cleared - it would have been different. He's a good guy by all accounts! And hardly on "hard times"...

[majortom1981]

I doubt it very high;ly that they didnt know they were doing that gag. Come on 2 people from monty python in the movie and not one of them knew?

Come on.

[spacer]

I'm pretty sure anything that has been published for more than 25 years becomes public domain. At which piont, Idle has no say over who gets to use what from his act. So, to that all I can say is "quit being a baby."