Ich Bin Ein Lumberjack!!

September 25, 2006 11:41 PM

Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus is a two part film oddity from 1971-72; two episodes of the legendary British sketch comedy show with all new material performed entirely in German, despite the cast's inability to speak German. Well... not 100% new material, as the Lumberjack Song did get its own German version. Here's a brief interview with Michael Palin about phonetically learning the words to the song. via
posted by jonson (19 comments total)

For those who want to see the entire show, both episodes are currently up on YouTube, split into 10 minute segments.
posted by jonson at 11:45 PM on September 25, 2006

Oh, top notch! I've always wanted to see these!

And they have Do Not Adjust Your Set! I thought all those tapes were destroyed...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:18 AM on September 26, 2006

lupus_yonderboy, you can't have looked very hard.

BTW, all these videos are available for sale or rental. Fleigender Zirkus appears on A&E's DVD of Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
posted by George_Spiggott at 12:36 AM on September 26, 2006

These were great shows with some really funny moments. IIRC, they had much more budget to play with than the BBC had ever given them; something they used really well. I've got these on an old VHS tape but really should get them on DVD.
posted by TheDonF at 1:08 AM on September 26, 2006

Finally I can say that I've seen every Monty Python episode. I've been looking for that second German one for ages. Thank you, jonson.
posted by Zero Gravitas at 2:43 AM on September 26, 2006

All together now: Wenn ist das Nunstuck git und Slotermeyer? Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!
posted by Joeforking at 2:58 AM on September 26, 2006

I was gutted to find out that joke didn't actually mean anything sensible and wasn't, in any way shape or form, funny.
posted by TheDonF at 3:27 AM on September 26, 2006

Well... not 100% new material - but worth seeing!
posted by nea7 at 3:38 AM on September 26, 2006

Finally I can say that I've seen every Monty Python episode.

I can't find a link now, but the troupe did corporate training films. I think these are officially the rarest Python productions. I've only seen screenshots myself, though full copies do exist. So maybe technically not "episodes" but have you seen those? Hmmm?
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 4:26 AM on September 26, 2006

my german teacher at school had both of these on video and we were forced (maybe that's a bit strong) to learn all the words to the lumberjack song.

ich bin ein Holzfaeller und fuhl mich stark
ich schlaf des nachts, und hackt am tag. etc

they altered the lyrics slightly as well - instead of 'i wish i'd been a girlie just like my dear mama' it says 'i wish i'd been a girlie, just like my uncle walter'
posted by muthecow at 5:35 AM on September 26, 2006

I can't find a link now, but the troupe did corporate training films.

Weren't the training films a John Cleese enterprise?
posted by yqxnflld at 6:15 AM on September 26, 2006

Cleese has done a ton over his career, but there were also some done in the 70s by Monty Python as a group. Damn, I wish I could find that link, but so far I'm coming up with bupkiss.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:25 AM on September 26, 2006

Okay found a brief reference and horrible real clip here. Scroll down or search for "training."
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:28 AM on September 26, 2006

Ah, here's a better site. Should've searched for "industrials".
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:29 AM on September 26, 2006

Except all the clips there are dead. Gah!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:30 AM on September 26, 2006

Found one on Youtube: Monty Python Harmony Hairspray Industrial Film
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 6:46 AM on September 26, 2006

The Bavarian Restaurant sketch and the Hearing Aid/Contact Lenses sketch easily stand up with anything else the group did on television.
posted by Dr-Baa at 7:37 AM on September 26, 2006

Did remind me of Komm gib mir deine Hand by den Beatles.
posted by jouke at 9:34 AM on September 26, 2006

Wow, I like the choral arrangement in the German version of the lumberjack song much better than the English version. It's so...Lutheran.
posted by sklero at 12:47 PM on September 26, 2006