Review of Jabberwocky (1977) by Stuart K — 31 Mar 2010

Terry Gilliam's first film as a solo director after co-direcing Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), and he stuck with more medieval mud, but the comedy is alot more blacker, but this was a taster of the better things to come from Gilliam.

Although this is a very good little film, and it showcased what Gilliam's imagination had to offer at that time. Based on Lewis Carroll's poem, it has Dennis Cooper (Michael Palin), who is the son of a barrel maker, when his father dies, he heads off to the city to get a job.

In the city's castle, King Bruno The Questionable (Max Wall) is trying to think of the best way to rid the kingdom of the monster known as the Jabberwocky, which has been ravaging the city and the countryside around it.

Through chance and serendipity, Dennis ends up being the squire to the knight that will go out and slay the monster, and all Dennis wanted was a humdrum life with a simple job. It is very funny and it has all of the visual flourishes that Gilliam became so good at.

The film is also a who's who of British telly and films of the 1960's and 70's, look out for Harry H. Corbett, John Le Mesurier, Warren Mitchell, Rodney Bewes, John Bird, Bernard Bresslaw, Brian Glover, Gorden Kaye, Terry Jones, Neil Innes and David Prowse!! :D Gilliam found his feet with this one, and once he got going making films, he never stopped!! :D.