Synopses & Reviews
Graham Chapman was the quiet, pipe-smoking Python who qualified as a doctorthe policeman's son whose tweedy demeanor belied an anarchic nature. More than any other Python, he lived the complete lunacy of the show. He was John Cleese's writing partner, from their days at Cambridge right through the Monty Python years. It was Chapman's off-screen antics, however, that epitomized the surreal qualities of a Python sketch; moreover, he fearlessly flaunted his homosexuality at a time when it was certainly not done. Chapman died in 1989, with brilliant comic timingon the 20th anniversary of the first Python recording. Written with the full authorization of Chapman's family, and with extensive input from The Pythons, this is an honest, often hilarious tribute to a true original.
Review
"Thorough and balanced profile." Library Journal
Synopsis
This is his official biography written with the full cooperation of the Pythons and Chapman's partner David Sherlock - with full access to unseen pictures.
Graham Chapman was the quiet, pipe-smoking Python who qualified as a doctor. He was the policeman's son whose tweed-jacketed demeanour belied his true anarchic nature. More than any other Python he lived the complete lunacy of the show. Chapman was John Cleese's writing partner from their early days at Cambridge Footlights right through the Monty Python years. But it was Chapman's off-screen antics that are closest to the surreal qualities of a Python sketch. Terry Gilliam remembers how he would go into a restaurant and suddenly disappear: "He'd be under somebody's table licking the girl's feet while her date was there "
Chapman was a founder member of an infamous drinking club with The Who's drummer, Keith Moon. Chapman had a wine cellar stuffed full with bottles of gin and at the height of his drinking - which started out as a nerve-calmer for performances - he would consume eight pints of gin a day. He fearlessly flaunted his homosexuality at a time when it was certainly not the done thing. To add further mix to his personal life, Chapman and his partner David Sherlock adopted a 14-year-old boy.
Graham Chapman died in 1989 with brilliant comic timing on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the first recording of Python. A huge celebratory Python party was cancelled as a result and Terry Jones harrumphed Chapman's death as "the greatest act of party-pooping in history." Bob McCabe has had the full co-operation of Sherlock and the Pythons in writing this fascinating and revealing account of the life of one of British comedy's best-loved figures.
About the Author
Bob McCabe is a noted film critic, broadcaster, journalist and screenwriter. He is the author of Dark Knights and Holy Fools: The Art and Films of Terry Gilliam and several other film books, including authorised biographies of The Pythons and Ronnie Barker, The Rough Guide to Comedy Movies and the BFI book on The Exorcist.