So, Anyway...
Page 39
Christie, Julie 301
Christopher, Bob 230, 237–8
Churchill, Sir Winston: funeral 211
Citibank 239
class system 32–3, 129–32, 182; sketch about 274
Cleave (Clifton College schoolboy) 68–9
Cleese, Camilla (JC’s daughter) 142
Cleese, Cynthia (JC’s daughter) 7
Cleese, John: birth 2, 33; (possible) first memories 2–3, 4–5, 7, 8–9; itinerant early childhood 4–5, 14–19, 24, 33–40; prep-school days in Weston 1–2, 40–60, 57; family moves to Bristol 60–61; day boy at Clifton College 53, 63–88; school sports 6, 40, 47, 58–9, 73–4, 85–6, 86, 88; school plays 56, 74–6, 85; Oxbridge entrance exams 82–3; university place deferred 83; prep-school teacher in Weston 87, 89–121; family holiday in Bournemouth 121–2; first year at Cambridge 122–42, 145–6; joins Footlights 134–40; first meets Graham Chapman 141–2, 147; returns briefly to prep-school teaching 142–4; second year at Cambridge 146–56; registrar of Footlights 146–7, 152; early writing collaborations with Graham 148–9; 1962 Footlights revue (Double Take) 151–6, 157, 313; vacation labouring job 156; Edinburgh Festival 156–60; final year at Cambridge 161–71; falls in love for first time 161–3; 1963 Footlights revue (A Clump of Plinths/Cambridge Circus) 165, 167–9, 170–71, 313; final exams 166–7, 169–70; accepts job with BBC (instead of with solicitors) 171; West End run of Cambridge Circus 173–81, 179, 183–4; London flat-share 180–81; at BBC Light Entertainment Department 181–2, 184–7; New Zealand tour of Cambridge Circus 187–93, 188; loses virginity in Auckland 191–3; New York run of Cambridge Circus 193, 195–203, 205, 206–10, 341; beginnings of relationship with Connie Booth 201–3, 232; role in Half a Sixpence 203–6, 212–21; Boston and Toronto runs of Half a Sixpence 217, 223–9; Broadway run of Half a Sixpence 227, 229–37, 233, 341, 346; journalism for Newsweek 230, 237–8; photo shoot with Terry Gilliam for Help! magazine 231–2; takes apartment with Connie 237, 238, 242; Establishment show in Chicago and Washington 239–42, 246–8; returns to England (without Connie) 245–6, 248–9; visits parents in Weston 249–53; begins work on The Frost Report 245, 256–9, 262–3; and I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again 254, 260–62, 273, 294; recording of Frost Over Britain comedy album 262, 265–6; interviewed on Late Night Line-Up 271–2; first series of The Frost Report 267–71, 273–80, 296; rents villa in Ibiza 280, 281–6, 287–91; first film script with Graham (The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer) 280, 286, 287–8, 290, 321, 361, 377–8; works on The Frost Programme 280–81, 293–7; first series of At Last the 1948 Show 297–301, 302–19; Barbados holiday with Connie 301–2; second series of The Frost Report 319–21, 338; interviewed on Dee Time 321–2; driving holiday to Italy 322–4; collaboration with Harry Secombe 324–6; first feature film (Interlude) 326–7, 334, 377; second series of At Last the 1948 Show 329–34; marriage to Connie 250, 335–9, 341; early married life in London 341–2, 346–8, 349–50, 367; writes for Marty television series 348–9; How to Irritate People 12–13, 349–59, 374; screenplay for Rentadick 350, 361, 367, 378–81, 383; writes for Peter Sellers 361–7; developing partnership with Graham 367–74, 381–3; some film and TV cameos 374–6; Monty Python’s Flying Circus 351–2, 374, 383–6, 389–404, 394; 2014 reunion show 85, 346, 387–8, 400–404
Character & characteristics: beard 124, 134, 152; childhood enthusiasms 37–8; childhood wussiness 2, 5–7, 46, 56; cricket fan 37–8, 40, 200; determination 285–6; dislike of violence 46, 137; enjoyment of food and drink 63–4, 181, 237; height 1–2, 57–8, 134; interest in psychology 35–6, 70–71, 84–5, 168; introversion 35–6; logical/creative balance 248; middle name 22; patriotism 182; perfectionism 142, 183, 368; pets 96–7, 125, 134; physical awkwardness 2, 154, 193–4, 283; preference for comfort 226; relations with women 12–13, 133, 161–3, 190–93, 224–5, 301–2; smoking 207; soft toy collection 371–2; spectacles 69; sporting prowess 6, 47, 58, 73–4, 85–6, 129, 283; stage nerves 155, 168, 183–4, 267–8; taste in art 230–31; theatre-going 367; thirst for knowledge 368; time-management 342–3
Cleese, Muriel (née Cross; JC’s mother): appearance and character 8–14, 8, 24, 32, 251–3; family background 22–3, 32–3; elopement 32–3; married life 11–12, 14–15, 33–4, 60, 123–4; and JC’s upbringing and education 8–9, 35, 63, 170; JC’s relations with 9, 11, 13–14, 123–4; family moves to Bristol 60–61; holidays in Bournemouth 121–2; moves to Totnes 145; JC visits in Weston on return from US 249–53; widowhood 11, 13–14
Cleese, Reginald (JC’s father): appearance and character 16, 16, 25, 32, 251–3; family background and early life 21–2, 24–6, 32–3; military service 7, 26–8; early working life in India and Far East 16, 25, 28–31; contracts malaria 30, 31; recuperation in England 31–2; elopement 32–3; married life 11–12, 14–15, 33–4, 60, 123–4; career as insurance agent in West Country 15–16, 23; and JC’s upbringing and education 4, 5, 17–18, 30, 38, 39–40, 44, 63, 226; family moves to Bristol 60–61; holidays in Bournemouth 121–2; moves to Totnes 145; JC visits in Weston on return from US 249–53; concerns about JC’s career 294
Cleese’s woolly lemur 377
Clifton College 53, 63–88, 225, 294; school sports 6, 73–4, 85–6, 86
Clitheroe Kid, The (radio serial) 182
Clockwise (film) 288
Clump of Plinths, A (1963 Cambridge Footlights revue) see Cambridge Circus
Collingwood, R. G. 107–9
Compton, Denis 85–6
Cook, Peter 42, 221, 241–2; Beyond the Fringe 149–51; Establishment Club 239; Not Only . . . But Also 266–7, 303; The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer 377–8
Cooper, Tommy 78
Corbett, Ronnie 343, 350, 378; The Frost Report 257, 274, 319–21
‘Cornish Mining Disaster’ sketch 136, 142
corporal punishment 34–5
Courbet, Gustave 231
‘Courier’ sketch 275–7
coward, definition of 6
Coward, Sir Noël 4, 213; at Las Vegas 266
Cowell, Simon 345
Crathorne, Lord and Lady 188
Crichton, Charles 366, 380–81
cricket 37–8, 40, 73, 74, 81, 85–6, 88, 200
criminology, JC as student of 166–7, 169–70
critics, theatre 197–8, 227
Cross, Marwood (JC’s grandfather) 22–3, 23, 32–3
crosswords 66, 96, 157, 160, 286, 391
Cryer, Barry 262, 302
Curry, Tim, French-kissing 377
Custer, General George 56
Daily Mail 51, 326, 387, 403
Daily Mirror 392
Daily Telegraph 281, 316
Davie, Dr (schoolmaster) 71
Davies, Peter ‘Stinker’ (schoolmaster) 72
Davies-Jones, Martin 124–5, 134, 142, 146
Davis, Joan 78
de Gaulle, Charles 135–6
De Niro, Robert 76
de Valera, Eamon 351
‘Dead Parrot’ sketch 351–2; Margaret Thatcher’s rendition 279
Dean, Michael 271
Dee, Simon 322
Dee Time (television series) 321–2
dentists: in America 226–7; sketch about 313
Dibley, Gwen 384
Dick Barton, Special Agent (radio serial) 37
Disney (film company) 367
Do Not Adjust Your Set (television series) 383
Doctor Faustus (school production) 74–6
Doctor in the House (television series) 381–2
Dolman, Reverend A. H. (schoolmaster) 52–3, 54, 56, 72, 96, 109
Double Take (1962 Cambridge Footlights revue) 151–6, 157, 313
Downing College, Cambridge 82, 83, 124–5, 147; football team 129
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan, The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard 85
Dr Strangelove (film) 361
Dr Zhivago (film) 301–2
driving lessons: in New Zealand 191–2; in England 323
Dundee University Students’ Union: invitation to Queen 343–4
Dunedin, New Zealand 189–90, 357
Durrell, Lawrence 159
Ealing comedies 77, 361, 380
Edinburgh Festival (1962) 156–60
Edwards, Jimmy 78
Ekland, Britt 364
Elizabeth II, Queen 240; invitation from Dundee University 343–4
Elk, Anne (Python character) 299
Elton, Ben 220–21
Emery, Dick 184–5
England football team 286–7, 289–90
Esalen Institute, California 57
Establishment Club, London 239
existentialism 200
Eysenck, Hans 35–6
Fantasticks, The (musical) 215
farces 258, 367
Fawlty Towers (television series) 49–50, 111, 121, 137, 346–7, 382
Feldman, Lauretta 279–80, 281, 304
Feldman, Marty: background and character 279; The Frost Report 258, 262, 279; holiday in Ibiza with JC 280, 281, 284–5; At Last the 1948 Show 298–301, 307–8, 310–13, 317, 329–34, 348; interviewed on Dee Time 321–2; learns of Graham Chapman’s coming out 328; Marty television series 348–9, 350; proposed role in Rentadick 379
Felix, Julie 258, 270, 274
Feydeau farces 367
Fiddy, Derek 304
Fielding, Johnny 303
Fierce Creatures (film) 73
film crews, British vs French 326–7
films, watching in the wrong order 253
Findlater, ‘Fishy’ (prep-school matron) 1, 2
First World War 7, 26–7
Fish Called Wanda, A (film) 240, 248, 348, 366, 381; reviews 197–8
Fitzgerald, F. Scott 221
Flanders and Swann 266
football 73–4, 85, 97–8, 129; 1966 World Cup 280, 286–7, 288–90
Fordyce, Ian 313
foreskins: circumcision 2; retractability 28–9
Forte, Sir Charles 346
Frankenstein (film) 76
Frayn, Michael 151, 367; Clockwise 288
French, Dawn 299
Freshfields (solicitors) 167, 171
Frisby, Terence, There’s a Girl in My Soup 364
Frost, Sir David 142, 147, 262–6, 366; That Was The Week That Was 139, 163–4, 245, 295; The Frost Report 245, 256–9, 258, 262–3, 267–71, 273–80, 295, 296, 297, 319–21, 338, 361; The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer 280, 293; The Frost Programme 280–81, 293–7; and At Last the 1948 Show 297–8; commissions Rentadick and How to Irritate People 349–50, 379, 380
Frost Over Britain (comedy album) 262, 265–6
Frost Programme, The (television series) 280–81, 293–7
Frost Report, The (television series) 245, 256–9, 258, 262–3, 267–71, 273–80, 295, 296, 297, 319–21, 338, 361
Frost, Wilfred 304
Fry, Stephen 126
‘Garage Owner’ sketch 350–51
Garden, Graeme 147, 254, 260, 261, 273
Gardner, Howard, Frames of the Mind 84
gay men 225, 248, 327–9
Gee, ‘Jumper’ (schoolmaster) 67
geography lessons, other lessons to be learned from 116–20
George, Alan 151, 158
George VI, King, death 357
German, JC learns 180–81
Germans, in Ibiza during World Cup 288–90
Gilbert, Jimmy (producer) 256, 258–9, 258, 273, 278, 319
Gilbert, Mr (schoolmaster) 53
Gilliam, Terry 19, 226; alleged fight with JC 46; photo shoot with JC for Help! magazine 231–2; sketches Shirley Bassey 293; Do Not Adjust Your Set 383; Monty Python’s Flying Circus 369, 384, 385, 393–4, 396, 397, 401, 404
Goering, Hermann 4
Golders Green, London 33
Goldman, William 170, 382
Goleman, Daniel, Emotional Intelligence 85
Goon Show, The (radio series) 78–9, 302, 303, 361, 364, 376
Gordon, General Charles 55
Gordon, Richard, Doctor in the House 381
Grafton, Jimmy 324–5
Grant, Cary 231
Great Dictator, The (film) 137
Greenslade, Wallace 376
Grey, Marion 240
Griffin, Merv 210
Guardian Assurance Company 15
Guyler, Deryck 184–5
Hair (musical) 364
Half a Sixpence (musical): audition 203–6; rehearsals 212–21; Boston and Toronto runs 217, 223–9; Broadway run 227, 229–37, 233, 341, 346
Hall, Willis 262
‘Hallelujah Chorus’, Beatles version of 196, 207
Haller, Helmut 289
Hancock, Sheila 361
Hancock’s Half Hour (television series) 303
happiness, moments of perfect 19
Harris, Judith 56
Hart, Jean 188, 190, 207, 209
Harvard Business School 200–201
Hatch, Ann 188
Hatch, David: at Cambridge 147; Cambridge Circus revue 168–9, 174, 179; BBC Radio Light Entertainment Department 171, 184; Cambridge Circus New Zealand tour and New York run 188, 190, 196, 202, 203, 207–8, 209–10; I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again 254, 258, 261, 273
‘Haw-Haw, Lord’ (William Joyce) 3–4
Hawn, Goldie 364
Hazelton, Mr (schoolmaster) 69–70
‘Headmaster’ sketch 266, 267, 269–71
Help! (magazine) 231–2
Hendra, Tony 147, 151, 153, 210, 236
‘Henry V’ sketch 209–10
Henson, Leslie 258
Henson, Nicky 257–8, 324
heroism, English forms of 55–6, 161
Hickley, Mr (schoolmaster) 53, 127
Hill, Robert (Clifton College school friend) 74
Himmler, Heinrich 90–91
Hirohito, Emperor 207
Hoare, Major Mike 296
homosexuality 225, 248, 327–9
Hong Kong 30
Horrabridge, Devon 14
How to Irritate People (television show) 12–13, 349–59, 374
Howdle, Mr (schoolmaster) 46, 53
Howerd, Frankie 78
humour 77–9, 111–12; and anger 48–50, 137; and malice 112, 186–7; and pomposity 81, 111
Hurst, Sir Geoff 289
Hutchison, Alan 124–5, 134–7, 146, 149, 156, 163, 255–6, 290–91, 322–3
Ibiza 280, 281–6, 287–91
Ibsen, Henrik, Brand 157–8
ice hockey, in Canada 228–9
ice-skating, in Bournemouth 121–2
Idle, Eric: pre-Python 148, 302, 313–14, 361, 383; Python 369, 394–404, 394
I’m All Right Jack (film) 362
I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again (radio serial) 184, 207, 254, 260–62, 294
immigration service, United States 242–3
impersonators, skills of 365–6
India, JC’s father’s early life in 28–30
‘Indian Restaurant’ sketch 352–4
insurance salesman, JC’s father’s career as 15–16, 23, 25–6, 28
‘Insurance Salesman/Deep-Sea Diver’ sketch 208–9, 266
Interlude (film) 326–7, 334, 377
Italy 322, 324
ITV 279, 280
James, Polly 235, 236
Japan 255–6
Jay, Tony 129, 262, 278
Jerome, Jerome K., Three Men in a Boat 26, 42, 254
‘Job Interview’ sketch 356
Johnson, Howard 304
jokes: the ‘getting’ of 118; see also punchlines
Jones, Freddie 374
Jones, Terry 196, 274, 369, 383, 384, 393, 394, 395–404
journalism, JC’s 230, 237–8, 281
journalists, British 76, 135, 227, 238
Joyce, William (‘Lord Haw-Haw’) 3–4
Junkin, John 349
Kaye, Davy 299
Kendall, Jo 169, 179, 188, 190, 191, 206, 254, 260, 261, 273
Kerr, Walter 197
Kind Hearts and Coronets (film) 77
Kline, Kevin 96
Kovacs, Ern
ie 78
Kubrick, Stanley 361, 364
Kurtzman, Harvey 231
Ladykillers, The (film) 77, 361, 380
Lahr, Bert 232
Lahr, John 232
Lancaster, Burt 300
Lancaster, Captain (schoolmaster) 2, 42, 54, 91
Last Tango in Paris (film) 99
Late Night Line-Up (television series) 271–2
Latin: learning 42, 43, 53, 66; teaching 93–4
laughter, infectiousness of 178, 247
Laughter in Paradise (film) 77
Lavender Hill Mob (film) 380
law, JC as student of 122, 125–6, 161, 166–7, 169–71
Law, John 262
Lebowsky, Stanley 212–13
Lehrer, Tom 267, 274
lemurs 377
Leonard, George, Mastery 56–7
Leonardo da Vinci 368
Lewis, Jay 379–80
Liddell, Mr (schoolmaster) 72
Life of Brian (film) 116, 265, 382
Lindsay-Jones, Mr (schoolmaster) 71–2
links (for sketches), solutions to 298–9
Lloyd, Harold 137
Lloyd George, David 351
Lolita (film) 364
London Palladium 324
Luftwaffe: bombing raids 3–4, 29; destruction of Cleese family furniture 18
Lynn, Jonathan 180, 188, 190, 196, 206, 278
Lynn, Ralph 258
Lyric Theatre, London 179, 180
MacDonald, Aimi 299–300
MacDonald, Alec (Clifton College housemaster) 6
McGrath, Joseph 362
McIntyre, Phil 388
McLeod, Mercer 218–19
Macmillan, Harold 136, 295; Peter Cook’s impersonation of 150
McNaughton, Ian 389–90
Mad (magazine) 231, 239
Magic Christian, The (film) 362–5, 367, 376–7
Maher, Joe 240, 246–8
Main Wilson, Dennis 349
Major, Sir John 128
Manet, Édouard 231
Margolyes, Miriam 151, 153
Marks & Spencer: personnel department 294
Marples, Ernest 295–6
Marsden, Betty 392
Martin, Everett 230, 237–8
Martin, Sir George 266, 362, 364–5
Martin, Steve 137
Marty (television series) 348–9
Marx Brothers 77, 178
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (film) 76
Maslow, Abraham 19
Mason, James 375
masturbation 45–6, 401–2
mathematics 43, 47, 53, 66, 70
Maugham, Somerset: take-off of 164, 169
Meaning of Life, The (film) 73, 100, 207, 277