Michael Palin as Sir Galahad By Sideshow Toy

funnyjunk.com

As you may already know, if you're a frequent reader of this blog, I love Monty Python in all their incarnations and especially Monty Python and The Holy Grail.

I have also written about two other toys from this film; The Dead Collector played by Eric Idle and Ye Olde Deluxe Cow Catapult which you can read about by clicking their respective links above.

Well now it's time to add a third in the form of Michael Palin as Sir Galahad The Pure - like The Dead Collector, he was also made by Sideshow Toys.

This version is from The Dirty Knights Series, which the back of the box states is "Not to be confused with the premium collector's set". 

By which I assume they are referring to the first series of 12 inch figures, released by Sideshow in 2001 and limited to 10,000 pieces. 

Amazon.com

These figures, released a year later in 2002, are pretty much identical to the "Muddy Versions" but their packaging is different with no viewing pane box and also have an accessory which is not included with the "Dirty Knights", in the case of Sir Galahad it is a "Grail-Shaped Beacon", which is used by the inhabitants of Castle Anthrax to lure passing Knights.

The weird thing with these non-premium collector's figures is that they had a limited run of 5,000 pieces only and as I mentioned, apart from the lack of a Grail-Shaped Beacon which has been replaced by a book bearing the chapter in which the Story of Sir Galahad appears everything else is identical. 

Inside the box is written:

"Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture of such vision and insight that it changes the standard of how films are to be made. So immense in scope and rich in texture, it defies comparison. A film unparalleled and so celebrated that it captivates the world.

And then there's a film like "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." At best, a silly film, abundant with absurd characters, fatuous animation, and gross historical inaccuracies, blah, blah, blah. Look, I don't even need to get into it.

You know the film, you've seen the characters. Why do I have to go on about Monty Python again? Have you been living in a cave?!

The only reason I'm even writing this text is because you failed to buy Series One Holy Grail Figures in the first place.

Writing this text is a complete waste of my time.

I could be off at a real movie, if not for the fact the producers of this particular collectable managed to underestimate the Monty Python fans and have subsequently had to cheapen themselves and the Python franchise by issuing a thinly-disguised refresh of the original 12 inch product.

Shame on Sideshow Toy, and shame on you, too, for buying it. Any self-respecting copywriter wouldn't touch this text. 

I never even wanted to be a product text writer. What I really wanted to be is a .....

lumberjack.

There is also a close up picture of the figure, there is also another small image in the bottom left of the cover, this one depicts "God" - a Terry Gilliam animation which is shown in The Holy Grail when he gives the quest for the Holy Grail to King Arthur and his Knights.

Behind the figure, is a Grail, taken from the part in the film, animated by Terry Gilliam, where God bestows the quest onto King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, informing them they must "seek the Grail" and showing them an image of it in the sky above them. 

As I mentioned earlier, the figure comes with a small replica of the book, seen in the film between certain scenes, open to reveal the chapter heading and accompanying photograph of Sir Galahad The Pure.

The back of the box contains more silliness. On the top left is a small white area, resembling a sticker, on which is written...

The Dirty Knights (Not to be confused with the premium collector's set).

On the bottom right, in the same place the disclaimer is written on the back of The Dead Collector's box, is this friendly nugget of information ...

Congratulations to all that purchased the premium collector set of Monty Python and The Holy Grail poseable figures. Those foresighted and fortuitous few have truly made a wise investment, not only having selected the edition that is most certainly maade from the finest extruded plastics from the far east and fabrics from only superior clothing mills, but are assured of magnificent joy in the years ahead.

To those that selected that set we at Sideshow Toy salute you!

THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT THAT SET.

What you now hold in your grubby little hands is the lower class collective set of Not-so-Limited-Edition of Monty Python and The Holy Grail semi-poseable figures. Made from lesser quality materials, this edition was slapped together for that band wagon jumping l;ate comer collector. You will notice that this mediocre set comes incomplete, sorely lacking in exciting accessories. They are dirtier and somehow the paint jobs just don't compare to the realism as the first and more finer collection does.

It is truly a purchase you have made as you didn't have the wisdom that your enlightened collector brethren have had. So, there, languish in your own foot dragging silliness.

Enjoy your little toy.

And we hope the ink from this cheesy box gets off on your fingers you malodorous git.

 There is also a small note just below this which reads:

The Dirty Knights Portraits sculpted by Olaf W. Hartvigson.

Figure and accessories designed for the Sideshow Toy Figure Team.

Designer mud applique by Yutte Hermsgervordenbortborda.

Heavy sighing and general angst provided by Horst Prost lll.

Emotional counseling by Bjorn Irkestrom-Slater Walker.

We apologise for the fault in the box credits. Those responsible have been sacked.

The bottom of the box has the same silly caution as The Dead Collector has on his box...

Caution: Thou shalt exercise extreme caution whilst removing the contents herein. If you doubt your courage or your strength cease entry to this package, for severe flesh-wounds await you all with nasty, tiny, sharp, pointy edges!

There is another cautionary note, regarding posing, this one differs greatly from the one on The Dead Collector's box, it reads as follows... 

Figure may require hand support when posing. This, however, is as far as it should be taken. Unwanted hand support advances will not be tolerated. This is a professional figure, and it takes it's job seriously. Remember; no means no!

While this figure, only vaguely resembles Michael Palin, and even though the box insulted my choice of purchase, i cannot help enjoying the fact he's now a part of my collection!

Laters,

Follow

🎈 IT - Ultimate Pennywise Clown Action Figure (2017) by NECA 🎈

Slash Film

While I wasn't really impressed by the latest adaptation of IT, I did like the look of the newly designed Pennywise as portrayed by Bill Skarsgård not because it was a bad costume, I really like it, but because it didn't resemble the Pennywise my mind conjured up when I read the description in the book.

In the book IT, Stephen King describes Pennywise, at various times as having a "white face" and "funny tuffs of red hair on either side of his bald head"  he wears a baggy silk light silver clown suit with big orange pom pom buttons, an electric-blue bow tie and he also wears white large mickey mouse type gloves.

He has a bunch of balloons which as he tells Georgie are "red, and green and yellow and blue"

Georgie sees his eyes looking at him from inside a storm drain which are described as bright yellow eyes and also shiny, later as he shows more of himself while talking to Georgie his eyes are blue.

He is also described (by Georgie) as looking like a "cross between Bozo and Clarabell from Howdy Doody".

In case, like me you weren't around in the 1950's, 1960's or early 1970's and don't understand the references, here's a couple of images of Bozo the Clown and Clarabell from Howdy Doody...

Warning, they are the stuff of nightmares...

Bozo The Clown, was a children's television show which later became Bozo's Circus, the shows ran from 1949 to 1970 and most likely scarred generations of small children, cos Gawddammit he's horrific!!

Carabell the mute clown was on the  Howdy Doody Show from 1954 to 1960 and again, is one of the most terrifying things I've ever, seen, I can't believe children were into this. Just look at this clip from the last episode of the show, when Clarabell finally broke his silence...

This thing now haunts my dreams...

I can see where they were going with the Pennywise makeup the used for Bill Skarsgård's portrayal, the way the bright red lips and "mouth lines" which extend up the cheeks are very reminiscent of Clarabell, and his white face and red hair is not unlike Bozo The Clown's either.

Anyway, enough of this frightening stuff let's get to my new Pennywise figure...

I guess I'll start with the box design, seeing as that's the first thing I saw when I opened the parcel containing him.

I love this cover, it's so atmospheric, there's a hint of menace to the image, with Pennywise shown mostly in shadow, with his grinning face only visible reflected in the balloon he's offering in his outstretched hand.

Of course it also depicts poor little 5 year old Georgie Denbrough, in his rain slicker, who lost his life for want of a balloon.

The box opens like a book and is held in place with a small Velcro dot. 

It opens onto an image on the inside of the front cover of the figure, posed against a backdrop which depicts The Well House, also known as 29 Neibolt Street, Derry as it appears in the film and is described in the book - a derelict boarded up building with it's porch sinking into the ground on one side and weeds growing up all around it.

A scary place for local children, ignored by adults - home to Hobos, Tramps, Winos and the creature known as IT himself.

The images on the back of the box are various poses which the figure can be put into for display or play. 

The bottom of the box states the package design was the work of Chris Raimo, and I have to say I think he did an awesome job, it's the perfect way to illustrate the figure inside and has the same brooding atmosphere that builds as the story of Derry, Maine and it's resident evil entity enfolds. 

Behind the figure's picture window is a removable background which depicts the house at 29 Neibolt Street, and is very similar to the one shown on the inside of the front cover which I mentioned earlier.

The figure itself stands at around 7 inches, and has 19 points of articulation...

The head moves up and down, side to side and 360 degrees, the neck also moves the in same manner.

The shoulders move up and down and also turn 360 degrees, while the triceps only move up and down.

Above the elbows move up, down and 360 degrees, the elbow itself just moves up and down but not to the same extent as the area above does.

The hands move 360 degrees only. His waist can be moved up and down and 360 degrees as well .

Upper thighs move 180 degrees and side to side only . The knees bend backwards in a natural way but can also be twisted around 360 degrees which is anything but natural!

Below the knee bends in the same way. The final point of articulation is the ankle which can move up and down and weirdly also turns 360 degrees.

As you've most likely already noticed, the figure comes with two spare heads, allowing you to change his facial expressions, a spare pair of hands, one is posed in an "ok" gesture, so he can be posed holding the "string" of the balloon he comes with or the scaled paper boat he also comes with.

I love the attention to detail on this figure and his accessories; the little "paper" boat even has "SS Georgie" written on it.

For added posability his balloon has a thin wire "string" so it can be twisted and posed or even looped at the bottom so it can also "stand" up by itself.

It's easy to see that a lot of work and hours were spent designing and sculpting this figure and the others in the range, which is even more noticeable when you read the list of people who worked in these areas, listed on the bottom of the box. 

These are listed as follows: "Sculpt -    Adrienne Smith

                                                               Kyle Windrix

                                                               Alex Heinke

                                                               Trevor Grove"

                                            "Paint -     Geoffrey Trapp

                                                             Jon Wardell"

So quite a few talented individuals were involved in sketching the premise, sculpting the individual parts, moulding, forming, smoothing and sanding then colour matching and painting the prototype figures, and eventually the final product that was released for sale.

As much as I love this figure, there was one thing I wasn't so impressed with... 

The head with Pennywise's mouth open was shown in the sales photographs as looking identical to the moth design in the film, as shown above.

Unfortunately, the teeth on the head I received really didn't look anything like the promotional image.

I was really disappointed about this because one of the selling points for me was this facial expression, but I guess being so small the two main rows of teeth are not only very hard to mould in a way that shows the definition, it is also very hard to paint them to look like the promotional image.

I gave his teeth a quick once over with my paintbrush to try and give them a bit more definition, it didn't turn out quite as I hoped but it is definitely better than it was before.

Well, I guess that's all I have to say on this little guy for now, so I'll be off!

Take care,

Follow