John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and the surviving Monty Python cast reunite at Tribeca Film Festival for 40th anniversary screening of The Holy Grail

The surviving cast members of Monty Python And The Holy Grail reunited at Tribeca film festival on Friday afternoon.

British actors John Cleese, 75, Eric Idle, 72, Michael Palin, 71, and Terry Jones, 73 plus American star and director Terry Gilliam, 74, attended a press conference in New York to talk about the classic film that celebrates it's 40th anniversary this year.

They were speaking ahead of a special screening of the comedy cinematic gem.

Memories: John Cleese and Michael Palin recall their fondest Monty Python experiences at a special press conference during Tribeca film festival in New York

Memories: John Cleese and Michael Palin recall their fondest Monty Python experiences at a special press conference during Tribeca film festival in New York

Reunited: The surviving cast members joined up once more to talk about Monty Python And The Holy Grail which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary

Reunited: The surviving cast members joined up once more to talk about Monty Python And The Holy Grail which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary

Eric Idle recalled the 1975 opening of Monty Python And The Holy Grail in New York where they offered free coconuts (which comically figure into the film) to the first 2,000 ticketholders.

'We'd give them a coconut,'Idle said, 'Then we'd have to sign them. And it's virtually impossible to sign a coconut.'

Gilliam recalled: 'John Belushi was in that crowd. Gilda Radner. Wasn't Bill Murray there? They were just starting out. They swept past us in their careers and left us in the dust.'

Quirky: Eric Idle recalled the 1975 opening of Monty Python And The Holy Grail in New York where they offered free coconuts (which comically figure into the film) to the first 2,000 ticketholders

Quirky: Eric Idle recalled the 1975 opening of Monty Python And The Holy Grail in New York where they offered free coconuts (which comically figure into the film) to the first 2,000 ticketholders

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24:  Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones attend the Monty Python Press Conference during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at SVA Theater on April 24, 2015 in New York City.  (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival)

Discussion: Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones take part in the panel chat

Special: The classic comedy was being screened at the Film Festival to celebrate Monty Python's contribution to film and television 

Special: The classic comedy was being screened at the Film Festival to celebrate Monty Python's contribution to film and television 

The group also recalled the classic arguments they had when it came to which sketches to include in their TV show Monty Python's Flying Circus.

'Remember the candelabra in the sketch in the girls' dormitory?' Cleese said.

'There were light bulbs in the feet of a farm animal, and there was a big argument about whether it should be a sheep or a goat. And it got quite nasty!'

Idle said: 'Comedy is a theorem. You write it, and think, "In theory if I say this like that, and I wear that, and I stand in that place, the result will be laughter." 

Gifts: Terry leaves The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a bag full of special treats

Gifts: Terry leaves The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with a bag full of special treats

Happy: Michael and John also looked pleased as they left the studio on Thursday niight
Happy: Michael and John also looked pleased as they left the studio on Thursday niight

Happy: Michael and John also looked pleased as they left the studio on Thursday niight

'So it's a theorem. And then you actually prove it. And that's the nice thing about comedy: They laugh or they don't. So I think of it as algebra.'

John also spoke about how much he doesn't understand new forms of social communication, despite being on Twitter.

'If you're asking about comedy now, the answer is, I don't begin to understand contemporary society,' he said.

'Nobody yet has been able to explain Facebook to me. I just don't know why anybody would do it. And that's quite scary, because you've got to be in some sort of touch with your audience.'

Promoting: The band got back together to celebrate the comedy classic in New York

Promoting: The band got back together to celebrate the comedy classic in New York

 

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