1977 JABBERWOCKY (performer)
Terry made a brief appearance at the start of this film as a poacher who is killed by the monster of the film. The short scene is very effective, with the whole attack seen from the Jabberwocky's viewpoint, hence Terry screaming into the close-up camera as he is carried into the air, and his silent, mauled body finally falling to the ground. Michael Palin stars and Terry Gilliam directs, so well worth watching.
1986 LABYRINTH (screenwriter)
Terry Jones first got in touch with Jim Henson to ask for some visual work on his own film, Erik the Viking, but instead found out that Henson wanted him to write the script for another fantasy film. He did so, but came into conflict with Henson regarding his plans for the film, particularly over the decision to cast David Bowie as the Goblin King. Nevertheless, he created some pretty decent scenes, including the Pit of Hands sequence featuring the heroine falling into a dark hole full of grasping human hands.
1987 PERSONAL SERVICES (director)
A film looking at the underbelly of the British upper classes and their sexual desires. Haven't actually seen it, but it was the first film directed by a Python which broke all ties with his Pythonic past.
1988 CONSUMING PASSIONS (screenwriter)
Based on the Jones/Palin television play Secrets, this is apparently a "classic return to the chracter-based, British comedies of the immediate post-war years", according to Robert Ross's Monty Python Encyclopedia (A very good book, in fact). Haven't seen this one either, but the film was only based on the Secrets script and Terry had no involvement in the actual production.
1989 ERIK THE VIKING (performer, director, screenwriter)
Based on Terry's childrens book, The Saga of Erik the Viking, this is a colourful romp through aincent Norse mythology with roles for both Terry and John Cleese, with Terry playing the foppish King Arnulf. Tim Robbins stars as the main part. Very good and worth seeking out.
1996 WIND IN THE WILLOWS (performer, director, screenwriter)
Based on Kenneth Grahames children's tales, this is a fairly faithful retelling of the original story with Terry as Toad running around and shouting "Poop poop!" in glee. It is also the first major Python reunion since Graham Chapman's death in 1989, with all the Pythons except for Terry Gilliam making an appearance. Eric Idle stars as Ratty, John Cleese pops up as a defence counsel and Micheal Palin makes a brief appearance as the Sun. Well worth watching.
Television
1968 DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET (performer, writer)
See the Pre-Python page.
1969 THE COMPLETE AND UTTER HISTORY OF BRITAIN (performer, writer)
See the Pre-Python page.
1977-79 RIPPING YARNS (performer, writer)
This wonderful post-python collaboration between Jones and Palin is one of the more successful of the two's ventures. Each episode was a totally different story with different characters, ranging from Agatha Christie-like scenarios to mountain expeditions. Jones only appeared in one episode of the series, the pilot, where he got to play a muffled, pompous lecturing explorer. During the rest of the series, though, he continued to scriptwrite with Palin some great comedy. Well worth getting if you can find it.
1984 THE YOUNG ONES (performer)
Terry Jones guest starred in one episode, 'Nasty', of this great British comedy series which showed the anarchic and surreal lives of four University students. Jones actually does very little in this episode, starring as a drunked vicar in a graveyard sequence, looking around with extremely messy hair in complete amazement. Still, even without Terry it's still a great episode, so go out and buy the whole series.
1995 CRUSADES (performer, host)
A history program on the Holy Crusades of the 11th/12th century with Terry using humour to get across his points and describing the gory events with obvious glee.
