Inspired by the seven-verse nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll, Terry Gilliam’s directorial debut feature is an uneven mix of medieval tomfoolery and crude Monty Python humour.
Fellow Python Michael Palin plays the humble, innocent peasant hero, Dennis, an apprentice cooper who, to prove his worth and win the hand of a fair maiden – actually, Griselda Fishfinger (Annette Badland), a fat, slovenly wench only interested in food and scratching the wrong places at the wrong time – sets out to kill the fearsome “Manxome foe”.
The production design is stunning, and the look of the Jabberwock is based on the illustrations that Sir John Tenniel created for Carroll’s original book.
For all that, Gilliam’s grim fantasy only periodically raises itself above the tiresome.
Dennis
Michael Palin
King Bruno the Questionable
Max Wall
Princess
Deborah Fallender
Chamberlain
John Le Mesurier
Griselda Fishfinger
Annette Badland
Mr Fishfinger
Warren Mitchell
Mrs Fishfinger
Brenda Cowling
Squire
Harry H Corbett
Other Squire
Rodney Bewes
Landlord
Bernard Bresslaw
Betsy
Alexandra Dane
Bishop
Derek Francis
First Herald
John Bird
Second Herald
Neil Innes
Man with Rock
Terry Gilliam
Poacher
Terry Jones
Armourer
Brian Glover
Sister Jessica
Gorden Kaye
Director
Terry Gilliam
