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Monty Python film producer wins royalties case against comedy team Monty Python film producer wins royalties case against comedy team
(3 months later)
A film producer who said he deserved to be treated as the seventh member of Monty Python has won a high court case against the comedy team over a share of royalties from the hit musical Spamalot.A film producer who said he deserved to be treated as the seventh member of Monty Python has won a high court case against the comedy team over a share of royalties from the hit musical Spamalot.
Mark Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, on which Spamalot was based, claimed the comedians had paid him half the share to which he was properly entitled since the show launched to great success on Broadway in 2005.Mark Forstater, who produced the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, on which Spamalot was based, claimed the comedians had paid him half the share to which he was properly entitled since the show launched to great success on Broadway in 2005.
The dispute centred around a 1974 agreement under which Forstater was entitled to a share in 50% of all merchandising and spin-off income in relation to the Holy Grail.The dispute centred around a 1974 agreement under which Forstater was entitled to a share in 50% of all merchandising and spin-off income in relation to the Holy Grail.
At the high court, Mr Justice Norris accepted Forstater's claim that he was entitled to one-seventh – the same proportion as the members of the comedy team – of the 50% arising from Spamalot and not the one-fourteenth that Python (Monty) Pictures told him he was entitled to.At the high court, Mr Justice Norris accepted Forstater's claim that he was entitled to one-seventh – the same proportion as the members of the comedy team – of the 50% arising from Spamalot and not the one-fourteenth that Python (Monty) Pictures told him he was entitled to.
Speaking outside the court in London, Forstater welcomed the judgment, which he estimated would entitle him to about £220,000 plus interest, but lamented the fact that the case had destroyed his friendship with the comedians.Speaking outside the court in London, Forstater welcomed the judgment, which he estimated would entitle him to about £220,000 plus interest, but lamented the fact that the case had destroyed his friendship with the comedians.
"I have always been adamant I was correct. I have been proved right – justice has prevailed," said the 69-year-old."I have always been adamant I was correct. I have been proved right – justice has prevailed," said the 69-year-old.
"There is a sadness though about having to face people who were my friends in court.""There is a sadness though about having to face people who were my friends in court."
He added: "The friendship has gone. Terry Gilliam and I used to share a flat. We go back 51 years."He added: "The friendship has gone. Terry Gilliam and I used to share a flat. We go back 51 years."
Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones gave evidence in court while the other two surviving members, Gilliam and John Cleese, gave written evidence. None of them was in court to hear the ruling.Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Terry Jones gave evidence in court while the other two surviving members, Gilliam and John Cleese, gave written evidence. None of them was in court to hear the ruling.
Forstater had said in an email explaining his position that he "should be alongside the Pythons as a seventh Python" but a furious reaction from the comedians led him to clarify that he meant only for financial purposes.Forstater had said in an email explaining his position that he "should be alongside the Pythons as a seventh Python" but a furious reaction from the comedians led him to clarify that he meant only for financial purposes.
Norris said the claim "was a great mistake, for the Pythons are and were very jealous of 'the brand' and very protective of their creative genius". Gilliam described the claim as "utterly laughable" while John Cleese said it was "ludicrous". Idle told the court that he now disliked Forstater, prompting Norris to observe: "He undoubtedly regarded Mr Forstater as ungrateful."Norris said the claim "was a great mistake, for the Pythons are and were very jealous of 'the brand' and very protective of their creative genius". Gilliam described the claim as "utterly laughable" while John Cleese said it was "ludicrous". Idle told the court that he now disliked Forstater, prompting Norris to observe: "He undoubtedly regarded Mr Forstater as ungrateful."
The comedians had told the court they could not remember agreeing in 1974 that Forstater should be entitled to equal treatment with them. Forstater's lawyer told the court that the "worldwide commercial success" of Spamalot appeared to have led in 2005 to a cut in the size of his share of the profits from Holy Grail spin-off merchandising that his client had enjoyed for almost 30 years, to one-fourteenth.The comedians had told the court they could not remember agreeing in 1974 that Forstater should be entitled to equal treatment with them. Forstater's lawyer told the court that the "worldwide commercial success" of Spamalot appeared to have led in 2005 to a cut in the size of his share of the profits from Holy Grail spin-off merchandising that his client had enjoyed for almost 30 years, to one-fourteenth.
Spamalot, currently showing at London's Playhouse theatre, bills itself as "lovingly ripped off" from the Holy Grail. During its initial run on Broadway, it grossed more than $175m (£117m) and scooped three Tony awards.Spamalot, currently showing at London's Playhouse theatre, bills itself as "lovingly ripped off" from the Holy Grail. During its initial run on Broadway, it grossed more than $175m (£117m) and scooped three Tony awards.
The exact amount Forstater is entitled to will be determined at follow-up hearings. Despite the fall-out from the case he said he remained an admirer of their work. "They're an institution," he said. "I still think they are very funny."The exact amount Forstater is entitled to will be determined at follow-up hearings. Despite the fall-out from the case he said he remained an admirer of their work. "They're an institution," he said. "I still think they are very funny."
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