Nudge Nudge
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Candid Photography, better known as "Nudge Nudge", is a sketch from the third Monty Python's Flying Circus episode, "How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away" featuring Eric Idle (author of the sketch) and Terry Jones as two strangers who meet in a pub. Idle (playing a younger man) asks Jones (as an older gentleman) personal, sexual innuendo-laden questions about his relationship with his wife, such as "Is your wife a 'goer'?", "is she a sport?", "is she interested in photographs?", etc. Jones responds in a confused, non-committal sort of way, appearing not to understand the innuendo, and Idle responds with an enthusiastic "Nudge, Nudge, wink wink, Say no more". As the sketch continues, his questions get more and more clearly sexual, and his reactions to Jones responses get more and more complicated. After a period of time, Jones demands to know what Idle is talking about. Idle bluntly asks if Jones has slept with a lady. Jones says that he has, and Idle, fascinated, asks "What's it like?"
In its original airing on Monty Python the sketch was preceded by a short link in which Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin portray schoolboys being interviewed for television by John Cleese. During the interview, Idle announces that he's written a sketch called "Nudge Nudge."
Idle's character in the pub made several cameo appearances in later episodes, referred to as "Arthur Name."
Originally written by Eric Idle for Ronnie Barker in another comedy show, it was rejected as a script. Eric Idle openly admits the script is confusing, the joke being mostly in the delivery. It is also one of the few Monty Python sketches to end on a clear punch line.
The sketch also appears in the 1971 spin-off film, And Now for Something Completely Different and the 1982 concert film Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl. It was also performed when the Pythons appeared on The Midnight Special.
The quote, "nudge nudge, wink wink", has entered the English language as an idiomatic phrase implying sexual innuendo.
Elvis Presley was a great fan of Monty Python. In an extra on the Rutles DVD, Idle claims "Nudge Nudge" was Presley's favorite Python sketch.
See also
