*Warning: the above clip contains some
strong language and adult humor. Also, it is quite long, almost ten minutes.
Michael Palin (yes, from Monty Python, that Michael Palin) shares a “new
Biggles story” at the Secret Policeman’s Ball, 1979. Includes a cameo appearance
by John Cleese (yes, that John
Cleese).
I can’t say I like the way Algy (weirdly
spelled “Algie” in the subtitles) is portrayed in this. Like Holmes’ Watson,
Algy is often made into a bumbling slapstick character outside of the canon
works to offset Biggles’ “brilliance”.
However, it must be said that I am quite
fond of Michael Palin (who isn’t!), who is himself quite an avid Biggles fan
and was even the narrator on the audiobook of Biggles Flies North.
Oddly enough, even though Bertie is not
present in this “fanfic”, there seem to be a lot of “bally”s slipping into the
conversation. I don’t think any of the other three ever said the word “bally”
in the entire series!