| “ | Stop! Who would cross the bridge of death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see. | „ |
| ~ The Bridge Keeper |
The Bridge Keeper, also known as the Old Man from Scene 24, is a major antagonist in the 1975 cult classic British comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He watches over the Bridge of Death, which spans the Gorge of Eternal Peril. He asks anyone who wishes to cross three questions. If they get one wrong or don't know the answer, they are magically hurled into the Gorge of Eternal Peril, falling to their death.
He was portrayed by Terry Gilliam, who also portrayed Cardinal Fang in Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Biography[]
The Bridge Keeper first appears in Scene 24 as a mad soothsayer. He gives King Arthur cryptic hints about an enchanter, a cave and the Bridge of Death, which will apparently lead King Arthur to the Holy Grail. After this, he seemingly teleports Arthur and Bedevere to the forest where the Knights Who Say Ni reside.
King Arthur and his knights encounter him again later in the film, when they reach the aforementioned Bridge of Death. Arthur recognizes him and instructs his knights on the challenge they're about to face. The Bridge Keeper will ask anybody who approaches the bridge three questions, though Arthur keeps mistaking it for five. If the person answers all the questions correctly, they can cross. However, should they give a wrong answer, or don't know one, they will be magically and fatally cast into the Gorge of Eternal Peril.
Despite the risk, Arthur and the Knights know they have to cross. Turning down Arthur's order to go, "Brave" Sir Robin volunteers Lancelot, who approaches the old man. Upon reaching the bridge, Lancelot is stopped by the Bridge Keeper, who no doubt knowing that Arthur and the other knights are watching, asks Lancelot his name and the nature of his quest, to which Lancelot answers with ease. The grinning villain lures Arthur and the other knights into a false sense of security by making Lancelot's third question a very easy one by asking him his favorite color, which Lancelot says is blue. The Bridgekeeper then gladly lets Lancelot go across the bridge.
Having heard the whole exchange and witnessed Lancelot's safe crossing of the bridge, Arthur and the other knights rush to the bridge en-masse, where the Bridge Keeper stops them. The now confident Sir Robin volunteers to go next. However, whilst the Bridge Keeper keeps the first two questions the same, i.e. name and quest, he changes the third one and asks Robin to name the capital of Assyria. Caught off guard, Robin admits he doesn't know that, and is magically and fatally hurled into the gorge, to the Bridge Keeper's amusement.
Next up is Sir Galahad. The Bridge Keeper asks him the same three questions that he asked Lancelot. Like his companions, Galahad has no problem with the first two, but on the final one, his favorite color, he provides the same answer as Lancelot. This is a mistake, as Galahad's actual favorite color is yellow and he tries to rectify his mistake, but since he answered a question incorrectly, he too is fatally launched into the gorge.
Finally, it's Arthur's turn. Just like his subordinates, the King of the Britons is asked for his name and quest, which he answers flawlessly. The Bridgekeeper then asks the King what the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow is. The final question reminds Arthur of a brief discussion with a guard about swallows at the beginning of the movie, so he counters it with one of his own in order to be certain, asking the sorcerer if he's referring to an African or a European swallow.
Caught off guard, the Bridge Keeper thinks for a moment, before admitting he doesn't know. A second later it's revealed that the Bridge Keeper isn't immune to the Bridge of Death's curse either. Not knowing the answer, he is likewise flung into the air, then thrown into the depths of the gorge himself.
With their adversary defeated, Sir Bedevere asks how Arthur knew so much about a simple migratory bird. Arthur dismissively says that it comes with being a King and the two cross the bridge in safety.
Personality[]
At Scene 24, the Bridgekeeper appears to be very mad and unhinged, as he treats King Arthur to a very incoherent monologue about the location of the grail. However, this seems to be an act, as he acts much more focused at the Bridge of Death. During his stint as Bridgekeeper, he displays some degree of sadism, as he gleefully tricks Sir Robin with an overly difficult question.
Quotes[]
| “ | Bridge Keeper: Stop! Who would cross the bridge of death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see. Sir Lancelot: Ask me the questions Bridge Keeper; I'm not afraid. Bridge Keeper: What... is your name? Sir Lancelot: My name is Sir Lancelot of Camelot. Bridge Keeper: What... is your quest? Sir Lancelot: To seek the Holy Grail. Bridge Keeper: What... is your favorite color? Sir Lancelot: Blue. Bridge Keeper: Right. Off you go. Sir Lancelot: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much. |
„ |
| ~ The Bridge Keeper challenging Sir Lancelot who manages to pass each question. |
| “ | Bridge Keeper: Stop! Who approaches the bridge of death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he sees. Sir Robin: (smugly) Ask me the questions Bridge Keeper; I'm not afraid. Bridge Keeper: What... is your name? Sir Robin: (smugly) Sir Robin of Camelot. Bridge Keeper: What... is your quest? Sir Robin: (smugly) To seek the Holy Grail. Bridge Keeper: What... is the capital of Assyria? Sir Robin: (stunned) I don't know that! (screams as he is cast in the gorge) |
„ |
| ~ The Bridge Keeper challenging Sir Robin who fails to answer a question which he doesn't know and is cast into the gorge. |
| “ | Bridge Keeper: Stop! What... is your name? Sir Galahad: Sir Galahad of Camelot. Bridge Keeper: What... is your quest? Sir Galahad: I seek the Grail. Bridge Keeper: What... is your favorite color? Sir Galahad: Blue. (shocked) No... YELLOOOOOOOOW! (screams as he is cast in the gorge) |
„ |
| ~ The Bridge Keeper challenging Sir Galahad who incorrectly answers a question in which he is cast into the gorge. |
| “ | Bridge Keeper: Stop! What... is your name? King Arthur: It is Arthur, King of the Britons. Bridge Keeper: What... is your quest? King Arthur: To seek the Holy Grail. Bridge Keeper: What... is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow? King Arthur: What do you mean? An African or a European swallow? Bridge Keeper: (stunned) Huh... I... I don't know that. (screams as he is cast in the gorge) Sir Bedevere: How do you know so much about swallows? King Arthur: Well, you have to know these things when you're a king you know. |
„ |
| ~ The Bridge Keeper's defeat when King Arthur answers a question with a question in which the former doesn't know. |
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Trivia[]
- Bridge Keeper's downfall was foreshadowed by the conversation between King Arthur and a guard at the early part of the film during which they discussed about differences between African and European swallows at one point — a topic the King evidently well-informed about. When he asked King Arthur the third question which revolved such topic by chance, Bridge Keeper failed to refer specific swallows in the same question, unwittingly doomed himself as Sir Bedevere and the King watch in pleasant surprise.
- The Bridge Keeper's third question to Sir Robin is a trick question, as Assyria was moved to different cities during its long existence.
- Technically, the Bridge Keeper really did ask five questions.
- What is your name?
- What is your quest?
- What is your favorite color?
- What is the capital of Assyria?
- What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?