She Likes to Watch

What is … your quest? “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”

Like most of the decade, 1975 was a watershed year for film.

It was a year for directors — such as Steven Spielberg, who terrified a generation of beach-goers with the first bonafide summer blockbuster, “Jaws.”

Robert Altman assembled his most musical ensemble cast ever in “Nashville.” Stanley Kubrick examined sex, power and politics in 18th century Europe. Peter Weir wowed with his mysterious, dreamy “Picnic at Hanging Rock.”

It was a year for actors: Al Pacino in the bank heist flick “Dog Day Afternoon,” Robert Redford in the political thriller “Three Days of the Condor” and Warren Beatty in the silly, sexy “Shampoo.”

British greats Sean Connery and Michael Caine squared off in “The Man Who Would Be King.” Funnymen George Burns and Walter Matthau bickered in “The Sunshine Boys.”

Jack Nicholson screamed, sneered and growled his way to an Oscar in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” while John Wayne revisited his “True Grit” roots with the Oscar-winning “Rooster Cogburn.”

It was a year for cult classics: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” “The Who’s “Tommy.” “Rollerball.”

Most importantly, however, it was a year for Monty Python.

In 1975, Britain’s beloved comedy troupe released its first true feature film: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

Coming on the heels of 1971’s “And Now For Something Completely Different” (essentially a collection of sketches), “Holy Grail” makes merry hash of England’s Arthurian legends with deliciously silly results.

The film follows King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his faithful, coconut-clacking servant Patsy (Terry Gilliam), who set out to recruit the Knights of the Round Table.

Facing insolent peasants and rude Frenchmen at every turn, the two finally meet up with Sir Bedevere the Wise (Terry Jones) , Sir Lancelot the Brave (John Cleese), Sir Galahad the Pure (Michael Palin) and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot (Eric Idle). Now united, the knights sally forth in a search for that most sacred of relics, the Holy Grail.

“Holy Grail” contains some of Monty Python’s most popular characters and comic bits, such as the shrubbery-loving Knights Who Say Ni, the stubborn Black Knight and the vicious Rabbit of Caerbannog (defeated handily with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch).

It also contains the most quoted lines in filmdom, including a pretty rousing discussion of the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” screens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo.

Arrive a half-hour early for trivia and prizes. Tickets are $7.50.

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If English men in funny costumes aren’t your thing, how ’bout some good ol’ American roughhousing?

Patrick Swayze stars as  rough-and-ready bouncer Dalton in 1989’s “Road House,” a favorite of bar fight enthusiasts everywhere.

Originally from New York City, Dalton is hired to clean up the Double Deuce, a Jasper, Mo., bar that’s gotten fear too rough for the regular clientele.

When  he’s injured on the first night of the job, the local doctor (Kelly Lynch) cleans him up. Naturally, Dalton and Kelly fall in love — or at least, in lust — just as the action heats up.

Now it’s Dalton versus local business magnate Brad Wesley (Ben Gazarra) and his gang of goons. Good thing he’s got kung fu expert Sam Elliott on his side.

“Road House” has all the hallmarks of a classic ’80s movie, and in abundance — vintage duds and mullets, awesome rock ballads, cheesy dialogue and kickass fight scenes flavored with a little martial arts magic. Oh, and a surprising number of topless women.

“Road House” plays at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Ever wonder how the other half lives?

Documentary filmmaker Jamie Johnson, heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune, examines the growing wealth gap in America in “The One Percent.”

The documentary  focuses on that tiny portion of the United State’s population — the title “one percent — who control nearly half of the nation’s wealth. Combining interviews with Bill Gates Sr., Steve Forbes and Nicole Buffett with footage of Chicago housing projects and Florida sugar plantations, “The One Percent” how the actions of the super-rich affect us all.

Watch “The One Percent” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Cafe Vio, 1111 Riverside Ave. in Paso Robles. The screening is co-sponsored by HopeDance Magazine.

Tickets, which cost $10, include a smoothie or espresso drink.

For more information, call 237-2722 or visit Cafe Vio online.