10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Monty Python And The Holy Grail

Another of the most surprising and hilarious occurrences in this wacky film was the appearance of a dangerous killer rabbit. This dangerous furry being took the lives of many a brave Knight in the line of duty and has established a strong legacy as being part of one of the funniest Monty Python movie scenes in history.

The rabbit itself wasn't purchased. Instead, it was borrowed from a local farmer who was distraught to find out that the white fur of the little critter was permanently tampered by the red paint used to signify the blood. Other than this, however, no rabbits were harmed in the making of this film, but several Knights were.

It turns out, though, that a rabbit has been used to symbolise cowardice and fear in men for generations. It is very common to find stained glass windows and carved cathedral designs that include these dreaded killer rabbits scaring off cowardly men. Even Notre-Dame itself has three depictions of the "killer rabbit".

So despite the silliness of this bit, there is an actual historical motive behind its inclusion, whether consciously or not.