Michael Palin cursed by a claw, doomed by love, and thrown through time—Peak Python chaos.
Sir Kevin Orr is anxious to return the Sacred Claw of the Naga hills given him as a child by his uncle Jack but warned that unless it is returned before his sixtieth birthday the curse of the claw will kill him. He sets sail to return it but falls for the ship's female officer, who throws the claw overboard, killing everybody but Kevin. Years later the claw has returned and on his sixtieth birthday Kevin finds his wife Agatha dead, the claw beside her. He finally sends the claw back to the Naga hills, breaking the curse but sending him back in time to his childhood, his relatives still alive.
Acting
Palin plays five roles, including his own uncle and father.
Writing
Sixty years of curse logic crammed into thirty delirious minutes.
Production
Hammer Horror aesthetics hijacked for pure silliness.
Director
Jim Franklin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Part of 'Ripping Yarns,' Palin and Terry Jones's post-Python anthology series parodying Boys' Own adventures.
The Naga hills reference winks at colonial adventure stories while undercutting their heroism—typical Python-era subversion.
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