Secret Policeman's Balls, The (2009) Rating: Starring: Michael Palin, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman Director: Category: Musical, Special Interest, Comedy Studio: Shout Factory Subtitles: Length: 510 mins     The Secret Policeman's Balls is the collective name for the legendary series of benefit shows staged to raise funds for Amnesty International. Beginning in 1976, the Balls have featured the cream of Britain's comedians and musicians. The shows are also credited with helping inspire many of the high-profile charity events of the last 30 years, including Live Aid. These groundbreaking galas featured Monty Python's John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin, and the Beyond The Fringe team, as well as individual comedic talents such as Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous) and Hugh Laurie (House M.D.). In addition to the laughmakers, the shows presented revolutionary acoustic appearances that inspired the "unplugged" phenomenon: historic performances by Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading. Also featured are rare duets from guitar legends Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins. This 3-disc box set brings together films of the five key shows from the first wave of Balls (1976-1989), which are being presented on DVD for the first time in North America. The Balls: - Pleasure At Her Majesty's (1976) - The Secret Policeman's Ball (1979) - The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1981) - The Secret Policeman's Third Ball (1987) - The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball (1989)