Life of Brian (1979)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Terry Jones

Writers:

Graham Chapman (written by) &
John Cleese (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A motion picture destined to offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world. And severely annoy the other third.

Plot:

Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Judea | Christmas | Satire | Revolutionary | Roman Empire

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
John Cleese	...	Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Terry Gilliam	...	Man Even Further Forward / Revolutionary / Jailer / Blood & Thunder Prophet / Frank / Audience Member / Crucifee
Eric Idle	...	Mr. Cheeky / Stan (Loretta) / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee
Terry Jones	...	Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant
Michael Palin	...	Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
Terence Bayler	...	Gregory
Carol Cleveland	...	Mrs. Gregory
Kenneth Colley	...	Jesus
Neil Innes	...	A weedy Samaritan
Charles McKeown	...	False Prophet / Blind Man / Giggling Guard / Stig
John Young	...	Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath
Gwen Taylor	...	Mrs. Big Nose
Sue Jones-Davies	...	Judith
Peter Brett
John Case	...	Pilate's Wife
Chris Langham	...	Alfonso / Giggling Guard
Andrew MacLachlan	...	Another Official Stoners Helper / Giggling Guard
Bernard McKenna	...	Parvus / Official Stoners Helper / Giggling Guard
Spike Milligan	...	Spike
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Harrison	...	Mr. Papadopolous (uncredited)
Charles Knode	...	Passer-by (uncredited)

Directed by
Terry Jones

Writing credits
Graham Chapman		(written by) &
John Cleese		(written by) &
Terry Gilliam		(written by) &
Eric Idle		(written by) &
Terry Jones		(written by) &
Michael Palin		(written by)

Produced by
Tarak Ben Ammar	....	executive producer: Tunisia
John Goldstone	....	producer
Tim Hampton	....	associate producer
George Harrison	....	executive producer
Denis O'Brien	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Geoffrey Burgon

Cinematography by
Peter Biziou

Film Editing by
Julian Doyle

Production Design by
Terry Gilliam

Art Direction by
Roger Christian

Costume Design by
Charles Knode
Hazel Pethig

Makeup Department
Kenteas Brine	....	hair stylist
Kenteas Brine	....	makeup artist
Elaine Carew	....	hair stylist
Elaine Carew	....	makeup artist
Faouzia Choura	....	hair stylist
Faouzia Choura	....	makeup artist
Sue Ignatius	....	hair stylist (as Susan Frear)
Sue Ignatius	....	makeup artist (as Susan Frear)
Fatma Jaziri	....	hair stylist
Fatma Jaziri	....	makeup artist
Ken Lintott	....	wigs and beards maker (as Kenneth Lintott)
Diana Webber	....	hair stylist
Diana Webber	....	makeup artist
Maggie Weston	....	hair stylist
Maggie Weston	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hmida Ben Ammar	....	assistant director: Tunisia
Jonathan Benson	....	first assistant director
Matthew Binns	....	third assistant director
Melvin Lind	....	second assistant director
Slim Mzali	....	assistant director: Tunisia
Lotfi Thabet	....	assistant director: Tunisia

Art Department
Mohammed Azounadhea	....	assistant art director
John Beard	....	assistant art director
Graham Bullock	....	construction crew
Patricia Christian	....	art department secretary
Roy Clarke	....	construction crew
Nobby Clark	....	construction crew (as Roy Clarke)
Peter Dunlop	....	production buyer
Peter Grant	....	property master
Dennis Harrison	....	construction crew
Geoffrey Hartman	....	props department
Craig Hillier	....	construction crew
Gordon Izod	....	construction crew
Richard Jones	....	construction crew
Lotfi Layourni	....	construction manager
John Margetts	....	props department
Robert Mason	....	construction crew
Michael Melia	....	construction crew
Eric Nash	....	construction crew
Darryl Paterson	....	props department (as Daryll Patterson)
John Patterson	....	construction manager
Gordon Phillips	....	props department
Alan Seabrook	....	construction crew
Hassen Soufi	....	set dresser
Hassine Soufi	....	production buyer
Bunny Southall	....	construction crew
John Spottiswood	....	scenic artist (as John Spotswood)
Peter Verard	....	construction crew
Arthur Wicks	....	props department
David Wiggins	....	construction crew
Darryl Paterson	....	storeman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Simon Bailey	....	assistant dubbing editor
Philip Chubb	....	assistant sound engineer (as Phil Chubb)
John Foster	....	dubbing editor
Dushko Indjic	....	assistant sound engineer
Garth Marshall	....	sound recordist
Tony Orton	....	sound effects editor
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer
David Watts	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Christopher T. Welch	....	assistant dubbing editor (as Chris Welch)
Steve Hancock	....	dubbing projectionist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Tony Andrews	....	animation and model department
Rupert Ashmore	....	animation and model department
Michael Beard	....	animation and model department
Valerie Charlton	....	animation and model department (as Val Charlton)
Dennis De Groot	....	animation and model department (as Dennis DeGroot)
Kate Hepburn	....	animation and model department
Kent Houston	....	optical effects
Tim Ollive	....	animation and model department (as Tim Olive)
Roger Pratt	....	animation and model department
Keith Short	....	modeller
Paul Whitbread	....	optical effects
Bob Cuff	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sadok Ben Amor	....	camera grip
Alan Annand	....	camera loader
David Appleby	....	still photographer
Frank Batt	....	camera grip
Mike Brewster	....	focus puller (as Michael Brewster)
Hechim Cherif	....	camera loader
Chuck Finch	....	electrical department
Kamel Kardous	....	electrical department
Don Matton	....	electrical department
Reg Parsons	....	electrical department
Les Rodhouse	....	electrical department
Roy Rodhouse	....	chief electrician
Mohamed Sahli	....	electrical department
Brian Smith	....	electrical department
John Stanier	....	camera operator

Animation Department
Terry Gilliam	....	animation designer
Terry Gilliam	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Cable	....	costumer
Nick Ede	....	costumer
Zoulfikha Keari	....	costume department
William Pierce	....	costumer (as Bill Pierce)
Leila Turki	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rodney Glenn	....	first assistant editor
John Mister	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Marcus Dods	....	conductor
Keith Grant	....	music mixer
André Jacquemin	....	music mixer (as Andre Jacquemin)
Steve James	....	music mixer

Other crew
Jazzi Abderrazak	....	production department: Tunisia
Ahmed Attia	....	production department: Tunisia
Sally Ball	....	contact: London
Christina Biziou	....	location assistant
Patricia Burgess	....	representative: Hand Made Films
Habib Chaari	....	production department: Tunisia
Mohamed Ali Cherif	....	production department: Tunisia (as Ali Cherif)
Hazel Crombie	....	assistant accountant
Carey Fitzgerald	....	contact: London
Claude Guillene	....	production department: Tunisia
Sallie Hampton	....	location assistant
Tarak Harbi	....	production department: Tunisia
Anne Henshaw	....	business manager
Mouldi Kriden	....	production department: Tunisia
Brenda Loader	....	continuity
Christine Miller	....	bibliography assistant
Hafida Ouertani	....	accounting secretary
Jennie Raglan	....	production assistant
Hilary Sandison	....	assistant to producer
Nicole Souchal	....	production assistant
Betty Swinburne	....	contact: London
Ron Swinburne	....	production accountant
Peter Thompson	....	public relations
Ridha Turki	....	accountant: Tunisia

Thanks
Keith Moon	....	published edition of the screenplay dedicated to

Production Companies

• HandMade Films (presents) (as Handmade Films)
• Python (Monty) Pictures

Distributors

• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (????) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corp. (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Compagnie Française de Distribution Cinématographique (CFDC) (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Orion Pictures Corporation (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• UGC Distribution (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2004) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1980) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• BMG Video (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Filmförlaget Atlantic (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• IDA films (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Manga Films (2001) (Spain) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (????) (Australia) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• VCL Communications (????) (Germany) (VHS)
• VTI Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Abacus Productions (matte paintings)
• Peerless Camera Company (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes
• Chappell Recording Studio  music recording
• Ditta Pompei  shoes
• Ditta Rancati  military uniforms
• Gpil  costumes
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Memmo of Rome  location catering
• Olympic Sound Studios  music recording
• Perruzzi  costumes
• Redwood Recording Studios  music recording
• Romana Trasporti Cinematografici S.r.l.  additional location facilities (as Roma Transporta Cinematografica)
• Trevor Pyke Sound Ltd.  sound re-recording facility
• Wigs Specialties  wigs and beards

Also Known As:

Brian of Nazareth (UK) (working title)
Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory (UK) (working title)
Monty Python's Life of Brian (UK) (complete title)
The Gospel According to St. Brian (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Norway:(Banned) (1979 - 1980) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1980) | Finland:K-16 (1988) | Netherlands:MG6 (DVD rating) | Iceland:L | Spain:T | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:(Banned) | Norway:18 (1980) | Sweden:15 | Australia:MA (Special Edition DVD) | France:U | Australia:M | Brazil:18 | Argentina:16 (re-rating) | Argentina:18 (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Ireland:(Banned) (1979-1987) | Ireland:15 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:11 (re-rating) (2004) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Amphitheater, El Djem, Tunisia

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

George Harrison decided to fund the production mostly because he thought it would be his only chance of seeing another Monty Python film.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the crucifixion scene at the end, the first line delivered by Otto (of the suicide squad) appears to have been over-dubbed and does not match the line spoken at the time of filming. This is because an earlier scene featuring Otto and the suicide squad was cut, and thus a different line was required to introduce them (spoken by Michael Palin).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wise Man #1: Ahem!
Brian?s mother: Oh!
[falls over in chair]
Brian?s mother: Who are you?
Wise Man #2: We are three wise men.
Brian?s mother: What?
Wise Man #1: We are three wise men.
Brian?s mother: Well, what are you doing creeping around a cow shed at two o'clock in the morning? That doesn't sound very wise to me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Eric Idle/Kate Bush (#4.8)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Always Look on the Bright Side Of Life

Not necessarily laugh-out-loud every minute, but it's satirical edge and wit is as clever as the technical side of the film

Monty Python's follow-up to their cult smash Holy Grail was Life of Brian, a film that takes on (if not always with the utmost seriousness, then usually with a mix of silliness and slight intellectualism) the believers in religions, the zealous nature that belief brings out in people. I first saw the film in the theater upon its re-release last month, and I found it very funny, though not with the kind of belly laughs that I had on my first reaction to Holy Grail. It's not without it's scenes that stick out as some of Python's finest (the Stoning, Pilate's scenes, the Spaceship sequence), even as sometimes it goes a little too broad for comfort (part of the colisseum).

Yet, the great strengths that lie in Life of Brian are that 1) the writers and performers (Chapman, Cleese, Gilliam, Jones, Idle, Palin) bring their irreverent strengths to a fine point with the script and multiple roles. Even when a scene doesn't get the laughs it could've or should've, it turns out to be a scene brimming with a cleverness that could only exist in the "Python-esque" universe. 2) the director (Jones) and designer/animator (Gilliam) lay the groundwork for this realistic atmosphere of 33 A.D. and bring out what is the best in the acting, Pythons or otherwise (famous British comedian Spike Milligan has a role of note). Held over from the sets of Franco Zeferelli's Christ film, the Pythons use all these locations and settings and little details to spring out their wild, brilliant gags. The look of the film enriches the comedic elements, and the result is (arguably, of course) the troupe's best film. Not for all tastes by the way (Monty Python in general for me took some while to warm up to, but paid off once it worked). Grade: A