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Title: The Meaning of Life (1983)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Graham Chapman | ... |
Chairman /
Fish #1 /
Doctor /
Harry Blackitt /
Wymer /
Hordern /
General /
Coles /
Narrator #2 /
Dr. Livingstone /
Transvestite /
Eric /
Guest #1 /
Arthur Jarrett /
Geoffrey /
Tony Bennett
|
|
| John Cleese | ... |
Fish #2 /
Dr. Spencer /
Humphrey Williams /
Sturridge /
Ainsworth /
Waiter /
Eric's Assistant /
Maître D' /
Grim Reaper
|
|
| Terry Gilliam | ... |
Window Washer /
Fish #4 /
Walters /
Middle of the Film Announcer /
M'Lady Joeline /
Mr. Brown /
Howard Katzenberg
|
|
| Eric Idle | ... |
Gunther /
Fish #3 /
Gaston /
'Meaning of Life' Singer /
Mr. Moore /
Mrs. Blackitt /
Watson /
Blackitt /
Atkinson /
Perkins /
Victim #3 /
Front End /
Mrs. Hendy /
Man in Pink /
Noël Coward /
Angela
|
|
| Terry Jones | ... |
Bert /
Fish #6 /
Mum /
Priest /
Biggs /
Sergeant /
Man with Bendy Arms /
Mrs. Brown /
Mr. Creosote /
Maria /
Leaf Father /
Fiona Portland-Smyth
|
|
| Michael Palin | ... |
Window Washer /
Harry /
Fish #5 /
Mr. Pycroft /
Dad /
Narrator #1 /
Chaplain /
Carter /
Spadger /
Regimental Sergeant Major /
Pakenham-Walsh /
Rear End /
Female TV Presenter /
Mr. Marvin Hendy /
Governor /
Leaf Son /
Debbie Katzenberg
|
|
| Carol Cleveland | ... |
Beefeater Waitress /
Wife of Guest #1 /
Leaf Mother /
Leaf Daughter /
Heaven Receptionist
|
|
| Simon Jones | ... |
Chadwick /
Jeremy Portland-Smyth
|
|
| Patricia Quinn | ... |
Mrs. Williams
|
|
| Judy Loe | ... |
Nurse #1
|
|
 |
Andrew MacLachlan | ... |
Groom /
Wycliff /
Victim #1 /
Guest #3
|
|
|
Mark Holmes | ... |
Victim #2 /
Troll Waiter /
Guest #2
|
|
|
Valerie Whittington | ... |
Mrs. Moore
|
|
|
Jennifer Franks | ... |
Bride
|
|
|
Imogen Bickford-Smith | ... |
Nurse #2
(as Imogen Bickford Smith)
|
Storyline
Why are we here, what's it all about? The Monty Python-team is trying to sort out the most important question on Earth: what is the meaning of life? They do so by exploring the various stages of life, starting with birth. A doctor seems more interested in his equipment than in delivering the baby or caring for the mother, a Roman Catholic couple have quite a lot of children because 'every sperm is sacred'. In the growing and learning part of life, catholic schoolboys attend a rather strange church service and ditto sex education lesson. Onto war, where an officer's plan to attack is thwarted by his underlings wanting to celebrate his birthday and an officer's leg is bitten off by presumably an African tiger. At middle age a couple orders 'philosophy' at a restaurant, after which the film continues with live organ transplants. The autumn years are played in a restaurant, which, after being treated to the song 'Isn't It Awfully Nice to Have a Penis?' by an entertainer, sees the arrival ... Written by Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
Taglines:
It took God six days to create the earth, and Monty Python just 90 minutes to screw it up. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
31 March 1983 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life See more »Box Office
Budget:
$9,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (2003 restored director's cut)Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Did You Know?
Trivia
The kids who sang in the "Every Sperm is Sacred" sketch later said they had no idea what they were singing about. See more »Goofs
During the World War I segment Eric Idle can be seen stifling laughter when he is supposed to be dead. See more »Quotes
Strange Man: I wonder where that fish has gone!Transvestite: You did love it so! You looked after it like a son!
Strange Man: [Bends perplexingly long arms]
Strange Man: And it went... where-ever I... did go!
Transvestite: Is it in the cupboard?
Audience: Yes! Yes!
Transvestite: Wouldn't you like to know? It was a lovely little fish!
Transvestite: And it went... where-ever I... did go!
Audience: It's behind the sofa!
Transvestite: Where can that fish be?
[...]
See more »
The Meaning of Life finds the Monty Python boys going back to their Flying Circus roots in a film that examines the many stages of life, and reduces them all to the absurdity that one would expect from these six loons. A very neat short film from Terry Gilliam starts off this search for the meaning of life and we go from birth, to examining the benefits of being a Prostestant. From there we are treated to war, live organ transplants, a very bizarre middle section of the film, sex education, Terry Jones puking and exploding in what has to be one of the most disgusting but extremely funny scenes ever committed to film. It all leads up to death, and I personally like Grahm Chapman's way of execution. It all winds up in Heaven, where every day is Christmas and it's all set up like a Las Vegas lounge show. At the end, Michael Palin gives us the meaning of life. I think he's right.