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Monty Python's Life of Brian

Original title: Life of Brian
  • 1979
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
424K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,105
221
John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Monty Python in Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:51
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedyParodySatireComedy

Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.Born on the original Christmas in the stable next door to Jesus Christ, Brian of Nazareth spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.

  • Director
    • Terry Jones
  • Writers
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
  • Stars
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Michael Palin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    424K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,105
    221
    • Director
      • Terry Jones
    • Writers
      • Graham Chapman
      • John Cleese
      • Terry Gilliam
    • Stars
      • Graham Chapman
      • John Cleese
      • Michael Palin
    • 476User reviews
    • 127Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:51
    Watch Trailer
    Monty Python's Life of Brian
    Trailer 1:37
    Watch Monty Python's Life of Brian

    Photos156

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    + 149
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    Top cast24

    Edit
    Graham Chapman
    Graham Chapman
    • Wise Man #2…
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Wise Man #1…
    Michael Palin
    Michael Palin
    • Wise Man #3…
    Terry Gilliam
    Terry Gilliam
    • Man Even Further Forward…
    Eric Idle
    Eric Idle
    • Mr. Cheeky…
    Terry Jones
    Terry Jones
    • Mandy Cohen…
    Terence Bayler
    Terence Bayler
    • Gregory
    Carol Cleveland
    Carol Cleveland
    • Mrs. Gregory
    Kenneth Colley
    Kenneth Colley
    • Jesus
    Neil Innes
    Neil Innes
    • A Weedy Samaritan
    Charles McKeown
    Charles McKeown
    • False Prophet…
    John Young
    John Young
    • Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath
    Gwen Taylor
    Gwen Taylor
    • Mrs. Big Nose
    Sue Jones-Davies
    • Judith
    Peter Brett
    John Case
    • Pilate's Wife
    Chris Langham
    Chris Langham
    • Alfonso…
    Andrew MacLachlan
    Andrew MacLachlan
    • Another Official Stoners Helper…
    • Director
      • Terry Jones
    • Writers
      • Graham Chapman
      • John Cleese
      • Terry Gilliam
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Six cast members played 40 characters.
    • Goofs
      The letter U first appeared around the 14th century. At the time of Jesus, ROMANES EUNT DOMUS would be written ROMANES EVNT DOMVS.
    • Quotes

      Spectator I: I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers".

      Mrs. Gregory: Aha, what's so special about the cheesemakers?

      Gregory: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of Idle's song "Bright Side Of Life" we can hear him saying "It's the end of the film. Incidently this record's available in the foyer. Some of us have got to live as well you know. Who do you think pays for all this rubbish? They'll never make their money back, you know. I told him, I said to him, Bernie, I said, they'll never make their money back... That should give you enough."
    • Alternate versions
      The Criterion LD/DVD features the following deleted scenes:
      • A scene with three shepherds in the beginning of the film.
      • A scene featuring the Peoples Front of Judea breaking into Pilate's wife's bedroom, only to be defeated by her strength.
      • A scene introducing us and Brian to the suicide squad, led by King Otto (Idle).
      • A scene showing Judith releasing doves that fly out over Nazareth, and that are spotted by Otto and interpreted as "the sign that is the sign". He sends his troops into town.
      • A very brief scene showing Judith watching Brian carrying his cross through the streets; she is attacked by a salesman who wants her to haggle, resulting in her leaving.
    • Connections
      Edited into From Spam to Sperm (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Brian
      Music by André Jacquemin (as Andre Jacquemin) and Dave Howman (as David Howman)

      Lyrics by Michael Palin (uncredited)

      Arranged by John Du Prez (as Trevor Jones)

      Sung by Sonia Jones

    User reviews476

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Stunningly funny
    One of my fave films of all time, this film has so many laugh-out-loud jokes and ridiculous thought processes that it would probably be unfair to pick out just a few. Tough - I'm going to: John Cleese as the legionnary Latin teacher rebuking Brian not for daring to use graffiti on the Roman fort but for using the wrong tense, Michael Palin trying to find his place in life as an ex-leper, Terry Jones as Brian's mother trying to protect him from myrrh - let's face it, we've all wondered what myrrh is ! The bit that always makes me laugh without fail is something that isn't always noticed - when Michael Palin is having a go at the guards; "Do you find it risible when I say the name of my friend Biggus Diccus ?" if you look carefully you'll see that Palin is trying really hard not to laugh.

    Puerile, silly but also very very clever. This film doesn't criticise religion or Jesus in any way ( what was wrong with the people who tried to ban it ? ) - it's just asking what it could have been like in a society that was expecting the Messiah to show up at any moment, and covering it in a massive coating of comedy.

    This film is an absolute classic - 10 out of 10.
    Helpful•214
    69
    • ptpenry
    • Feb 10, 2002
    • Permalink

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    FAQ4

    • Why was the centurion so insistent on correcting Brian's graffiti?
    • What's the story with all the different Jewish political factions like the People's Front of Judea and the Judean People's Front and so forth?
    • Is "Life of Brian" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 17, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Das Leben des Brian
    • Filming locations
      • Amphitheater, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia(amphitheater)
    • Production companies
      • HandMade Films
      • Python (Monty) Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,206,622
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $140,034
      • Aug 19, 1979
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,781,763
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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