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IMDbPro

Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus

Original title: The Meaning of Life
  • 19831983
  • K-16K-16
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
120K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,120
3,153
Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
Trailer for Monty Pythons The Meaning of Life
Play trailer1:04
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyMusical

The comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way.The comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way.The comedy team takes a look at life in all of its stages in their own uniquely silly way.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
120K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,120
3,153
  • Directors
    • Terry Jones
    • Terry Gilliam(animation and special sequence)
  • Writers
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
  • Stars
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
    • Eric Idle
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Terry Jones
    • Terry Gilliam(animation and special sequence)
  • Writers
    • Graham Chapman
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
  • Stars
    • John Cleese
    • Terry Gilliam
    • Eric Idle
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 234User reviews
    • 83Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Monty Pythons The Meaning of Life
    Trailer 1:04
    Monty Pythons The Meaning of Life
    Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
    Trailer 2:37
    Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

    Photos100

    Eric Idle in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Michael Palin in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Monty Python in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Judy Loe, Valerie Whittington, and Monty Python in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Monty Python in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Graham Chapman in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, and Monty Python in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Jane Leeves, Luke Baxter, Imogen Bickford-Smith, Jane Eve, Jennifer Franks, Roy Hamlyn Gayle, Heavon Grant, Alison Jane Hierlihy, Kim Elizabeth Leeson, Andrew MacLachlan, Helen Mason, Kerri Murphy, Garry Noakes, Floyd Anthony Pearce, Wanda Rokicki, Timothy Ward, Michelle Welch, Gess Whitfield, Voyd, Paul Madden, Laura James, Dominique Wood, Steve St. Klonis, Emma-Kate Davies, Natascha Gilbrooke, Donnette Goddard, Maddie Loftin, Sue Menhenick, Trudy Pack, Lizie Saunderson, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Paul Bourke, Geoff Davids, Bonnie Bryg, Charlotte Corbett, Sandra Easby, Donna Fielding, Dawn Gerrard, Michelle Mackie, Caroline Meacher, Lorraine Meacher, Tammy Needham, Stephen Beasley, and Peter Salmon in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Terry Jones in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Monty Python in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    John Cleese in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)
    Michael Palin in Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cleese
    John Cleese
    • Fish #2…
    Terry Gilliam
    Terry Gilliam
    • Window Washer…
    Eric Idle
    Eric Idle
    • Gunther…
    Terry Jones
    Terry Jones
    • Bert…
    Graham Chapman
    Graham Chapman
    • Chairman…
    Michael Palin
    Michael Palin
    • Window Washer…
    Carol Cleveland
    Carol Cleveland
    • Beefeater Waitress…
    Simon Jones
    Simon Jones
    • Chadwick…
    Patricia Quinn
    Patricia Quinn
    • Mrs. Williams
    Judy Loe
    Judy Loe
    • Nurse #1
    Andrew MacLachlan
    Andrew MacLachlan
    • Groom…
    Mark Holmes
    • Victim #2 (Cheerful Severed Head)…
    Valerie Whittington
    • Mrs. Moore
    Jennie Franks
    • Bride
    • (as Jennifer Franks)
    Imogen Bickford-Smith
    • Nurse #2
    • (as Imogen Bickford Smith)
    Angela Mann
    • Wife of Guest #2
    Peter Lovstrom
    Peter Lovstrom
    • Brown's Son
    George Silver
    • Diner Eating Howard the Fish
    • Directors
      • Terry Jones
      • Terry Gilliam(animation and special sequence)
    • Writers
      • Graham Chapman
      • John Cleese
      • Terry Gilliam
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Terry Jones spent most of the budget on the "Every Sperm Is Sacred" sequence. The rest of the team found out later.
    • Goofs
      In the death sequence, the name at the top of the mausoleum is "nitruc" instead of "curtin", so the segment is reversed/flipped.
    • Quotes

      [the End Of The Film]

      Lady Presenter: Well, that's the end of the film. Now, here's the meaning of life.

      [Receives an envelope]

      Lady Presenter: Thank you, Brigitte.

      [Opens envelope, reads what's inside]

      Lady Presenter: M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations. And, finally, here are some completely gratuitous pictures of penises to annoy the censors and to hopefully spark some sort of controversy, which, it seems, is the only way, these days, to get the jaded, video-sated public off their fucking arses and back in the sodding cinema. Family entertainment? Bollocks. What they want is filth: people doing things to each other with chainsaws during tupperware parties, babysitters being stabbed with knitting needles by gay presidential candidates, vigilante groups strangling chickens, armed bands of theatre critics exterminating mutant goats. Where's the fun in pictures? Oh, well, there we are. Here's the theme music. Goodnight.

    • Crazy credits
      The Producers would like to thank all the fish who have taken part in this film. We hope that other fish will follow the example of those who have participated, so that, in future, fish all over the world will live together in harmony and understanding, and put aside their petty differences, cease pursuing and eating each other and live for a brighter, better future for all fish, and those who love them.
    • Alternate versions
      Film prints and early video releases contain narration over the "Our [Short] Feature Presentation" pretitle cards that is not present on later video releases (such as later VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray). Both are in a low male voice. The first one says "There will be a short film of approximately ten minutes before our feature presentation" (even though the short film is about 16 minutes), and the second one, over a short organ fanfare, says "And now, our feature presentation." Later versions leave these completely silent.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Meaning of Life (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      The Meaning of Life
      Lyrics by Eric Idle

      Music by Eric Idle & John Du Prez

      Performed by Eric Idle

    User reviews234

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Not the Best but, it's still Python
    After The Life of Brian and The Holy Grail, this film had a lot to do to keep up. The python boys are going to explain to you the meaning of life, in the only way they know how, brilliantly and stupidly.

    Not entirely linear this is like lots of mini movies, depicting the the stages of life, from birth to death, with episodes such as learning and fighting each other in between.

    Each short film is well made and they all lend a comic viewpoint to there particular place in life.

    My favourite is probably death (the grim reaper is just so cool), or perhaps its fighting each other, or.....What the hell there all good fun.

    Don't worry about the opening movie, it nothing like the rest of the film and it does grow on you.

    8/10 If you don't like python stay away, if you've never seen them, then give it a try.
    helpful•35
    15
    • mjw2305
    • Jan 24, 2005

    FAQ2

    • Why did the Maitre d' intentionally blow up Mr Creosote at [1:23:50]?
    • What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 5, 1983 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Monty Python: Livets mening
    • Filming locations
      • Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Celandine Films
      • The Monty Python Partnership
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $9,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,929,552
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,987,853
      • Apr 3, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,949,697
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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