LIFE OF BRIAN (1979) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | Reaction & Commentary

[@dernwine]

The scene where John Cleases Centurion character corrects Brian's grammar is one of those things that if you've not studied Latin just sort of brings a slight smile to your face. BUT if you've studied Latin, and know the grammar, and have the lived experience of having been corrected in almost exactly the same manner (maybe minus the gladius point pressed against your throat), it becomes the most hands down hilarious scene in the entire film.

[@procrastinator547]

Pretty sure I got a D in Latin when I took it. The pain in that scene is so accurate lol

[@tireoghain82]

So true!

[@lvrobertus]

I can relate with Latvian, it has a similar complicated grammar

[@gwaptiva]

Especially if it was in an English public (non-Brits, read: exclusive private) school.

[@markharris1125]

I didn't study Latin, but I did read the Billy Bunter stories, where Quelch was always correcting the Fat Owl on his Latin declensions, so yes, I have always loved that scene.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

Graham Chapman was such an amazing actor. Here, and as King Arthur, he plays it so seriously. It's like he absolutely refuses to acknowledge that he is in a comedy movie. Died way too young. 😢

[@inhumanmusic1411]

He was the straight man in the movies.

[@bigbake132]

@@inhumanmusic1411 Ironically not in real life.

[@7rollface]

One of the other members of the troupe has said that Chapman kept being given the leads because he was by far the best actual actor of them. The rest of them could do bits and comedy, whereas he could act.

[@bigbake132]

@@7rollface I would agree with that. He went too soon sadly.

[@sparky6086]

@@7rollface Also, Graham had the look of a leading man.

[@betsyknox4745]

My absolute favorite line in this: “He’s not the messiah! He’s a very naughty boy!”

[@damienyoung751]

If that's your favourite line.. you missed a lot of jokes..no offence or anything intended.. not looking for an argument.. there are so many jokes blatant and subtle

[@golrush007]

True that there are many great jokes, but the line "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy" is one of the most famous and iconic lines in the film...so much so that Eric Idle wrote and produced a comic oratorio show called Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) based on the film, and sort of inspired by Handel's Messiah.

[@williampilling2168]

During the Faulklands war, the HMS Sheffield was hit by a cruise missle and started to sink. As the crew was being rescued, they sang Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

[@robertrouse4503]

When former Beatle, George Harrison heard the premise of the film, he paid for it to be made just so he could see it. He went on to produce many Python projects. He even helped produce a TV parody of The Beatles, called, "The Rutles: All You Need is Cash", which starred Eric Idle and a few of the original SNL cast. Harrison, himself played a reporter.

[@threethymes]

The reason they needed funding was because their funding got pulled when the head of EMI films decided it was blasphemous. After this, George founded Handmade Films and went on to make many successful films. He also appears In Life of Brian.

[@johnfriday5169]

The Pythons comedy style was to avoid punchlines. The sketches were usually interrupted by something else. One of these was The Colonel. He'd interrupt the sketch calling it silly and it was so funny to hear you doing the same thing.

[@popded]

"...and a bit suspect I think!"

[@anonymes2884]

"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is one of the most commonly played songs at UK funerals. Like all countries we're not monolithic, we encompass multitudes but I genuinely believe that single fact is just about all you need to understand us :).

[@operative2136]

It was actually sung/played at Graham Chapman's funeral as well if I recall.

[@johnfriday5169]

@@operative2136 they also did a version of the Dead Parrot Sketch stating Graham was a big fan of bad taste.

[@awmperry]

Yup. Same with other similarly themed songs. When my mum was cremated (in the UK, though she was Swedish) her exit music was the Radetzky March; unremarkable to most, but a suitably morbid little joke for those who remembered it used to be played at Åhléns stores in Sweden at closing time as a signal that it was time to leave. 😅

[@GairBear49]

There is cameo which most people miss. The scene were the crowd is chasing Brain and they are debating to follow the gourd or the shoe. Then an old man with a white beard comes in and raises his hands to the sky and says "Let us pray", he then turns around and notices that everyone has wandered off to the left. He then wanders off to the right. That was Spike Milligan, who wrote the Goon Show. Which was a BBC Radio Show staring Spike, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe, that ran from 1951 to 1960. All the Pythoners, except Gilliam, grew up listening to the show, much to the bafflement of their parents. The Goon Show has had a major influence on comedy both in the UK and the US.

[@briancooper1412]

There is also a George Harrison cameo where he is by John Cleese when Cleese is trying to protect Brian from his followers.

[@justwatching6186]

“A crucifixion musical number” a sentence Shanelle never thought she’d say. And just like her, it always makes you whistle.

[@kevinhegwood615]

Honestly, I just had to whistle

[@skylinerunner1695]

Probably the prettiest reactor and comediane on youtube, with an award-worthy smile.

[@gluuuuue]

This's my favorite Monty Python film, mainly because of how the scenes are both skits in and of themselves but also thematically connected in a larger structured story that's both a satire of not so much Jesus himself but religious groups and followers, of people in general, and also the absurdity of life when society around you is full of such people. Graham Chapman actually flashes the audience twice. When he's playing Biggus Dickus and gets up from the divan, you can see a tiny bit of wiggle.

[@mrkrinkle72]

This movie was banned in many theaters across America. So, people booked charter buses to go to other states that didn't ban it!

[@tireoghain82]

The grammar lesson is absolute gold. And the whole "He is the messiah! I should know, I've followed a few!" line fits so well with the messianic movement that was going on in the Levant around that time. You can tell the Pythons were learned men.

[@amitmeir8109]

Like "Holy Grail", Eric Idle had adapted "Life of Brian" to the stage, this time as an opera titled "Not the Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy)" Eric Idle had reprised his roles from the film for the show and a special performance of it was held and filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2008 to celebrate 40 years of Python. The RAH performance also featured all surviving members of Python (minus John Cleese) and was filmed and released on DVD.

[@Yggdrasil42]

I love the whole "Brian starts two religions" bit. Favorite joke though is this multi layered one: "You're all individuals" "Yes, we're all individuals!" "I'm not"

[@christianwise637]

That moment was actually improvised by that extra

[@FloridaMugwump]

@@christianwise637 Wouldn't an "extra" have a Tunisian accent?

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I like the two guards at the stoning: "do we REALLY have to occupy THIS place?"

[@Zeno_Evil]

The "I'm Brian of Nazareth" bit is a throw back to the 1960 movie Spartacus with Kirk Douglas.

[@dabe1971]

Has anyone mentioned that the Welsh tart, Judith Iscariot was played by Sue Jones-Davies. In later life she went on to become Mayor of Aberystwyth where the film was STILL banned until 2009 when she overturned it after 30 years ! The went on to hold a charity screening and she invited Terry Jones along - and he brought Michael Palin along too. She was married to one of the two giggling centurions during the Biggus Dickus scene.

[@youellswinney1964]

Years ago, my roommate and I went along with his parents to see The Passion of the Christ, which neither of us were interested in, but we went anyway just to see it and it came up to the crucifixion scene and I turned to look at my friend with a big, stupid smile on my face and he was already looking back at me, slowly shaking his head no. He knew I was about to start singing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

[@commanderkruge]

That's Terry Jones right there, playing Brian's Mum. When the Pythons played screeching old ladies they were called "Pepperpots".

[@TheJamieRamone]

25:45 - Yes, you *DEFINITELY* should watch Monty Python's Meaning Of Life. And I do speak for every one. We all got together, discussed it at length, and took a vote to let you know that you must see it. 😁

[@willshelton8392]

This needs to be the top comment !

[@shiahalud]

This is arguably the best Monty python movie

[@StephenLWilson]

It is certainly my favorite

[@rosuobs3972]

' your fucking nicked me old beauty', excellent line that was

[@charlesmccallie7402]

Fun Movie Fact: The extra that replied to "You are all individuals" with "I'm not!" actually ad-libbed that line in the take, and the Pythons thought it was so hilarious they kept it in and gave the guy a raise.

[@maximillianosaben]

The ending of this movie will always make me smile, without fail.

[@rexmundi2986]

Absolutely makes me smile too! Only the genius of Monty Python can make you smile at a mass execution!

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

[ whistles ]

[@sheert]

It's an icon in British culture...

[@Zebred2001]

I always thought Bright Side of Life was poignantly beautiful.

[@maximillianford9301]

Unrelated, but nice name, bro. Genuinely the first Maximillian online I've come across who has the same spelling

[@steved1135]

Like all Python material, this is brilliant. But this is my favourite. Also, they were filming this literally down the road from George Lucas' set for a small movie called Star Wars. Lucas hated the Pythons as they were constantly getting his crew drunk every night...

[@-_James_-]

I doubt that very much. Star Wars was filmed nearly two years before the final script for LoB was ready.

[@steved1135]

@@-_James_- Take that up with Eric Idle. he said that in his biography...

[@-_James_-]

@@steved1135 Eric Idle made up stories to make his life sound more interesting than it actually was? That doesn't sound like a biography to me. Said no one ever. 🤣

[@FloridaMugwump]

@@-_James_- The timing lines up more with the filming of Empire Strikes Back. However, that is the only star Wars movie NOT partially filmed in Tunisia.

[@-_James_-]

@@FloridaMugwump So the story he tells on the Jonathan Ross show is he gave Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford a bottle of Tunisian alcohol to cheer them up while they were filming The Empire Strikes Back in London. Which makes more sense.

[@jackdoud]

There's video on KZbin of Cleese arguing with clergymen on a talk show at the time of release. This movie was exceedingly controversial and Cleese's experiences in private school dealing with over-strict clergy was part of the reason for the movie.

[@bobriemersma]

You have to appreciate the brilliance of this film, which is in making somebody else watch it for the first time as you die laughing at their apoplexy over each scene's pie-in-the-face humor.

[@nothingtobeconcernedabout7477]

The girl that played Judith became mayor of her homecity or so and found out that the film was banned there by the council partly because of her nude scene. She promptly had it publicly shown after she found out (more or less paraphrased by me)

[@notvalidcharacters]

So in addition to the actors you covered: *Michael Palin* in addition to Pontius Pilate was the "big nose" target, the ex-leper, the PFJ member who leads the sewer gang, the public address announcer at the children's matinee, the prisoner hanging on the wall, the Brian follower who picks up the shoe, the vague philosopher-preacher, the official processing people with "crucifixion? good", and the Samaritan being crucified... in Grail he was the first guy on the castle demanding to know where they got the coconuts, the peasant in the anarchosyndicalist commune, one of the witch crowd in the lower right who answers "and therefore.. " with "a witch!", the occasional narrator, Galahad, the king of Swamp Castle, one of the three heads on the multi-creature and the main Knight Who Says Ni. *Eric Idle* was the guy hassling Big Nose, the stone seller on the street, Stan who wants to be Loretta (an oblique reference to George Harrison's funding the movie), the market merchant who wants to haggle, one of the Brian followers who gets upturned for his shoe, the voice in the crowd who asks "are you a virgin?", one of the two speech-impediment guards, the crucifiee who says he can go live on an island, and the song leader (and actual writer) of "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life". *Terry Gilliam* is the guy in the crowd listening to Jesus who turns around and clarifies "blessèd are the Greeks, they're going to inherit the earth", and the other speech-impediment guard who gets on with the story. He also does all the animation and came up with the space alien scene. In Grail he was the assistant Patsy, the keeper of the Bridge of Death and of course the animator (that's him falling backward in his chair). *Terry Jones* in addition to directing, was Brain's mother, the hermit who didn't speak for 18 years, and I'm pretty sure the guy who says "let me shoulder your burden brother". In Grail he was the second peasant ("well I didn't vote for you"), the son of the king of Swamp Castle (his best role) and another of the three-headed creature (the third head is Graham Chapman). He co-directed Grail with Terry Gilliam.

[@QueenFornis]

My absolute favorite Python film! The recovering Catholic in me enjoys this immensely! As a side note, I don't know whether you noticed, but some of the characters being crucified with Brian at the end, were the same characters at the beginning of the movie who got into the fight during the sermon on the mount. Hence, they were being crucified because of their fight at the beginning..

[@russb24]

I love the irony of heckling and fighting interrupting the sermon on the mount. And that the first thing that happens after Brian is declared the Messiah is that his followers divide into factions. And finally that the Catholic church thought that Python were mocking Jesus. I think it's somebody else they're mocking, guys.

[@QueenFornis]

@@russb24 Exactly. Fundamentalists, really aren't very "fun" are they? lol

[@ScreamingScallop]

_Star Wars_ lit up the box office while _Life of Brian_ was in development, so naturally a spaceship battle with weird aliens had to be inserted, no matter how pointlessly. It gave Terry Gilliam an opportunity to toss in some weird designs and animation. And behind all the Biggus Dickus jokes, Monty Python movies were really satires about movie-making in general.

[@mconnors1733]

Also, there were popular books about Ancient Aliens in the 1970s. Building the pyramids and stuff.

[@markmcgee2417]

And it was filmed in Tunisia where Star Wars was also filmed.

[@gavinmatthewlyall]

Not so pointless. Like most of the gags in the movie, it is based on Jesus lore, just more modern - as all UFO cults I've read of claim Jesus to be an alien.

[@Alcagaur1]

The two jailers trolling the Romans with their "impediments" are among my favourite background characters in any comedy.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I like the guards rolling their eyes at the Judeans' stupid religious antics!

[@celticguy197531]

Always look on the bright side of life is the most requested funeral song in Britain lol

[@rodentnolastname6612]

I'd recommend going through their TV show episodes. They can be a bit hit or miss but the hits waaaaay make up for the misses!!

[@paulobrien4694]

I agree 100%.

[@ToxicDover]

The Meaning of LIfe is really good as well. You mentioned towards the beginning of the video liking the idea of a movie made up of skits tied together - that sums up Meaning of Life perfectly haha

[@maxducoudray]

This is the sort of movie that hits you harder each time you see it. I guess that's not ideal for reactions, but trust me: it gets better and better the more you pick up.

[@7rollface]

According to, IIRC, Terry Jones the whole idea of the ending was that they just thought it'd be hilarious to have a song and dance number where nobody could actually move. It wasn't until the morning of filming when they were being driven up to the location and saw all the crucifixes that they thought "oh, this is pretty dark, actually, isn't it?"

[@atlasisshrugging]

"I think he said, 'Blessed are the cheese-makers.'" "What's so special about the cheese-makers?" 😂😂

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"Half a denari for me bloody life's story?!"

[@simonoleary9264]

Oh, and in the UK, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" was (and perhaps still is) the most often played song at funerals

[@donaldb1]

11:28 "I was not expecting this" - A dig at Erich von Daniken's spaceships of the gods stuff, which was popular in the 70s.

[@LordToddtastic666]

This is my favorite Python film. I love them all, but this one is a cut above. "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Brian still owes me 5D for the paint he used on the walls.

[@SilentBob731]

Absolutely one of the greatest Comedies of all-time. Shanelle, you keep knocking it out of the park. Love this channel. 👍✌❤

[@OtakuAnime01]

Eric Idol was born March 29, 1943. You posted this video this video 2 days after his 80th birthday. Nice timing.

[@greatrp]

Time Bandits is the next Terry Gilliam film you should watch. You will love it.

[@jameseyman9078]

Hooray! Monty python has influenced my. Sense of humor since I first discovered it at the age of 10.

[@hitman142002]

My name is Brian....I blessed your sneeze.

[@MrNotquitezen]

Best part of my week. New Shanelle video. Win.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

YES to "Meaning Of Life"... just a series of sketches with a very flimsy premise of LIFE itself, from birth to death... but there are some GOLD in those sketches... and some unforgettable ones. Great reaction, as always, Shanelle!

[@rogermorris9696]

The song "Always look on the bright side of life" is a popular send off dong here at funerals here in the UK..

[@C.R.W]

The most often missed joke of this movie is one of the greatest. When the Romans search the place where they're all hiding, when they go back in the second time, the soldier comes out and says "I found this, sir" and presents a spoon. The unspoken joke was that the soldiers looked everywhere but the kitchen sink...

[@possessedslig]

My favourite bit as well

[@stevensauer8539]

They had years of ground-breaking sketch comedy on their TV show leading up to their films, so they definitely know what they're doing. If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend that you watch the show. It's very experimental, so some bits work and some don't, but the bits that work are truly classic.

[@bushbasher85]

At Graham Chapman‘s funeral, his fellow Python members sang “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life“ in tribute to him.

[@johnfriday5169]

They also did a version of the Dead Parrot Sketch stating that Graham was a big fan of bad taste.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

It was at Chapman's memorial.

[@3DJapan]

8:43 Fun fact: there would not have been a fig leaf there at this time. It wasn't until over 1500 years later that the Vatican decided nudity in art was immoral and went around adding fig leaves to cover the genitals of most of the existing art.

[@Madbandit77]

Times never change.

[@thomasmcintosh390]

I really appreciate your more technical aspects of film making. Have you seen Gilliam's Brazil? I love his quirkiness.

[@rodentnolastname6612]

Watch ALL of Gilliams' films. You'll thank us later. 🤟😎

[@vincegamer]

Yes... Well, jabberwocky is only something his fans will love, but Time Bandits is a must see

[@rodentnolastname6612]

I recently revisited Jabberwocky and thought the medieval political satire to be wonderful!!

[@m.hunterstevie2081]

The thing I love most about the haggling bits in this movie is that Brian is giving the other party exactly what they want, but they insist on haggling into a worse position for themselves. 🤣

[@lukefallon8276]

At the time they were wrapping production on a TV miniseries called Jesus of Nazareth. The sets were about to be taken down and the costumes packed away. But Life of Brian producers found out about it. Long story short, Monty Python inherited all the sets and costumes. It certainly gave the movie an authentic look and must have saved them a lot of money.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

8:40 I adore how their secret tunnel was located in the first place anyone's eye would be drawn.

[@meteerbil2078]

Actually, here in Sweden; Always look at the bright side of life is a very popular song to play on funerals.

[@aatragon]

Amongst the wonderful trivia about this movie, there are two that are standouts to me. 1. George Harrison (of the Beatles) mortgaged his home to help provide funding for this movie, "because he wanted to see it." Eric Idle calls it the most anyone ever paid for a theater ticket. 2. Sue Jones-Davies, who plays Brian's love interest, Judith Iscariot, in 2008 became a councilmember of a town in Wales that had banned the film in part because of her own nude scene, and "unacceptable content". She reversed the ban and held a public showing for the first time in 30 years.

[@KingOrest]

Happy birthday, and bless you.

[@rezlems2827]

"I'll never forget the burning witches scene" proceeds to forget scene. Well done!

[@vorbis4860]

I think you will enjoy the Meaning of Life as well. This one is my favorite one because it's more satire and less random.

[@neillio]

If you're following the thread from seeing a Terry Gilliam movie, it's worth noting that Terry Gilliam does all the animation for the Pythons. His style is unmistakable.

[@paulhooton6261]

I think this proves that you can throw a big budget at a movie but what counts is talent

[@rickhobson3211]

The song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" was, for the longest time, the song most often played at funerals in England. It may still be.

[@oscardiggs246]

As one of the few people who really loves Meaning of Life, a warning is in order. Some of the sketches are too long and are very weird. But the Galaxy Song is my favorite thing Eric Idle has ever done, and the other musical numbers make the whole movie a treat. My recommendation is Live at the Hollywood Bowl. Not really a feature movie, but basically a greatest hits compilation of MP skits done live.

[@Theomite]

John Cleese shouting "Right!" is the UK equivalent of Bob Odenkirk shouting "Goddammit!"

[@MattIn3rtia]

"where's the featus going to gestate, you gonna keep it in a box!?" - so ahead of it's time...

[@RraMakutsi]

One of my favorite movies is "Erik the Viking"... it is directed by Python alum Terry Jones, and stars Tim Robbins. I think you would enjoy it... Much love Shanelle! :-)

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

"Erik" is definitely one of my favorites! No matter how objectional you may find some (or all) of the characters at the start, there's always at least one reason to love them, eventually.

[@RicktheCrofter]

The aliens are an example of Deus ex Machina. In a film class I once took the teacher explained Monty Python were trying to violate every movie convention possible.

[@blastingweevil2968]

monty pythons flying circus was a huge TV Comedy Sketch show (1969-1973). it was sooo funny and trippy at the same time !!

[@arik_dev]

When the HMS Sheffield was struck by a missile in the Falklands war, their crew sang "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" as she sank. I always loved that bit of trivia

[@sonofspock1]

Surprised that you didn't mention that George Harrison from the Beatles produced this. Also you may not be familar with Spike Milligan, (he was the guy who picked up the shoe and was an amazing comedian, writer and poet) , but he turned up on set because he was touring sites he fought in during World War II. He agreed to be in the film, but when the next day came and they went to do pick up shots, he had just left them high and dry.

[@parissimons6385]

Harrison put up the completion money needed when the studio withdrew its support because he wanted to see the finished movie. I believe that he mortgaged his home to free up the cash, but afterwards he got it all back and then some (and has a 1 second cameo in the film). And thus, production company Handmade Films was born...

[@drewt.3120]

Fun time,as always. I'd like to see "A Fish Called Wanda" one of these days. You'd dig it!

[@TheChrisPutnam]

I often sing "Always look on the bright side of life"

[@tareskisloki8579]

Holy Grail will always be my favourite, but I'd never say no to watching this or The Meaning Of Life. The humour is just right up my alley.

[@justsmashing4628]

The end song is the most played song at uk funerals 😊

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello Shanelle, there are two other Terry Gilliam (King Arthur's coconut clapper) movies. " Time Bandits " and that warning to all man and womankind " Brazil ". Michael Palin (Pontious Pilate) was in " The Missionary ".

[@Thunder_1977]

Hi Shanelle, some trivia about this hillarious comedy: 1. The preaching scene in the beginning is exactly about one of many questions I have about the bible: When Jesus was speaking to 10.000 people, how could they all understand him? 2. The "latin lesson" is even funnier if you know that John Cleese who played the guard was a latin teacher before he came to acting. 😂 3. About Sue Jones-Davis (Judith): "In 2008, she became a Plaid Cymru town councillor in Aberystwyth. Between June 2008 and May 2009, she was Mayor of Aberystwyth. Upon taking the office, she was informed that the town had banned Life of Brian and prohibited it for nearly 30 years because of her nude scene. It subsequently emerged that although Ceredigion county councillors had reviewed the film in 1981, and found parts "quite unacceptable", they did not officially ban it. She sponsored a charity screening of Life of Brian. In July 2008, Jones-Davies was interviewed on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio 2 about the film and its status in Aberystwyth. She was also profiled on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. The film was screened on 28 March 2009 at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. It was attended by cast members and the co-writers of the film, Michael Palin and Terry Jones. The event was broadcast on BBC One on 12 May 2009 as a documentary titled Monty Python in Aberystwyth: A Mayor and Two Pythons." (Wikipedia) 😎 4. At the public memorial service for Graham Chapman (Brian) the rest of the Pythons sang "Bright side of life" for him. 5. 4 million $ in 1979 would be about 16,5 million $ today 😉

[@quixote6942]

This Movie has a BEATLE to thank for it's Production! They were having troubles coming up with Production Capital when EMI pulled out on The Life of Brian. When Eric showed the script to his good friend George Harrison. George liked it so much he put up 2 million dollars of his own money to help them... As a Thank You, George given a very brief Cameo in the Film.

[@chiefaberach]

They all play the different characters so well that many people don't realise it's the same actor. But Michael Palin really shines in this. He plays the ex leper, the hanging prisoner, Pontius Pilate, the boring prophet, Nice-us wettus (the crucifixion guard), and there may be more, that's just from memory. I love Terry Gilliam's grotesque characters, but they often go unnoticed in the background. I'm glad you got the point of the 2 fakes getting on with the story. The joke wouldn't work without the bizarre, awkward set up (I've got lumps of it round the back). A reference you might have missed is at the end of Spartacus (starring Kirk Douglas & directed by Stanley Kubrick), everyone claims to be Spartacus, to share his punishment. I don't think anyone said, "I’m Spartacus & so is my wife" though. 😂

[@bach5150]

eric idle played the ex leper..

[@chiefaberach]

​@@bach5150 pause this video at 5.08. That's Michael Palin. Eric Idle played Stan/Loretta, the haggler, the stone seller, Mr Cheeky (who sings at the end) and probably many more...

[@canuckled]

Meaning of Life is worth watching. Carrie Fisher was renting Eric Idle's house while he was filming this, right before filming the arrival at Bespin scene they had a welcome home party for Eric and the Empire Strikes Back cast were still drunk the next morning.

[@dontbstingy3587]

Brazil is such an amazing film! Beautiful, strange and confronting.

[@Madbandit77]

It's George Orwell's 1984 if it was parodied by the Mad Magazine staff if they were high on cocaine. It's brilliant.

[@vincegamer]

Not a first date movie. But yes so good. My brothers and I were talking about the ending, and thought we'd seen totally different movies. We basically had because one of us saw the TV edit and they cut off several minutes from the end, totally changing it.

[@Madbandit77]

​@@vincegamerThat must have been the infamous 94-minute, "Love Conquers All" cut the studio put out, without Terry Gilliam's approval. He was so pissed about it, he arranged secret screenings of his cut and took out a full page ad in Variety magazine, demanding the studio release his version.

[@vincegamer]

@@Madbandit77 probably. I didn't know that was an actual theatrical release

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

This isn't that film, though.

[@Yggdrasil42]

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life has been the most played song at British funerals for decades now.

[@aagold76]

Michael Palin performed 'Always Look on the Brightside of Life' in the closing ceremonies at the 2012 London Olympics.

[@M3TR01DFANBOY]

"Symbolic of his struggle against reality "

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

But by the end they’re calling her Loretta and trying to be less misogynistic - how woke

[@Hiraghm]

"This movie was ahead of its time... 1979..." You DO realize that they were demonstrating the absolute _absurdity_ of Stan wanting to be Loretta? Not... uhm... "affirming" it. Real life has actually become more insane than their wildest comedic imaginings.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I think they were accepting their friend!

[@tbessie]

Agreed. Not sure why Shanelle can't see that it's making fun of Stan's ridiculous desire. She cut out the part where John Cleese criticizes Stan.

[@YN97WA]

I saw this movie in '79 when it came out. My English boss saw it the following day. He called me Biggus from that day forward. Great movie, and great reaction, young lady. 👍👍

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

I'd DEFINITELY recommend Terry Gilliam's whole filmography. There is a lot there to laugh over, a lot to think about, and definitely a lot of surprizes (I for one found "Tideland" incredibly shocking).

[@kevinmassey1164]

When you said “I wasn’t expecting that”…. If you weren’t aware, skit transitions on their TV show Flying Circus often had someone saying “and now for something completely different” Truer words, never spoken.

[@mariannetoilet]

The Meaning of Life is my favorite Monty Python movie, you definitely want to see it!

[@bordaz1]

Shanelle East Coast returns!

[@davida.j.berner776]

Someone may have mentioned this already, but if I remember correctly, one of the reasons for filming in Tunisia, was because Zeffirelli had recently finished filming his "Jesus of Nazareth" there. His grand sets for Pilate's palace etc, were still standing so the Pythons could use them without the expense of having to build their own.

[@martinbraun1211]

Please watch STAR TREK. Give it a chance. 🖖

[@brian554xx]

As a Brian, I can confirm the commonality of this biography.

[@donsample1002]

Not exactly a remake, but there is _Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy)_ It’s a comic oratorio based on TLoB, written by Eric Idle with music by John Du Prez. The Monty Python 40th anniversary performance of it at the Royal Albert Hall is just sublime. Most of the living Pythons participated, except John Cleese who had a scheduling conflict.

[@TSIRKLAND]

A lot of people don't connect that the old man whose house they hide in is the same old man who was supposed to be getting stoned earlier: Matthias. Apparently when John Cleese got stoned instead, Matthias was simply set free again.

[@TheJamieRamone]

17:51 - Fair enough. Not every joke lands with every one the same way.

[@commanderkruge]

Terry Gilliam was the bald weird jailor. And while this time there was no animation for him to do he got to create the starship section. Which - btw - had only one reason: For Brian to get off that tower. :D He did some fantastic work behind the camera, some real classics are from him: Brazil, King of the Fishers, Münchhausen, Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys... Michael Palin (Pontius Pilate) played a little role next to Cleese in "A Fish called Wanda" and did a bunch of TV, including some really good travel documentaries ("Pole to Pole", "Sahara", "The Big Circle", "In 80 Days around the World" (trying to follow the route from the book in a time when travelling by ship isn't really done any more))... And he was the main character in "Jabberwocky"... Terry Jones wrote and directed a bunch of stuff and also did a documentary series about the Crusades. "Eric the Viking" was one of his movies IIRR. Eric Idle turned "Holy Grail" into "Spamalot", the successful (so I heard) stage musical amongst other things. Last but not least Graham Chapman's career has been rather uneventful, mostly on account of him being dead for a while now. He did, however, appear on stage with the rest of the crew a few years ago, when Monty Python was reunited for the first time in ages live on stage during the Montreal comedy festival. They actually brought the actual urn containing his ashes with them so he could at least join the reunification in spirit, so to say. The appearance was a panel where they sat on a couch on stage and talked about their lifes, anecdotes, possible future plans and then the urn got knocked off the table by accident. They reacted in understandable horror... until one of them got out a handheld vacuum cleaner the whole business with the urn was played totally serious.