Monty Python and Life of Brian | Canadians First Time Watching | the madness continues! | React

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00:00 - Intro
02:26 - Monty Python and Life of Brian
23:54 - Discussion
Welcome to Cinebinge, this time we are reviewing and reacting to Monty Python and Life of Brian
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[@Temujin1206]

Just to give you an idea of the British sense of humour "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is still one of the most popular songs chosen to be played at funerals in the UK, especially after it was used at Graham Chapman's funeral.

[@cqde]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZzbdHuvl7Jpe80

[@j.f.fisher5318]

During the Falkands war both a British ship and an Argentine ship were sunk. The sailors in the Argentine lifeboats sang patriotic songs as the floated on the waves awaiting rescue. The British sailors sang "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life."

[@nigeh5326]

It’s also sung sometimes at football matches (soccer)

[@shaunbyrne9037]

My sisters partner sadly passed away and the song was played at his funeral .... it was at his request . A celebration of his life 🙂 .

[@nigeh5326]

@@shaunbyrne9037 I’m having ‘in my life’ by the Beatles if you don’t know it I recommend listening to it. The lyrics are so good all about family friends places and memories

[@Uncle_T]

This movie was banned in several countries on release, even in Norway. So in Sweden it was of course marketed as "So funny, it was banned in Norway!" :) There's a bit of (mostly) friendly rivalry between the neighbours. ;)

[@ThePixel1983]

In Germany it can't be publicly shown on "silent" holidays like All saints (1st of November). There's a British TV debate with Monty Python and a bishop trying to argue that it's a spoof of Jesus and therefore totally not okay!

[@mahliz]

I am sure Norway have as many crazy joke about us swedes as we have about them.

[@spoonunit03]

@@mahliz According to Mac in The Thing, the Norwegians are crazy Swedes anyway. 😁

[@aussiebloke609]

There were protests in the streets in Sydney, Australia when this came out...including by the Sydney Python Appreciation Movement (S.P.A.M.) who complained that it didn't portray Brian as the true messiah. 😀

[@bnorberg988]

"So funny, it was banned in Norway!" That is awesome.

[@PLF...]

When I studied ancient history, there was a broad consensus amongst the responsible faculty that the Life of Brian was the most accurate theatrical depiction of life at the time of Christ... Amazing.

[@allenschmitz9644]

Tim approves!

[@catinthehat906]

Not only was it the most accurate description 2000 years ago they also uncannily predicted the future as it is now- 6:30

[@paulhalfpenny1139]

Lots of historian jokes in it - the Maccabean revolt, the itinerant teachers marketplace, the "what have the Romans ever done for us"...

[@calgakispict3652]

Except the Romans didn't crucify people that the time of Jesus... That's just to placate Christians as much as possible because they don't even want to acknowledge that even if Jesus existed he wasn't born at that time of year.

[@B3RyL]

@@calgakispict3652 Right, so how did the Spartacus' followers die after their defeat in the Third Servile War in 71 BC? Were they tickled to death? Crucifixion as a method of capital punishment was practiced in the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire well before Jesus' times, and continued until the year 337 AD when emperor Constantine finally abolished it (because he himself was Christian).

[@alexrobert13]

When asked why he, George Harrison of the Beatles, mortgaged he mansion to fund this film his reply was simple “ I thought it was funny and wanted to see it made!” Hence one of the best comedic films of all times! Thanks George!

[@thomaswilliamson298]

One of the Pythons said at the time "I think it's the first time someone paid four million dollars because they wanted to see the movie."

[@kenharness7430]

Yeah Eric Idle called it the most expensive movie ticket ever.

[@tremo2731]

I didn't know this. That's amazing.

[@c-puff]

I knew George was my favourite for a reason

[@williawilkes1036]

My fav fab scoucer

[@standasebek5033]

Brian: You’ve got to think for your selves! You’re ALL individuals! Crowd: Yes! We’re all individuals! Brian: You’re all different! Crowd: Yes! We ARE all different! Man in crowd: I’M not. The Crowd: Shhhh That must be one one of the most clever jokes I've heard😁

[@darthwiizius]

It was an ab-lib by a cheeky extra too but it got left in because it's bloody brilliant.

[@beauxguss6321]

I doubt it was an ad lib, there was a running gag of people doing that throughout the movie. Reg: "There's not one of us here who wouldn't gladly give his life" PFJ member: "Well, one" Reg: "OK, one. But other than that, we're solid."

[@Cheepchipsable]

I did hear it was George Harrison, (of the Beatles), whose line that was. He funded the movie in part.

[@Cheepchipsable]

@@beauxguss6321 is this going around like the "Every one in the Biggus Dickus scene were unknown extras, paid not to laugh..."? Python spend hours going over these scripts and writing and re-writing scenes. Sure many times someone has a flash of inspiration but if that line wasn't there, what would be the pay off in the scene?

[@Silvergrooves42]

@@Cheepchipsable The joke would already be great without that line, but the line elevates it to a brilliant level. So I don't know. I'm leaning on the side of it being in the script, but I would say there's reason to believe the joke without it has enough pay-off to be included.

[@alanholck7995]

John Cleese was a Latin instructor in his pre-Python days, & used this knowledge in the graffiti scene.

[@3DJapan]

Funny thing is there actually was a lot of graffiti in ancient Rome. People left notes for each other on the walls like tweets.

[@666FallenShadow]

that scene always gives me flashbacks to high school when we had to learn latin because it was a subject for the bacalaureat( the romanian equivalent of the SAT) luckily for us by the time we finished highs school they actually changed it so that we didn't have latin as a subject for the bacalaureat, otherwise most of us would have failed

[@nigelus1]

I love that you have discovered one of the great joys of watching Monty Python - imitating the female character voices! The Pythons, called these "women" pepperpots. Since you have shown yourself to enjoy their humor there are several paths to see more. There is the original BBC TV series, the film of the live performances at the Hollywood Bowl and the film "The Meaning of Life" which is a loosely stitched together series of scenes.

[@JohnWilliams-zu8wg]

Romanes eunt domus? People call Romanes/they go/the house? It says, "Romans go home." No, it doesn't.

[@realburglazofficial2613]

They were all Oxford and Cambridge graduates, Latin was a standard course for Ox-bridge students. Graham Chapman was a doctor, he would have known Latin from his studies too.

[@frnkndad]

"The Meaning of Life" is pure Python. By the time it was made they no longer had to worry about what anyone else thought. They had the ability to do whatever they thought was funny, regardless of how abstract. It's basically an absurdist look at those things that give life meaning, from birth to death with a race through love, lust, and even over indulgence.

[@FrancoisDressler]

It's my favourite.

[@emmamaclean737]

My favourite to

[@moonbeam5340]

That is literally the best one I think out of the lot

[@cassu6]

Yeah it's brilliant!

[@voxdraconia4035]

Find ... the fish!

[@jmhaces]

One of my favorite bits of trivia is that I remember being a kid back in the 80's and finding out that during the whole Falklands War the British had with Argentina the crew of a sinking ship actually sang "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" as they sank. Here's what Wikipedia says about it: "The song touched a chord with the British trait of stoicism and the "stiff upper lip" in the face of disaster, and became immensely popular. When the destroyer HMS Sheffield was struck by an Exocet cruise missile on 4 May 1982 in the Falklands War, her crew sang it while waiting to be rescued from their sinking ship, as did the crew of HMS Coventry, with the line from the song "Worse things happen at sea, you know" being especially ironic. "

[@ronmaximilian6953]

I could certainly see the remaining crew aboard HMS Sheffield doing so while undertow and then having the destroyer sink.

[@jimtatro6550]

Hands down this is one of the funniest movies ever. “All right I am the messiah, now fu@& off!” “How should we fu@& off ?” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

16:14 so, this guy here is Spike Milligan, one of the creators of The Goon Show, which ran on radio during the 1950's, and was a huge influence on the British members of Monty Python. Milligan just happened to be on holiday in Tunisia while they were filming - he was revisiting places he'd been during his WW2 service - so they created this little cameo for him.

[@awmperry]

But what time is it? I’d like to write it down on this piece of paper.

[@ftumschk]

@Gav ...ah, but how does SHE know when it's eight o'clock?

[@redlead873]

The Pythons said they stole so much from Spike Milligan they're amazed he didn't sue them.

[@radicaladz]

Yes, and furthermore, they got one take out of him before he wandered off back to his holiday - the take of him in the final cut IS that one take.

[@bnorberg988]

Thanks for the factoid.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

Life of Brian is a more solid movie that has better story/character arc. The Holy Grail is more fun and silly. The Meaning of Life is a collection of sketches that show different stages of life. That's my ranking of Monty Python movies.

[@mattp6089]

Yellow... no blue... no wrong movvvvvvvvvie........

[@edgarvanoostrum8450]

To my taste, the first 1/3rd of "Meaning Of Life" contains some of the very best stuff they ever wrote ... including Gilliam's "Crimson Permanent Assurance" ... :)

[@Dacronhai]

For me it's first the Holy Grail and then the Life of Brian because I'm all there for the chaos, but I'd say Life of Brian is the more clever one, some of the writing is just pure genius

[@eliserichardson8814]

Yeah. And Now for something completely different was a collection of their best award winning sketches from their tv series, made for the cinema. Their first big screen outing. Look for sergeant major walking up and down the square on youtube what a laugh

[@SteveA308]

Accurate

[@janhanchenmichelsen2627]

This is really a quite serious movie behind all the silliness. Satirizing EVERYTHING that should and must be questioned, at all time. So very clever. MAGNIFICENT.

[@daviddavies3637]

The joke where John Cleese's character is teaching Latin to Brian is priceless and was written at a time when schools taught Latin. I had a friend who did it for his A-levels, not that he was ever going to use it as an accountant.

[@arwelp]

“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” is now one of the most popular songs played at British funerals. Brian’s Latin lesson scene is painfully familiar to generations of kids who studied Latin at school (apart from having a gladius held to their throat when they get a case wrong!).

[@Geographus666]

What always crack me up is, that another popular song at funerals is "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen and if they bring it with them on the "Greatest Hits" CD, the next song on that is "Another one Bites the Dust" and I just have that image in mind of people at the funeral running to the CD player to stop it and I find that hilarious.

[@yosefalaric7858]

When this first hit the theaters, a good friend of mine went with me to watch it. At the time she was teaching Latin at the College level and totally lost it on the Latin lesson scene and was unable to stop laughing for a good time after. Even funnier was that several of her students were sitting right in front of us.

[@darthwiizius]

"yes we're all individuals" "I'm not" this was improvised by an extra but was left in because it was so fun and contradictory in of itself.

[@freddyfleal]

one of my favourite lines

[@bnorberg988]

Really? Wow! Thanks for the factoid. That has always been one of my favorite lines.

[@derunwichtigekanal6697]

I know this is on several so called "trivia sites" but it's obviously not true. The Pythons confirmed it was always in the script.

[@jeffnorwood-brown8407]

@@derunwichtigekanal6697 My favourite line too. I always thought it was Palin who said it.

[@mikearchibald744]

No, that was a John Cleese written line, he's always said its one of his favourite lines. The only confirmed ad lib in a python film was "because he hasn't got shit all over him".

[@denewst01]

A large chunk of the funding for this came from George Harrison (yes, as in The Beatles) because he was a big Monty Python fan & wanted to see it. A lot of people said the film was blasphemous when it came out (and still do), but it never mocks Jesus besides calling him a do-gooder, it mocks the church & religion. Which makes it heretical :) Oh, and Only Look on the Bright Side of Life is a very popular song to play at British funerals. Says a lot, really.

[@pleviousryonrost]

Yep...Im surprised that there isn't a mob asking for the monty python gang to be cancelled these days 🙄 It's been done a million times but "bright side of life" and "Bobby mcferrin - dont worry be happy" are both being played at my funeral 🕺

[@PrimeCircuit]

Jesus is the only character in this movie that behaves like a normal person.

[@darthwiizius]

@@PrimeCircuit Jebus an Judith were the two normies and also both Welsh.

[@Ken00001010]

George Harrison is in one of the scenes.

[@Caddy666]

@@pleviousryonrost obviously missed mary whitehouse

[@michaelbuick6995]

Graham Chapman (Brian) sadly died of cancer in 1989, and yes the remaining Pythons did sing "Always look on the bright side of life" at his funeral.

[@filmliebhaber5283]

I can highly recommend "Brazil" by Terri Gilliam, who is part of the Monty Python Crew. The movie retains all the great humor, but also has very dark and biting commentary. It is a Sci-Fi Dystopia like Metropolis or 1984.

[@thomaswilliamson298]

But you must watch the Directors Cut. Not the butchered 90 minute studio version.

[@filmliebhaber5283]

@@thomaswilliamson298 Oh yes, of course! Honestly I wasn't even aware of that version. I only knew of the story that the studio wanted the movie cut down and especially the ending to a not confusing simple happy ending, which would have ruined the movie and apparently Gilliam went full guerilla warfare on them and did stuff like drive critics in buses to Mexico where the movie was released in long form and do a lecture series at universities/schools with "material" (showing the movie (il)legaly?) and finally having Robert Deniro do an interview on TV, "spontaneously" bring Gilliam and then Gilliam just rants about how everybody loves his movie so why won't the cowardly studio release it? And then they gave in. The whole story perfectly fits with one of the movies topics, the cog in the machine of bureaucracy, it is almost too perfect to be true.

[@stompievision]

Harry Tuttle is my hero.

[@silkwesir1444]

you'll often find that on list of the all-time best sci-fi films, in the top spot or at least one of the top spots. which is rather impressive, especially as it is not very well known.

[@matthewweng8483]

They should watch Time Bandits first…

[@dabe1971]

13:52 Yes Simone ! Michael Palin is everyones favourite Python. Not as brash as Cleese or musically talented as Idle but he's now a national treasure after doing several travelogue series in the Post-Python years starting with the best one 'Around the World in 80 days. You guys should check out a 1988 comedy movie called 'A Fish Called Wanda' written & starring his Python colleague John Cleese. It's excellent and Palin co-stars along with Jamie Lee Curtis and an Oscar winning performance by Kevin Kline.

[@Torgonius]

And then watch Fierce Creatures... same actors, new story.

[@dabe1971]

@@Torgonius Much weaker film though IMHO.

[@Mx.RumpusParable]

I run the other route… Cleese is my favorite, but Palin is a tight nearly-tie.

[@nigelus1]

Another vote for A Fish Called Wanda which is a sort of descendent of Monty Python. (Though with John Cleese and Michael Palin in the film, surprisingly Kevin Klein steals the movie, comedically.)

[@krautgazer]

My favorite is Eric Idle, I just love all the wordplay and intricate bits he puts in his penned sketches, and I also love his delivery of the material, not to mention his musical numbers (I'm a musician myself so there's that). I've always liked the fact that he writes his stuff solo as opposed to the teams of John Cleese/Graham Chapman and Michael Palin/Terry Jones. The other solo member is Terry Gilliam, of course, but his "sketches" were mostly experimental vignettes. I love that everyone has their own favorite Python, just like everyone has their own favorite Beatle. I've even heard of people naming Terry Gilliam as their favorite, mainly animators who were influenced by his work, but it's still intriguing to know that even Gilliam is a favorite of some people (not counting his career as a director which is a whole different beast).

[@gscam0001]

According to legend, the whole Biggus Dickus scene was ad libbed by the actor Michael Palin. The actors playing the Roman guards were told that if they laughed they wouldn't get paid- but with each take of the scene, Michael Palin would come out with the strangest, laugh inducing things he could. Biggus Dickus was just the one they kept

[@waldoman7]

Sounds like an extremely fake legend. I mean just look at the performances, they aren't that good. The scene does not feel natural.

[@6666Imperator]

@@waldoman7 I did hear that a lot too though. Not of the different takes but that the roman guards were not told what to expect and explicitly told not to laugh or it would have consequences. That would make sense why they try so hard to suppress their laughter

[@waldoman7]

@@6666Imperator but the one dude is making a silly face to play it up! Most of them seem to be.

[@6666Imperator]

@@waldoman7 for me it looks more like conncentrating on not laughing doing anything necessary to achieve that. I can't explain it well in English what I mean sorry

[@waldoman7]

@@6666Imperator I've seen people try not to laugh a million times and it doesn't look half that fake or silly. That is a deliberate gag face by a very monty python style comedic actor

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

Python member Terry Jones, who directed this one, gave the actors playing the Roman soldiers during the Pontius Pilate scene one direction: whatever you do, do not smile, do not break character, do not laugh. And he then told Michael Palin to do his damned best to make the actors playing the soldiers fall into laughter. When they finally did break down, it was out of character and not according to the script.

[@peterdemkiw3280]

Not ture.

[@effluviah7544]

@@peterdemkiw3280 Might not be ture, but it is true. ;)

[@scottandrewbrass]

Bollocks! The whole point of the scene -as written in the script- is that the guards fail to keep a straight face.

[@Cheepchipsable]

Hardly - the whole gag was that they shouldn't laugh at their boss saying ridiculous things. All those guys were experienced actors who would have been given directions to appear to want to laugh, but are trying not to. Would the scene work at all if they were perfectly placid?

[@BabyJail07]

Have you considered reacting to the BBC series "Blackadder" with Rowan Atkinson? I'd love to see your reactions to it!

[@nigelus1]

Yes! I'd love to see you do Blackadder.

[@Geographus666]

Sounds like a cunning plan!

[@hisnotsolonely2961]

Yes

[@WhiskyCanuck]

The other Monty Python movies are "The Meaning of Life", and "Now for Something Completely Different" which is a collection of sketches, mostly that were from their TV show but refilmed with higher production values, but does have good laughs in it.

[@SadPeterPan1977]

The Meaning of Life isn't taken from sketches from the TV show. It's a collection of sketches that are general about life from birth to death and beyond. As you said, some of it is very funny, other bits less so. A lot more musical numbers than Holy Grail or Life of Brian. Monty Python: Live at the Hollywood Bowl is worth a watch. A professional recording of one of the shows from the Monthy Python US tour that they did after Life of Brian created a big fanbase in the US, performing some of their old TV sketches on stage to a live audience with a few 'new' sketches and some pre-recorded stuff from their old TV show. Worth watching just for the look on Terry Gilliam's face during one sketch.

[@rayharley597]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail; mustn't forget that one... or Jabberwocky either. kerk

[@stevedowdy1]

@@SadPeterPan1977 I think Whiskey meant that "And Now For Something Completely Different" is a collection of sketches from the TV show that they refilmed for cinema broadcast, not that "The Meaning of Life" was.

[@orangeruffian]

& you mustn't forget Live at the Hollywood Bowl...

[@stefanforrer2573]

@@SadPeterPan1977 oh come on man... it's rather obvious that they were talking about now for something completely different.. context, my guy, context!

[@control2XS]

The "biggus dickus" scene lives absolutely rent free in my head. It's so damn funny.

[@Uncle_T]

The meaning of life is a bit more absurdist and more of a movie length version of their tv show with several shorter stories/segments, but it's well worth a watch if for nothing else for the "Every sperm is sacred" number! :)

[@MyMarsham]

The Machine That Goes Ping! is a winner as well.

[@TYoung023]

I ‘av no choice but to sell the lot of you for medical experiments…

[@CliffordLake]

I would include the Find the Fish bit as a must-see.

[@IvorClegg]

​@@MyMarsham Bags I do the episiotomy!

[@Uncle_T]

I mean the whole thing is worth a watch, I just have a soft spot for huge muscial numbers with dancing nuns I guess. 😁

[@jillosler9353]

So ahead of it's time and the clever amazing comedic writing from the Monty Python crew is a testament to these clever Brits and their university educations!

[@marine6680]

“Bright Side of Life” is one of my favorite movie moments. Irony and cynicism hidden under this catchy and upbeat sounding song, juxtaposed against the reality of the situation… It’s wonderfully dark.

[@666FallenShadow]

i'm honestly surprised they never heard the song before. i knew the song long before i even became aware of monthy python

[@chriscowey7464]

While I really like Holy Grail, I do feel life of Brian is far more re-watchable.

[@gregmattson2238]

can't disagree more. holy grail is infinitely re-watchable if you think about it as both a spoof on the arthurian legends and as an 'anti-movie', a movie that spoofs how movies are made. there is just so much there - the shattering of the fourth wall, the mixing of the audience, cast, editing and production crews. It also switches genre on a dime, going from drama to musical to porno to epic. In the credits, various editing crews vie for dominance as the original group gets sacked by another group that in turn gets sacked, followed by the editorial board sacking the entire lot and outsourcing the job to south america. I still notice new jokes when I watch it, and I've watched it no small number of times.

[@chriscowey7464]

@@gregmattson2238 I am glad you like the Holy Grail:) just to be clear, I did not mean to imply the Holy Grail is not re-watchable, I rewatch it alot, Just for me, my personal go to Monty Python film is Life of Brian. Though if If someone I know has not seen either, I always start them off with Holy Grail.

[@futureravenable]

The way I've always thought of it is Holy grail is funnier, Life of Brian is a better film. Personally I go Holy Grail but you can tell it's a load of people making their first film throwing random ideas together, whereas Life of Brian is better made, better shot, more coherent etc.

[@realburglazofficial2613]

@@futureravenable 👆this!! Holy Grail is like a series of ‘King Arthur’ themed sketches stitched together. Brian is an entire story in the Python style. Grail is a great gateway film to get into Python. Brian is Python with a budget!

[@wombataldebaran9686]

My family watches it every year as a christmas movie

[@maximillianosaben]

The end of this movie never fails to make me smile.

[@muppeteer]

The stoning scene...a group of men playing women pretending to be men...pure genius

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

"A ... WOman?"

[@kulcousy]

Why would a centurian be punishing someone for taking the Christian god's name in vain?

[@muppeteer]

or even the Jewish god@@kulcousy

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@kulcousy When does that happen?

[@KebabMusicLtd]

@@kulcousy John Cleese character during that scene was not playing a centurian but a high priest.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

This was filmed in Tunisia. the epic TV mini-series "Jesus of Nazareth" had filmed just before, using several locations, and the Python's got to use a multitude of costumes for "Brian". Star Wars was also filmed in Tunisia, around then too (1976). As at least one other comment below, that George Harrison helped to fund this. The Pythons' did get funding for "Holy Grail" from other British Rockers (Zep, Tull -residual earnings, they still get from Python funding). George, who had left "the Church" in the Sixties for faith in Hindu, had befriended several of the Python troop. He wanted "Brian" to get made, when film studios were saying "No!" as this film wand its religious depiction and discussion was to be controversial. George put up a few million, remortgaged his house .started a film company "Handmade Films" that would produce quality British films for years. The Quiet Beatle appears, introduced with a Greek name, just after Brian's exposure to the crown, after night with Judith, while trying to get out of the building "H'llo" says Harrison.

[@Alvy42]

I believe Eric Idle said that he could see the still standing set of Luke Skywalker's house from up on the cross.

[@phillipwalker6517]

If laughter is the best medicine Life of Brian is a lifesaver, or should I say, saviour. I will never throw this film away, I've watched it many times. "He's a very naughty boy" Hahahah.

[@Aurochhunter]

Nobody can watch the Biggus Dickus scene without cracking up, it's simply impossible.

[@robwealer5416]

Hard to rank the Python films as they all have historical moments of comedic genius... they are all the favored children of Pythons fans, and like parents, hard to choose. You will notice though the production quality making big leaps as they get more adept at making films and stories are more cohesive. People think they ran into the biggest problem writers face when starting out, endings and they improvised against tight shooting schedules and budgets. But the endings were all more or less consistent with the overall message and structure of satire they were aiming at.

[@ekeaasen]

1.Holy grail 2. Life of brian 5. Meaning of life

[@michaelbuhl4250]

For a long time *Meaning of Life* was my favorite Monty Python movie because I thought it is the funniest, then I thought *Life of Brian* was my favorite because it's a brilliant piece of satire. Lately I've been thinking that *Holy Grail* is my favorite because it defies so many story telling and movie making conventions. But they're all truly great!

[@natemo82]

There are actually four Python films. Their first, And Now For Something Completely Different, is often overlooked. It’s kind of a best of compilation of sketches from the first two seasons of their tv show reshot on film. I recommend watching it. Some sketches are actually done much better in the movie than in the show. Biggest plus is no distracting fake laugh track.

[@terrybrett467]

There was no fake laughter track on the TV shows, I worked on a lot of them. Our sound guys were very skilled at capturing audience reaction.

[@WalintHUN]

dude, no, I copy something to you: "The studio portions of Python were recorded in front of a live studio audience, as is normal BBC practice for TV comedy. In the end of episode 2.13, the audience can be seen invading the show in a scripted mock-protest at the content of a sketch. The laughter over filmed sequences is the reaction of the studio audience to seeing the playback of the sequences. If you watch early episodes of Python, the audience didn't laugh that much. They were mostly baffled. Only by half way through season 1 had audiences relaxed enough to laugh at Python’s deliberately disruptive techniques."

[@natemo82]

@@WalintHUN I learned something knew. I just assumed it was added on for some reason.

[@krautgazer]

@@natemo82 Today it is usually added in but back in old times a lot of these shows were recorded in front of a live audience.

[@chumly8596]

Don't forget 'Live at the Hollywood Bowl'......

[@Steveypoos]

Palin was my favourite Python too.

[@malcolmcharnock5544]

Meaning of Life has some of the funniest skits they ever did. But not a traditional movie.

[@baylessnow]

When the crowd disperse after the shoe and the gort part. The old man left talking by himself is Spike Milligan.

[@littlepeach2010]

Nice to hear it described as 'Ahead of its time' instead of Blasphemous

[@Mike_Sierra_2711]

Fun fact:They were struggeling to get the money for filming this movie. So Eric Idle (Loretta) went to his friend, George Harrison from The Beatles, and told him the plot. George funded the movie just because he wanted to see it :D He even appears as an extra in it.

[@TheNeonParadox]

This movie has so many iconic scenes. John Cleese as the Roman correcting Brian's Latin grammar on the graffiti is still my favorite, though. It brings me back to college with my Latin and Greek professors, who would likely do the exact same thing.

[@martintabony611]

At 16.13 that is the great comedian Spike Milligan. It was Spike and his fellow Goon Show cast that inspired Monty Python

[@Travelinmatt1976]

When the soldiers rush in and out to search for Brian a different number come out than went in each time.

[@dabe1971]

16:20 You might not know him but that is Spike Milligan, a famous English comedy writer, performer, poet and author. He was a member of the groundbreaking Radio comedy group 'The Goons' who were a forerunner to Monty Python and the team held Spike in God-like status. He was co-incidentally on Holiday in Tunisia whilst they were filming and word reach the Pythons so he was asked to play this cameo role. He came, did his bit and then returned back to his family to continue his holiday.

[@SadPeterPan1977]

If they think that Monty Python is surreal I'd love to know what their reaction would be to some of the stuff that came out of Spike Milligan's head when he was writing and performing for The Goons. :D

[@theelvenwtich]

I love Holy Grail as well as Life of Brian. But in my opinion, it doesn't get any better than The Meaning of Life. That movie will forever be my favorite.

[@terryv2006]

“You ARE the Messiah! And I should know I’ve followed enough of them “ Genius. The Meaning of Life s my personal favourite of the Python Movies.

[@bartholomewweyand6226]

Also, don’t forget “And now for something completely different.” It’s a bunch of their best sketches.

[@gfixler]

I thoroughly love seeing new people get into these old classics. I was introduced to Monty Python in college, by classmates who'd known it since childhood. Then I spent the next month annoying them all with Monty Python quotes that all of them had gotten out of their systems a decade earlier. 🤣

[@BJBee]

Omg lol.

[@andrewouellette4998]

You should check out the TV show "Monty Python's Flying Circus". There are some great sketches in there. "Cheeseshop", "LumberJack Song", "Dead Parrot", etc. You can check out the live concert "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" which they perform some of their sketches. Sadly Graham Chapman and Terry Jones have passed away. There is a touching eulogy from John Cleese at Graham Chapman's funeral that is worth a look.

[@alanholck7995]

Also the Ministry of Silly Walks

[@ThePixel1983]

Oh, yeah, Live at the Hollywood Bowl, I live it! ❤️ All the kids are on drugs, all the adults are on Rollerskates!

[@craigwheller]

Let's not forget Fawlty Towers or Ripping Yarns, not strictly MP, but made by members of the troupe and well worth watching plus Flying Circus itself of course

[@partymanau]

The sermon on the Mount scene is gold. Blessed are the Greeks.

[@dcanmore]

There are Pythonesque movies out there that were created by one or two of the Pythons and contain a lot of their humour, so definitely worth checking out Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil, Adventures of Baron Munchausen, they are fantasies that include medieval quest, time travel, future dystopia and fairy tales.

[@bnorberg988]

Time Bandits. Classic. They really should do Time Bandits.

[@SoupDragonish]

Yes. Time Bandits

[@KyuzouTV]

7 months later, Yellowbeard has always been a favourite of mine, Marty Feldmans last movie aswell i believe

[@InterMalager]

I was waiting for this one since you did The Holy Grail! loving the reactions and movie choices guys, keep up the good work x

[@allannewell2089]

During the Falkland Islands War, the British destroyer HMS Sheffield was hit by a missle, set afire and sank. The survivors sang Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life while they waited for rescue in their lifeboats.

[@Uncle_T]

Some of the members of Monty Python clearly took Latin, I recognize the confused agony!!! :)

[@nigelus1]

Since most of them went to either Oxford or Cambridge, I'd say it's pretty likely they all took Latin.

[@Garion0000]

Not Monty Python, but I suggest A Fish Call Wanda if you haven't seen it. Has John Cleese and Michael Palin in it, so 2 of the group. It's one of my favorite comedies.

[@s.oliver3687]

Great movie!

[@Happyheretic2308]

Clockwise …

[@mellertid]

Eric Idle did a wonderful mockumentary "The Rutles", including clever and silly parody Beatles songs (by Neil Innes). It seems to fly a bit under the radar. Michael Palin is in it too, so it's almost Monty Python 🤪

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

And George Harrison too among other musicians.

[@MadTamB]

Don't forget Neil Innes did the Brave Sir Robin ran away song in the Holy Grail.

[@JohnWilliams-zu8wg]

Mick Jagger does a small bit in it, too.

[@janskia]

The Rutles were very good before Bob Dylan introduced them to tea. I especially liked their trousers.

[@claratrevlyn5304]

In 1982, during the Falklands War, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Sheffield was hit by a missile and suffered a devastating fire. As the ship burned, the crew sang "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" as they waited to be evacuated.

[@1ListerofSmeg]

Fun fact: In 1979 a Welsh town called Aberystwyth banned this film due to its themes & nudity. In 2009 the Mayor Sue Jones-Davies rescinded that ban. ----> Sue Jones-Davies was the actress that played Judith Iscariot. (The naked woman in the movie)

[@bryancorrell3689]

This is definitely my favorite of the Python films, even though they misspelled my name. The Holy Grail is a hell of a good time, but Life of Brian is a much more focused and consistent film. It's also absolutely savage in it's commentary on organized religion and politics. The Meaning of Life is a fairly distant third, IMO. Great when it hits, but it's all over the place. A fourth film (actually the first released) is And Now For Something Completely Different. It's super low budget and consists mostly of remakes of various skits from the show. Some of them are really good, but it is more of a 'best of the show' than a movie in its own right. Some of the skits included: The Dead Parrot, The Lumberjack Song, Nudge Nudge Wink Wink, and The Funniest Joke in the World.

[@mjr2451]

If you’ve been to an iron maiden concert, you’ve heard the song at the end of the film,. “Always look on the bright side of life“, is played as the audience leaves. As for “the meaning of life“, I consider it and away the best episode of flying circus. It’s the best sketch show they ever made. Or at least the people at the Cannes film festival thought that. Maybe they were drinking. Is the Palm Dior a type of wine as well as the grand prize at that festival?

[@howardp.lovecraft4499]

I've been to their concerts twice and both times they've played this song at the end. Looking forward to seeing them on the coming tour. I wonder if "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" is still a thing, though. Guess I'll know pretty soon.

[@jacksonconley5117]

And remember to “always look on the bright side of life.”

[@colibri1]

The "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" song was consciously modeled on certain Disney songs of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s like "Whistle While You Work" from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."

[@tonygriffin_]

Love that at 1:37, George takes a guess at what the film is about...and actually quotes a line from the opening credits song, "...about a guy named Brian"! Spooky! Although it is clearly one of the funniest films ever made, it's funding was withdrawn by one of the big studios due to the controversy caused by some groups and it was in danger of not being made...but then George Harrison of the Beatles stepped in and funded it. The dropping of the sandal and the gourd and the schism that it makes amongst Brian's new followers is a perfect example of the trivial things that split the church through its history. There is a documentary of two of the Monty Python team, John Cleese and Michael Palin, debating its supposed blasphemous points with a bishop and a very self-righteous elder statesman and it's on YT. They made a great defense of the Sermon on the Mount piece at the start of the film, pointing out that they had used an actor to speak the very words that are in the Bible as being Jesus' words but then added some logic to show that a huge multitude would often mishear or not hear many of its words and made the comedy about that, not the speech itself. Loved your reactions!

[@Davey-Boyd]

I spot a Maidiac! Po!

[@iluvausten40517]

The Pythons originally came up with the idea for this film when a reporter asked Eric Idle what their next film would be called, and he said "Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory." And so the film was originally going to be a truly blasphemous take down of Jesus. However, because the Pythons are uber-nerds, they did a lot of research, including reading all the Gospels, and decided that, whether or not you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, that the moral philosophy was fundamentally good. And you can't make jokes effectively about something that is fundamentally good. And so they instead took the route you saw here . . . not so much making fun of Jesus, but instead making fun of how people have used (and misused) the teachings of Jesus for their own selfish petty purposes and the ways that organized religion keep individuals from thinking for themselves. I LOVE THIS MOVIE . . . It was one of the last things by the Pythons that I ever saw. But I knew going in that "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" was a phrase associated with them. So when I got to the end of the movie and realised what was about to happen, I completely missed the song itself because I was in such hysterics at the very idea of singing that song in this movie.

[@annaclarafenyo8185]

The movie isn't about Jesus at all, but about the idealistic 1960s social movements. The Judean People's Front is like a 1960s activist group, including the academic debates over whether the transsexual has a right to have babies. The People's Front of Judea, at least the suicide squad, is a parody of the Jewish militias of the 1st century who are famous for having committed suicide en-masse rather than surrender, on a regular basis. The preaching scenes are completely historically ridiculous, but followed the understanding at the time. The correct history of the Christian religion was worked out by Doherty and researched extensively by Carrier in "On the Historicity of Jesus". It wasn't as portrayed at all, Jesus wasn't some bloke who got a following and then became deified. He was a divine figure from the beginning. The movie is ridiculously charitable to the Romans, who conquered and enslaved the peoples they oversaw. They introduced torture punishments like crucifixion and torture entertainment like the gladitorial fights. They did not do anything for sanitation, and they took education backwards from Greek times, removing education from slaves. There is nothing good to say about the Romans.

[@kregy7509]

What about the part where Jesus says he isn't there to bring peace but sword. And that you have to love him more than anybody else(even your family). Sounds more like a cult leader than a nice dude.

[@annaclarafenyo8185]

@@kregy7509 That's something to take to heart when you have a system like the Roman system, or modern capitalism, where complicity is criminality, and your family, if they are not on board with you, are complicit. You need to cut them off if they are not with the movement.

[@kregy7509]

@@annaclarafenyo8185 but that's not just capitalism but every extremist system ever made

[@annaclarafenyo8185]

@@kregy7509 Not really. There were many times and places where not a few people were in charge of everyone else.

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

*There are SIX Monty Python movies.* *1)* And Now Something Completely Different: A movie where the Python's took the best skits from their BBC TV series *Monty Python's Flying Circus. *2)* Monty Python & The Holy Grail *3)* Monty Python's Life of Brian *4)* Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: A bunch of skits that hits & misses big time. *5)* Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl: A concert of the troupe performing famous skits live from the TV series. Very, very funny. *6)* Monty Python Live (Mostly): A farewell live skit show. Rank: Holy Grail Life of Brian Hollywood Bowl Meaning of Life And Now Something.... Live (Mostly)

[@veloenthusiast]

I recommend seeing A Fish Called Wanda. It features several Python members and Kevin Cline won an Oscar for his performance.

[@Ideepthought]

The other movie is called "The Meaning of Life", and after the flak the Pythons drew for making fun of a biblical story with Life of Brian they decided to make their next movie as "offensive as possible". As a result Meaning of Life is one of those movies you either love or hate. Personally I love it. :D

[@lesnyk255]

The Mister Creosote sketch is branded forever in my mind.....

[@DMC888]

The sex education sketch 🤣

[@calumjjarvis]

When the “biguss dickuss” scene was shot the laughs from the soldiers are genuine. Michael Pallin’s performance was so funny that the soldiers were legitimately trying to stay straight-faced but couldn’t due to how funny it was.

[@weizilein]

I'm not sure if this is true, but it is said they told the extras who played the soldiers they wouldnt get paid if they laughed, hence them trying so damn hard

[@WithTwoFlakes]

7:42 The Peoples Front / Popular Front gag was poking fun at the bewildering mish-mash of 1970's era Palestinian resistance forces who seemed much more interested in fighting each other / trying to overthrow the King of Jordan / triggering the Lebanese Civil War etc.

[@torros1839]

The character who is standing by himself as the crowd all wander off is Spike Miligan a famous comedian from the 1950's onwards and very influential in Monty Pyhons comedy and a lot of other comedians who came after him

[@SykoticBanana]

Both your faces during the spaceship rescue scene were a delight to watch! By the way, if you thought the song "always look on the bright side of life" was catchy then you will love "the galaxy song" in "The meaning of life" by Monty Python.

[@tammysquire6992]

🎶Juuuuust reeeeee....member that you're standing on a planet that's evolving, and revolving at 900 miles an hourrr! 🎶 haha they should teach this song in school! I can't remember much I learnt as a kid but pretty much all my space stats come from this song 🤣

[@jackspringheel9963]

The spaceship scene is based on Matthew 4 v5. Look it up if you don't believe me.

[@Tan3l6]

Please check out - O Brother Where Art Thou and - What We Do in the Shadows good comedies..

[@raymondadams7570]

they performed this song at the opening of the london olympics when eric idle was fired from a cannon,brilliant

[@md-sl1io]

simone's face when they start singing at the end is priceless

[@MrUndersolo]

Best British comedy of all time and the film that I always head back to when I need a laugh! And a fun fact: a region in England had banned the film for many years, but recently lifted the ban because of the mayor. The one who became mayor was the woman who played Judith in the film, Sue Jones-Davies!

[@MadTamB]

*Whispers* it was in Wales

[@MrUndersolo]

@@MadTamB *Whispers back* I am sorry. I wanted to leave that Welsh tart alone!

[@DarraghC]

Everyone has their favourite Python movie...for me its Brian, Grail then meaning of life. There are some really funny scenes in the Meaning of life but its more a collection of sketches all be it with a common theme of commentary on the various aspects of life. I think you guys might like the Time Bandits (From terry gilliam, not monty python, a much more cohesive movie but has some of the team in it) one of my fav movies as a kid, proper make believe adventure, I think Simone would like the fantasy aspect of it.

[@stephanefraisse381]

A fish called Wanda

[@bill9174]

Haven't seen this mentioned, but in the scene in Brian's house where it is packed with people, George Harrison is in the lower right corner. He waves at the camera. He financed the movie.

[@nigeh5326]

When Michael Palin is playing the prophet talking gibberish at 14’ he’s impersonating an old British comedian called Stanley Unwin who was known for talking a weird gobbledegook form of comedy English. He was popular in the 60s and 70s 😊

[@Video_Crow]

You should absolutely watch The Meaning of Life.

[@BTAColorado]

The struggle of the guards not to laugh during "Biggus Dickus" was real. All the extras were told if they laughed during that scene they wouldn't be paid 😂

[@glasgowrangers5525]

Stop spreading bullshit, this fabrication has been debunked time and time again, for God's sake it was the excuse for Brian to escape, of course it was scripted.

[@richieb7692]

@@glasgowrangers5525 Check your facts. It's true, verified my the Monty Python team many many times

[@glasgowrangers5525]

@@richieb7692 congratulations, you're possibly the only person alive that could fail an I.Q. test

[@voxorox]

@@richieb7692 Checking facts by listening to those guys in interviews? 5 guys who loved to troll the interviewers any chance they got? Good luck.

[@peterdemkiw3280]

The guards were not extras, they are well known professional comic actors. The script for scene 13 is available. Between the 4 guards they played 12 different parts in the film and were not threatened with not being paid for that one scene. Charles McKeown the first guard to laugh was following stage direction set out in the script, he played 4 parts including giggling guard. Chris Langham the guard pulling the face is a well known actor and writer, worked on Not the Nine O'clock News among other shows. Bernard McKenna the guard behind Brian on the left is a comic icon within British television comedy, he played 4 parts in The Life of Brian, has a long history of working with Monty python and is a personal friend of Graham Chapman and Michael Palin, he's worked on Ripping Yarns and Faulty Towers, no one is threatening him with not being paId for laughing in scene 13. Andrew MacLachlan, the guard behind Brian on the right, also a well known actor, he was also a first class Cricketer, is friends with Michael Palin and played 2 parts in the film. None of them were extras, if you knew what "extras" meant you'd know that, they were credited actors. This "not get payed for laughing" nonsense is rediculous and a myth spread by people that don't know what they are talking about.

[@RustyDust101]

There's the rumor (I can't confirm if it's true) that the soldiers in the 'Biggus Dickus' scene were extras. They had not been given the script, only the instructions to stay as emotionless as possible. Additionally they were threatened with their pay being withheld if they laughed at all. So supposedly their contorting faces and the resulting guffawing were real, which makes the giggling even more contagious.

[@a35362]

"You've got to figure it out for yourselves!" "Yes! Tell us how, Lord!"

[@Hopehubris1492]

We have got to get you guys sponsored by Cinnabon. 😉

[@justinleflar8695]

Every time I hear CineBinge, it makes me think of some kind of delicious cinnamon roll esque desert, side note, main point is you both are awesome, thanks for the content!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Like Borat? He had fifteen that day ...

[@radicaladz]

There's also And Now For Something Completely Different, a filmed collection of sketches from the TV series intended for the US, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, which has a couple of unique skits and music from Neil Innes.

[@byggs129]

The life of Brian song is the first song i listen to in the car on the way to work every Monday 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@exile220ify]

I do HIGHLY recommend that you review "The Meaning Of Life" (and maybe some of the original "Monty Python's Flying Circus" TV series). When it comes to the movies you'll find a WIDE variety of opinion when it comes to rating them #1, #2, and #3. Personally TMOL is my fave but your mileage may vary. Fun Fact: one of the original TV series' episodes was called "Whither Canada?"

[@nigeh5326]

I saw this at the cinema when it was released, but had to travel to the next town as the religious mob had pressured my local council into banning the film. It was hilarious and for months afterwards you would hear boys at school whispering ‘biggus dickus’ at the back of class followed by howls of laughter and the teachers shouting ‘who said that’ which only made us laugh even more. 😃

[@jksgameshelf3378]

One thing I just remembered is that George Harrison (you know, from The Beatles) has a cameo in this film, because he helped finance it, along with Pink Floyd, Elton John, and I think Led Zeppelin, too. It's a crowd scene somewhere in the middle and George walks by and I think looks right in the camera for a second. I'll have to double-check my DVD for the timestamp on that. Also, you mentioned the catchy song at the end. Eric Idle (who sang it) wrote it, and he's written a lot of great songs, including most of the ones in 'Spamalot', the Broadway/West End musical version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". As the holidays approach, look for his song 'Fuck Christmas' for any holiday parties you may have!

[@missusgumby]

Eric Idle sang "Always look on the bright side of life" in the film, which he also sang in 2012 Olympic closing ceremony. Thus making him the only artist to sing the word "shit" at any Olympic ceremony in history.

[@ploppill34]

George Harrison appears in several scenes 👍🎸

[@glencarle1009]

"Yes, we ARE all individuals!" The reason the church wanted to ban this film is that it was a little too accurate in its portrayal of their nonsense.

[@rig9207]

"I had to stop thinking about the coconuts" Welcome to the world of Python.

[@thomasreddy416]

People tend to forget "Jabberwocky" . Directed by Pythons Terry Gilliam.

[@ragnar97]

To be fair, in spanish at least, the three wise men are called "Los Reyes Magos" which would roughly translate as "The Wizard Kings" so she wasn't that wrong when calling them the 3 kings xD

[@AlejandroPRGH]

Strictly speaking "Magos" is not used in the sense of "wizards" but of "magi", that is, zoroastrian priests. But not everyone knows that in Spain.

[@ragnar97]

@@AlejandroPRGH Dude, most spaniards know "mago" comes from "magi" which essentially meant "wise men" in those times. Anyway, how would you translate Los Reyes Magos then? The Mage kings?

[@AlejandroPRGH]

@@ragnar97 "The Magi". And, no, it didn't mean that. And, no, most Spaniards don't know that.

[@ragnar97]

@@AlejandroPRGH Oh,didn't realize you took a headcount earlier lol

[@Pixelologist]

Monty Python is intellectual absurdity. I've been a fan ever since I first stumbled across repeats of their BBC series, Monty Python's Flying Circus (if you haven't checked THAT out, you should get on it - much more hit or miss but when it's good it's priceless!).

[@MrFox-wn5jt]

They should do Meaning of Life but definitely follow up with the TV show. The first few episodes of series 1 are hit and miss, despite some great moments, but towards the end of the series they hit their stride. Series 2 & 3 contain some of the funniest stuff out of the UK, ever, and even 4 (despite a lack of Cleese) has great stuff.

[@lukefallon8276]

The film was shot on location in Monastir, Tunisia, which allowed the production to reuse sets from Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth. A lot of the costumes were reused too.

[@timstackii]

11:45 ... the extras were instructed to try not to laugh and held it in as long as they could before breaking down.

[@peterdemkiw6858]

Nope didn't happen. Firstly they were not extras they were professional comic actors. Together they played 12 different roles in the film. One of them was part of the writing team. No one was threatened with not being paid for laughing in this one scene.