It remains one of the most controversial films of all-time due to its’ take on concepts and ideas behind organised religion.
On its’ original 1979 release was picketed by many people and provided one of the most vocal dialogues on late night UK TV between religious representatives and two of the MONTY PYTHON team, John Cleese and Michael Palin.
Four decades on from its’ original release, MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN, the second of the legendary comedy team’s big-screen outings after MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1975) has deservedly become one of the all-time British comedy classics.
In Bethlehem, three wise men arrive at a house where they bless and celebrate the birth of a baby called Brian, little realizing until afterwards that the kid next door has a bit more significance, but how can you determine where a star above is going to lead you?
Years later, Brian as amongst those listening to Jesus performing his sermon on the mount between stonings, but he gets involved in a radical group called The People’s Front of Judea, who ask him to paint provocative abuse on the walls against the Romans. Still living with his mum and being pursued by all manner of unwanted attention, he starts preaching – and people decide to follow him…..
Directed by Terry Jones, who co-directed THE HOLY GRAIL with Terry Gilliam, LIFE OF BRIAN has a serious message at the heart of the religious stuff and that is what makes the film all the more funnier as time goes on. The film stemmed out of a jokey aside Eric Idle made during publicity for HOLY GRAIL when somebody asked him what their next film would be, to which he replied ‘JESUS CHRIST – LUST FOR GLORY’ (a play on the full title of the 1970 film PATTON – LUST FOR GLORY)
Utilising lots of research, the Pythons realised that the interesting stuff was not to be found around Jesus, who was treated with respect, but they found interesting and amusing ways to ridicule some of those ideas that are often accepted in the concept of organised religion – and that is what people misinterpreted – and to a degree still do.
Be it the stoning scene, John Cleese asking ‘what the Romans have ever done for us’, the pursuit of Brian through the city and country, which culminates in Brian’s Mum (Terry Jones) uttering one of the all-time great comedy pay-offs, or the climactic crucifixion singalong, LIFE OF BRIAN is without question the most accomplished film the PYTHON team produced.