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The Meaning of Life (1983)
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Overview
Tagline:
What it is, Where it is, and how to avoid treading in it [Video Australia] morePlot:
The comedy team takes a look at life in all its stages in their own uniquely silly way. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination moreUser Comments:
Looking For Answers? No Better Place To Look Than Here... moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Graham Chapman | ... | Fish #1 / Obstetrician / Harry Blackitt / Wymer / Hordern / General / Narrator #2 / Dr. Livingstone / Strange woman / Eric / Coles / Chairman / Guest #4 / Arthur Jarrett / Geoffrey / Tony Bennett |
 | John Cleese | ... | Fish #2 / Dr. Spenser / Humphrey Williams / Sturridge / Ainsworth / Waiter / Man / Maitre D / Grim Reaper |
 | Terry Gilliam | ... | Fish #4 / Walters / Zulu announcer / M'Lady Joeline / Mr. Brown / Howard Katzenberg / Window Washer |
 | Eric Idle | ... | Fish #3 / Singer / Mr. Moore / Mrs. Blackitt / Watson / Atkison / Perkins / Victim #3 / Front End / Mrs. Hendy / Man in pink / Noel Coward / Gaston / Angela |
| Terry Jones | ... | Fish #6 / Mum / Priest / Biggs / Sergeant / Strange man / Mrs. Brown / Mr. Creosote / Maria / Bert / Leaf #1 / Fiona Portland-Smyth |
| Michael Palin | ... | Fish #5 / Mr. Pycroft / Dad / Narrator #1 / Chaplain / Carter / Spadger / Sergeant Major / Pakenham-Walsh / Rear End / Lady presenter / Mr. Marvin Hendy / Harry / Padre / Debbie Katzenberg / Window Washer |
| Carol Cleveland | ... | Wife of Guest #4 / Heaven greeter |
 | Simon Jones | ... | Cedric |
| Patricia Quinn | ... | Mrs. Williams |
| Judy Loe | ... | Nurse #1 |
| Andrew MacLachlan | ... | Groom |
| Mark Holmes | ... | Severed head |
| Valerie Whittington | ... | Mrs. Moore |
| Jennifer Franks | ... | Bride |
| Imogen Bickford-Smith | ... | Nurse #2 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (UK) (complete title)Monty Python - Elämän tarkoitus (Finland) [fi]
Monty Python - O Sentido da Vida (Brazil) [pt]
Monty Python, le sens de la vie (France) [fr]
Monty Python: il senso della vita (Italy) [it]
Monty Pythons Vom Sinn des Lebens (West Germany) [de]
Monty Pythons meningen med livet (Sweden) [sv]
Sentido da Vida, O (Portugal) [pt]
Sentido de la vida, El (Spain) [es]
Sinn des Lebens, Der (West Germany) [de]
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Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
107 min | Germany:112 min (2003 restored director's cut)Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2003) | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) (1983-1990) | Iceland:12 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (re-rating) (2003) | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/18 | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Brazil:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2000) | UK:18 (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16MOVIEmeter: 
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Sensitive to the young actors in the "Every Sperm is Sacred" scene, Michael Palin actually says "... those little rubber things on the end of my sock" - the word "cock" was dubbed on later. moreGoofs:
Continuity: In the war sequence, the soldiers give their sergeant a clock which is placed on the edge of the mound they are hiding behind and is clearly visible. In the next shot, the clock is gone. moreMovie Connections:
Referenced in "Growing Pains: Maggie Seaver's: The Meaning of Life (#6.18)" (1991) moreSoundtrack:
Every Sperm Is Sacred moreFAQ
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MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE (4 outta 5 stars)
I never really thought this was anywhere near the best work of the Pythons... but, the more I see this movie, the more I like it. People not in tune with the Python sense of humour will find this film unbearable I'm sure. (When I saw it in the theatre when it first came out there were an incredible numbers of walkouts... even *before* the infamous "Mr. Creosote" scene.) Not an actual movie so much as an extended (and expensively-produced) episode of the classic BBC TV series "Monty Python's Flying Circus"... depicting several stages in the lives of human beings, from birth to death. There are some hilarious bits (the sex education class, Death crashing a dinner party), some clever bits (the opening fish skit, the show-stopping dance number "Every Sperm is Sacred") and some just plain gross, disgusting bits (Mr. Creosote, organ donations). Plus, the movie has its own special short subject "The Crimson Permanent Assurance"... where an accounting office staffed by aging workerbees suddenly metamorphosizes into a pirate ship! Most people find this bit incredibly boring and pointless... but, dang, its cleverly done!