Life of Brian (1979)

Director:

Terry Jones

Writers:

Graham Chapman (written by) &
John Cleese (written by) ...

Release Date:

17 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A motion picture destined to offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world. And severely annoy the other third.

Plot:

Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Eccentric | Fake Beard | Market Place | Judea | Vulgarity

Cast

Graham Chapman	...	Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
John Cleese	...	Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur
Terry Gilliam	...	Man Even Further Forward / Revolutionary / Jailer / Blood & Thunder Prophet / Frank / Audience Member / Crucifee
Eric Idle	...	Mr. Cheeky / Stan (Loretta) / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee
Terry Jones	...	Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant
Michael Palin	...	Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus
Terence Bayler	...	Gregory
Carol Cleveland	...	Mrs. Gregory
Kenneth Colley	...	Jesus
Neil Innes	...	A weedy Samaritan
Charles McKeown	...	False Prophet / Blind Man / Giggling Guard / Stig
John Young	...	Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath
Gwen Taylor	...	Mrs. Big Nose
Sue Jones-Davies	...	Judith
Peter Brett

Also Known As:

Brian of Nazareth (UK) (working title)
Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory (UK) (working title)
Monty Python's Life of Brian (UK) (complete title)
The Gospel According to St. Brian (UK) (working title)
A Vida de Brian (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Vida de Brian, La (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Brian élete (Hungary) [hu]
Brian di Nazareth (Italy) [it]
Brianin elämä (Finland) [fi]
Brians liv (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Herrans liv, Ett (Sweden) [sv]
Leben des Brian, Das (West Germany) [de]
Monty Python - brianin elämä (Finland) (DVD box title) [fi]
Monty Python's Life of Brian - ett herrans liv (Sweden) [sv]
Monty Pythonuv zivot Briana (Czech Republic) (long title) [cs]
Profeten Brians liv og historie (Norway) [no]
Vie de Brian, La (France) [fr]
Zivot Briana (Czech Republic) [cs]
Zywot Briana (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M (TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:MA | Sweden:15 | Singapore:(Banned) | Brazil:18 | Spain:T | Finland:K-16 (1988) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Norway:(Banned) (1979 - 1980) | France:U | Norway:18 (1980) | Netherlands:MG6 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1980) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Ireland:(Banned) (1979-1987) | Ireland:15 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:11 (re-rating) (2004) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Amphitheater, El Djem, Tunisia

Company:

HandMade Films

Trivia:

When Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate addressed the soldiers daring them to laugh, he was truly daring them. The soldier extras were ordered by the Pythons to stand there and not laugh but not told what Palin was going to do.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Man with suit and tie is seen walking in the background of the "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" scene when the camera looks down the line of crosses.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wise Man #1: Ahem!
Brian?s mother: Oh!
[falls over in chair]
Brian?s mother: Who are you?
Wise Man #2: We are three wise men.
Brian?s mother: What?
Wise Man #1: We are three wise men.
Brian?s mother: Well, what are you doing creeping around a cow shed at two o'clock in the morning? That doesn't sound very wise to me.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Fluffy the English Vampire Slayer (2001)

Soundtrack:

Brian Song

Ave Monty Python!

This is, in my opinion, the best religious movie ever made. Monty Python's Flying Circus knows how to do everything hilariously. Focusing on Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), who gets mistaken for the messiah in Judea in 33 AD, the movie pokes fun at everything: Romans, Jews, imperialism, even extraterrestrials. With sardonic lines almost every minute, they play religious fundamentalism for what it is: silly. I don't even know which scene was my favorite; every part was so funny. You'll never forget the song at the end. This is comedy in its greatest form, and it makes sense that it would come from the guys who brought us the "parrot sketch". Absolutely a hoot.