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The Meaning of Life (1983)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
31 March 1983 (USA) moreTagline:
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 moreNewsDesk:
Interview: Monty Python’s Terry Jones to Appear in ‘Holy Grail’ Chicago Screening(From HollywoodChicago.com. 7 May 2009, 2:59 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Michael Palin sums it up best. moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Graham Chapman | ... | Fish #1 / Doctor / Harry Blackitt / Wymer / Hordern / General / Coles / Narrator #2 / Dr. Livingstone / Transvestite / Eric / Chairman / Guest #1 / Arthur Jarrett / Geoffrey / Tony Bennett | |
| John Cleese | ... | Fish #2 / Dr. Spencer / Humphrey Williams / Sturridge / Ainsworth / Waiter / Eric's Assistant / Maître D' / Grim Reaper | |
| Terry Gilliam | ... | Window Washer / Fish #4 / Walters / Middle of the Film Announcer / M'Lady Joeline / Mr. Brown / Howard Katzenberg | |
| Eric Idle | ... | Fish #3 / 'Meaning of Life' Singer / Mr. Moore / Mrs. Blackitt / Watson / Blackitt / Atkinson / Perkins / Victim #3 / Front End / Mrs. Hendy / Man in Pink / Gunther / Noël Coward / Gaston / Angela | |
| Terry Jones | ... | Fish #6 / Mum / Priest / Biggs / Sergeant / Man with Bendy Arms / Mrs. Brown / Bert / Mr. Creosote / Maria / Leaf Father / Fiona Portland-Smyth | |
| Michael Palin | ... | Window Washer / Fish #5 / Mr. Pycroft / Dad / Narrator #1 / Chaplain / Carter / Spadger / Regimental Sergeant Major / Pakenham-Walsh / Rear End / Lady TV Presenter / Mr. Marvin Hendy / Harry / Padre / Debbie Katzenberg | |
| Carol Cleveland | ... | Wife of Guest #1 / Heaven Receptionist | |
| Simon Jones | ... | Chadwick / Jeremy Portland-Smyth | |
| Patricia Quinn | ... | Mrs. Williams | |
| Judy Loe | ... | Nurse #1 | |
| Andrew MacLachlan | ... | Groom / Wycliff / Victim #1 / Guest #3 | |
| Mark Holmes | ... | Victim #2 / Guest #2 / Elephant Waiter | |
| Valerie Whittington | ... | Mrs. Moore | |
| Jennifer Franks | ... | Bride | |
| Imogen Bickford-Smith | ... | Nurse #2 (as Imogen Bickford Smith) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (UK) (complete title)El sentido de la vida (Argentina) (DVD title) (Spain) [es]
Der Sinn des Lebens (West Germany) [de]
Estamos todos locos (Argentina) [es]
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]
Monty Pythons, to noima tis zois (Greece) [el]
O Sentido da Vida (Portugal) [pt]
Sens zycia wedlug Monty Pythona (Poland) [pl]
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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) | Iceland:12 | Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/18 | Canada:PG (Ontario) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) (1983-1990) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:13 | 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:16Fun Stuff
Trivia:
"The Crimson Permanent Assurance" segment was filmed as if it were a completely separate project. Terry Gilliam got his own soundstage, crew and cast. This segment continued to expand because, according to Gilliam, nobody told him to stop. moreGoofs:
Continuity: In the classroom scene the young student seated in the rear right corner appears and disappears three times in successive shots. moreQuotes:
Maitre d': Et maintenant, would monsieur care for an aperitif, or would he prefer to order straightaway? Today, we have for appetizers - excuse me - uh, moules marinières, pâte de foie gras, beluga caviar, eggs Benedictine, tarte de poireaux - that's leek tart - frogs legs amandine or oeufs de caille Richard Shepherd - C'est à dire, little quails' eggs on a bed of pureed mushrooms. It's very delicate, very succulent.Mr. Creosote: I'll have the lot.
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Soundtrack:
Penis Song moreFAQ
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The Meaning of Life finds the Monty Python boys going back to their Flying Circus roots in a film that examines the many stages of life, and reduces them all to the absurdity that one would expect from these six loons. A very neat short film from Terry Gilliam starts off this search for the meaning of life and we go from birth, to examining the benefits of being a Prostestant. From there we are treated to war, live organ transplants, a very bizarre middle section of the film, sex education, Terry Jones puking and exploding in what has to be one of the most disgusting but extremely funny scenes ever committed to film. It all leads up to death, and I personally like Grahm Chapman's way of execution. It all winds up in Heaven, where every day is Christmas and it's all set up like a Las Vegas lounge show. At the end, Michael Palin gives us the meaning of life. I think he's right.