Monty Python's Life Of Brian (1979) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

Irreverent satire of Biblical films and religious intolerance focuses on Brian, a Jew in Roman-occupied Judea. After joining up with an anti-Roman political organization, Brian is mistaken for a prophet, and becomes a reluctant Messiah.

Cast & Crew

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Terry Jones

Terry Jones

Bob Hoskins; Colin--A Passerby; Mandy; Mother Of Brian; Saintly Passerby; Simon The Holy Man

Graham Chapman

1st Wise Man; Biggus Dickus; Brian Called Brian

Michael Palin

2nd Wise Man; Ben--An Ancient Prisoner; Boring Prophet; Eddie--A Passerby; Ex-Leper; Francis--A Revolutionary; Mr Big Nose; Mrs A--Casts Second Stone; Nisus Wettus; Pontius Pilate--Roman Governor

John Cleese

3rd Wise Man; Arthur--A Passerby; Centurion Of The Yard; Dirk Reg--Leader Of Judean People'S Front; Jewish Official At Stoning

Eric Idle

Culprit Woman--Casts The First Stone; Harry The Haggler--A Beard-And-Stone Salesman; Intensely Dull Youth--A Passerby; Jailer'S Assistant; Mr Cheeky; Mr Frisbee Iii; Otto--Leader Of Judean Peoples' Front; Stan--Called Loretta--A Confused Revolutionary

Film Details

Also Known As

Life of Brian, Monty Pythons Life of Brian - ett herrans liv, vie de Brian

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Period

Religion

Release Date

1979

Production Company

Wig Specialties, London

Distribution Company

ORION PICTURES/TRAFALGAR RELEASING; Orion Pictures; Cic Video; Orion Pictures; Paramount Home Media; Warner Bros. Pictures International

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 33m

Sound

Dolby

Color

Color (Eastmancolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Synopsis

Irreverent satire of Biblical films and religious intolerance focuses on Brian, a Jew in Roman-occupied Judea. After joining up with an anti-Roman political organization, Brian is mistaken for a prophet, and becomes a reluctant Messiah.

Director

Terry Jones

Cast

Terry Jones

Bob Hoskins; Colin--A Passerby; Mandy; Mother Of Brian; Saintly Passerby; Simon The Holy Man

Graham Chapman

1st Wise Man; Biggus Dickus; Brian Called Brian

Michael Palin

2nd Wise Man; Ben--An Ancient Prisoner; Boring Prophet; Eddie--A Passerby; Ex-Leper; Francis--A Revolutionary; Mr Big Nose; Mrs A--Casts Second Stone; Nisus Wettus; Pontius Pilate--Roman Governor

John Cleese

3rd Wise Man; Arthur--A Passerby; Centurion Of The Yard; Dirk Reg--Leader Of Judean People'S Front; Jewish Official At Stoning

Eric Idle

Culprit Woman--Casts The First Stone; Harry The Haggler--A Beard-And-Stone Salesman; Intensely Dull Youth--A Passerby; Jailer'S Assistant; Mr Cheeky; Mr Frisbee Iii; Otto--Leader Of Judean Peoples' Front; Stan--Called Loretta--A Confused Revolutionary

Terry Gilliam

Another Person Further Forward; Blood-And-Thunder Prophet; Geoffrey--A Passerby; Jailer; Masked Commando; Revolutionary

Kenneth Colley

Gwen Taylor

Mrs Big Nose; Woman With Sick Donkey; Young Girl--A Passerby

Terence Bayler

Dennis--A Passerby; Gregory; Masked Commando; Revolutionary

Carol Cleveland

Elsie--A Passerby; Mrs Gregory

Charles Mckeown

Blind Man; False Prophet; Giggling Guard; Man Further Forward; Masked Commando; Revolutionary; Stig--Roman Soldier

Sue Jones-davis

Judith--A Beautiful Revolutionary

John Young

Stoned Passerby In Crowd

Bernard Mckenna

Giggling Guard; Masked Commando; Official Stoner'S Helper; Parvus--A Centurion; Revolutionary

Andrew Maclachlan

Another Official Stoner'S Helper; Giggling Guard; Masked Commando; Passerby In Crowd; Revolutionary

Neil Innes

Weedy Samaritan At Amphitheatre

Chris Langham

Alfonso Knode--A Passerby; Giggling Guard; Masked Commando; Revolutionary

Spike Milligan

George Harrison

Mr Papadopoulis

John Case

Sue Jones Davies

Crew

David Appleby

Tarak Ben Ammar

Executive Producer

Jonathan Benson

1st Assistant Director

Peter Biziou

Director Of Photography

Peter Biziou

Dp/Cinematographer

Geoffrey Burgeon

Elaine Carew

Elaine Carew

Graham Chapman

Roger Christian

John Cleese

Julian Doyle

John Du Prez

John Foster

Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam

Production Designer

Terry Gilliam

John Goldstone

Tim Hampton

Associate Producer

George Harrison

Executive Producer

David Howman

Eric Idle

Eric Idle

Eric Idle

Song Performer ("Bright Side Of Life")

Andre Jacquemin

Sonia Jones

Song Performer ("Brian")

Terry Jones

Charles Knode

Costume Designer

Maggie Lieston

Maggie Lieston

Melvin Lind

2nd Assistant Director

Ken Lintott

Ken Lintott

Kenneth Lintott

Kenneth Lintott

Brenda Loader

Script Supervisor

Garth Marshall

Sound Recording Mixer

Denis O'brien

Executive Producer

Michael Palin

Hazel Pethig

Costume Designer

John Stanier

Camera Operator

Hugh Strain

Sound Rerecording Mixer

Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson

Film Details

Also Known As

Life of Brian, Monty Pythons Life of Brian - ett herrans liv, vie de Brian

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Period

Religion

Release Date

1979

Production Company

Wig Specialties, London

Distribution Company

ORION PICTURES/TRAFALGAR RELEASING; Orion Pictures; Cic Video; Orion Pictures; Paramount Home Media; Warner Bros. Pictures International

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 33m

Sound

Dolby

Color

Color (Eastmancolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.85 : 1

Quotes

Excuse me. Are you the Judean People's Front?
- Brian

Fuck off! We're the People's Front of Judea
- Reg

All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
- Reg

Brought peace?
- Attendee

Oh, peace -- shut up!
- Reg

There is not one of us who would not gladly suffer death to rid this country of the Romans once and for all.
- Reg

Uh, well, one.
- Dissenter

Oh, yeah, yeah, there's one. But otherwise, we're solid.
- Reg

Have I got a big nose, Mum?
- Brian

Stop thinking about sex!
- Mandy

I wasn't!
- Brian

You're always on about it. "Will the girls like this? Will the girls like that? Is it too big? Is it too small?"
- Mandy

I am NOT the Messiah!
- Brian

I say you are Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few.
- Arthur

If you want to join the People's Front of Judea, you have to really hate the Romans.
- Reg

I do!
- Brian

Oh yeah, how much?
- Reg

A lot!
- Brian

Right, you're in.
- Reg

Trivia

Spike Milligan was holidaying in Tunisia while the film was being shot. When the Python team realized he was nearby they offered him a part in the film.

Numerous title changes: "Monty Python's Life of Brian", etc. They toyed with calling the film "Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory", but decided against it.

Years before the film was made, someone asked Eric Idle what the next Python picture would be, and he replied Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory. They began to like the idea of a comedy set in this time period, and an early idea for a scene involved Jesus, a skilled carpenter frustratingly trying to be crucified on a poorly built cross.

Six cast members played 40 various characters

Released theatrically in Italy in the early 1990s, with no mention that it was made in 1979. The success was such that And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) was also released theatrically.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 2015

Released in United States August 1979

Released in United States January 1996

Released in United States Summer August 17, 1979

Re-released in United States on Video August 24, 1994

Re-released in United States on Video June 27, 1991

Formerly distributed by Warner Home Video.

Released in United States 2015 (Special Screening)

Released in United States January 1996 (Shown in New York City (American Museum of the Moving Image) as part of program "Fairy Tales For Adults: A Terry Gilliam Retrospective" January 6-21, 1996.)

Re-released in United States on Video June 27, 1991

Released in United States August 1979

Released in United States Summer August 17, 1979

Formerly distributed by Hallmark Releasing.

Re-released in United States on Video August 24, 1994

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