'Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL individuals! '
Brian
When I was growing up, I used to really dislike anything connected with Monty Python. It wasn't actually the comedy troupe, or any of their projects, it was the fact that two of my older brothers used to LOVE them. Repeats used to air late at night, and my brothers would tape the shows on VHS, and then watch them, and the movies, all the time.
They'd have their friends over to watch, and hog the one television we had in the rec room. Do I still sound bitter... well maybe just a little.😁 Until I was old enough and had enough money to buy my own television, we had so many fights over the TV that they usually ended with my parents turning it off, not letting any of us watch until we worked things out.
When I was in University, one of my friends had a Monty Python themed Halloween party. Given my lack of interest, I simply went wearing a toga. There were actually quite a few guys in togas, many saying their costume was from Life of Brian. I'd never heard of the film, but did end up watching The Meaning of Life not long after, and have to admit, I laughed out loud more than a few times.
Last week, when I was looking for a movie to feature over Easter, weekend, Life of Brian continued to come up. Although not really an Easter film, it does tell a Monty Python version of the life of Jesus, including the resurrection. Directed by Python's Terry Jones, the film featured the entire comedy troupe. (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). The film follows the life of Brian, (Chapman) a young Jewish-Roman man who born on the same day, and next door, to Jesus. This leads to confusion when Brian is then mistaken for the Messiah.
Although the 1979 comedy was a box office success, in both the UK and in the US, it also came with a controversy. After release, the film drew accusations of blasphemy from religious groups, and many early screenings included boycotts and protests. The subject matter also led to many locations banning, or slapping the film with an X rating.
That X rating might also be connected to Graham Chapman's full frontal in the film. Chapman plays three roles in the film, Brian, one of the wisemen and a character named Biggus Dickus. Although the Monty Python films didn't shy away from nudity, this was Chapman's only nude scene that I could find, and one of the only full frontals from one of the comedy groups main cast members.
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