Finite Focus: “…until I blow this whistle” (Monty Python’s Life of Brian)
I am a big fan of Monty Python, and Monty Python’s Life of Brian is arguably the finest film the British comedy troupe ever released (though Monty Python and the Holy Grail has more than it’s share of supporters as well, and rightly so). Of course, the very nature of the film (a comedy set in Jerusalem during the time of Christ) opened it up to attacks from various groups, and Life of Brian was the target of substantial backlash when it was first released in 1979. Because of an uproar from religious leaders, the film was banned outright in both Ireland and Norway. Even before the cameras started rolling, Life of Brian experienced its share of problems when EMI, the company which had agreed to finance the picture, pulled out because they deemed the script “too blasphemous” (fortunately for the Pythons, former Beatle George Harrison stepped in and put up the money). I find these attacks all very interesting, especially when you consider the fact that Life of Brian was not so much a film concerning the life of Jesus as it was a comedy that happened to take place at the same time Jesus walked the earth. William Wyler did this very thing in 1959 with Ben-Hur, only without the jokes. Who’d have thought laughter could be considered so distasteful?
Controversies aside, however, there is no denying the brilliant humor on display in this film, and I found it very difficult to pick just one scene to focus on. I considered a handful of sequences, including the “Biggus Dickus” incident, the “Sermon on the Mount”, and of course, the final “mass crucifixion” musical number. In the end, I settled on the following scene, only because I always loved the way John Cleese handled it (the absolute classic line is delivered by the soon-to-be-executed prisoner, played by John Young, when told by Cleese that his continued “blasphemy” was only making things worse).
Even those who haven’t seen Life of Brian won’t require much along the lines of a ‘story set-up’ to enjoy this scene, but just in case you haven’t, there are 2 things you should know before clicking below:
1. According to tradition, women are not allowed to attend public stonings, and
2. The best-selling items on the black market are fake beards, which, when worn by women, go a long way in passing them off as men.
That’s all I have to say…enjoy!
I am also a HUGE Monty Python fan, at least of the their movies (for some reason never got into the Flying Circus tv show). It is SO hard to pick one scene from a comedy masterpiece like Life of Brian but I think you’re choice of scene was good.
“I only said that bit of halibut was good enough for Jahova”
haha, classic.
(Btw I PREFER the Holy Grail but it’s awfully close)
Comment by Ross Miller — February 10, 2008 @ 10:36 am
The “how shall we **ck off O lord” segment is my favorite, along when the centurions search the tiny room for dissidents. “We Found this Spoon Sir!”
Comment by Kurt Halfyard — February 10, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Comment by Mercurie — February 10, 2008 @ 11:57 am
“Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.”
“What? Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!”
“He is! He is the Messiah!”
Love it. I’d probably give it the slight edge of Holy Grail concept-wise, although Holy Grail has the more memorable moments.
Comment by Jonathan — February 10, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
Comment by Another Mike — February 11, 2008 @ 8:34 am
Comment by Colleeny — February 11, 2008 @ 11:36 am
Comment by Marina Antunes — February 11, 2008 @ 1:13 pm