A Book about the Film Monty Python's Life of Brian

All the References from Assyrians to Zeffirelli

Darl Larsen

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Year: 2018
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781538103661
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Film & Video

As a follow-up to their first true feature film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the comic troupe next decided to tackle a "shadow" version of the Christ story. Shot in the Middle East and produced during Margaret Thatcher's ascendant years, the film satirized—among other matters—authoritarianism and religious zealotry. Upon its release, Monty Python's Life of Brian was both a critical and commercial success, and has been since hailed as one of the greatest comedies of all time. But the film also faced backlash from religious groups for its blasphemy, perceived or otherwise.

In A Book about the Film Monty Python's Life of Brian: All of the References from Assyrians to Zeffirelli, Darl Larsen identifies and examines the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions in the film. In this resource, Larsen delineates virtually every allusion and reference that appears in the film—from first-century Jerusalem through 1970s Great Britain. Organized chronologically by scene, the entries in this cultural history cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places, as well as the many social, cultural, and historical elements that populate this film.

By closely examining each scene, this book explores the Pythons' comparisons of the Roman and British Empires and of Pilate and Margaret Thatcher. In addition, Larsen helps to situate Life of Brian in the "Jesus" re-examination of the postwar period, while also taking a close look at the terror groups of first-century Judea and the modern world. A Book about the Film Monty Python's Life of Brian will appeal to scholars of history, film, British culture, and pop culture, as well as to the many fans of this iconic group.

Table of contents

• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Abbreviations
• Scene 1: In a Bethlehem Manger
• Scene 2: Animated Title and Credit Sequence
• Scene 3: The Sermon on the Mount
• Scene 4: The Stoning
• Scene 5: Alms for an Ex-leper
• Scene 6: I’m Not a Roman, Mum!
• Scene 7: The Colosseum, Jerusalem
• Scene 8: The Peoples’ Front of Judea
• Scene 9: The Latin Lesson
• Scene 10: The PFJ Plan Their Raid
• Scene 11: In the Palace Sewers
• Scene 12: In Pilate’s Jail
• Scene 13: In the Court of Pontius Pilate
• Scene 14: The Space Movie Interruption
• Scene 15: Street Preachers and Haggling
• Scene 16: Hiding with the PFJ
• Scene 17: Brian Gives a Sermon
• Scene 18: Simon the Hermit
• Scene 19: “He’s Not the Messiah” Panto
• Scene 20: Brian Is Arrested, Again
• Scene 21: The PFJ Discusses
• Scene 22: The Crucifixion Queue
• Scene 23: Pilate’s Passover Address
• Scene 24: The Crucifixion Queue, Part II
• Scene 25: Pilate’s Passover Address, Part II
• Scene 26: The Crucifixion Party
• Scene 27: Pilate’s Passover Address, Part III
• Scene 28: Looking for Brian
• Scene 29: The PFJ Resolves
• Scene 30: Toward Calvary
• Scene 31: “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”
• Bibliography
• About the Author