Monty Python's Life of Brian
Screening: 25 November 2002
Sponsored and introduced by Paula
Thelwell
UK 1979
89 minutes
Directed by Terry Jones
Leading players - The Monty Python team, Spike Milligan, George Harrison.
Synopsis
Roman occupied Judea, the early hours, 25 December 0000. A single-mother, Mandy, (Terry Jones) gives birth to a boy, Brian, in a stable in Bethlehem, just down the road from the site of another happy event. Three kings arrive, pay homage to the baby, realise their mistake and ungallantly retrieve their gifts.This unfortunate incident sets the tone for Brian’s (Graham Chapman) life. Firmly tied to his mother's apron strings the hapless booby searches for love, joins an inept group of politically correct freedom fighters, learns the intricacies of Latin grammar the hard way, cadges a ride into outer space on a flying saucer, loses a shoe and a gourd and is mistaken for the Messiah.
* * * * * *
The Pythons’ irreverent version of the greatest story ever told caused outrage in religious circles on its release in 1979 and nowhere more so than our own sceptred isle. Jersey’s version of the British Board of film Censors - the Bailiff’s Panel - was convened to see if the outrageous comedy was fit to be screening at the Odeon. In their infinite wisdom the panel concluded the 15 certificate was too low and decreed it could only be shown in the Island if it was raised to an 18. The Pythons quite rightly refused with the consequences that the film has never received a public screening in the Island - until now.
