Buzz
Following the massive triumph of 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Britain's most absurd comedy group sought a worthy successor. They opted for another historical parody, this time demanding even more intricate sets and costumes—and, as an added bonus, it was poised to ruffle feathers across the board. Released in 1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian indeed stirred controversy. It also quickly became a top contender on numerous lists of the greatest satirical films ever made, further solidifying Monty Python's legendary status. Now, stop debating the Romans' contributions and dive into this respectful collection of key trivia.
1. THE IDEA WAS BORN IN AMSTERDAM, PENNED IN BARBADOS, AND SHOT IN TUNISIA.
While Monty Python was undeniably a British comedy group, Life of Brian was a global endeavor. The concept of a Biblical satire emerged during the promotion of Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Amsterdam in early 1976. (Though Amsterdam's other influences remain unmentioned, alcohol undoubtedly played a role.) The script's final version was completed around Christmas 1977 in Barbados, where Eric Idle was holidaying; instead of heading back to London, he persuaded the rest of the Pythons to join him there. For filming, England lacked the desert landscapes needed to mimic Jerusalem, so the team relocated to Tunisia, a location recently used for Star Wars and, more pertinently, Jesus of Nazareth.
2. THE PRODUCTION UTILIZED SURPLUS SETS AND COSTUMES FROM AN AUTHENTIC JESUS FILM.
Renowned Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, famous for his 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, had previously created a six-hour English-language TV miniseries titled Jesus of Nazareth, which captivated a global audience in 1977. One of the advantages for the Pythons filming in Tunisia was the opportunity to repurpose leftover props, costumes, and sets from Zeffirelli's production.
3. THE PYTHONS DELIBERATELY CHOSE NOT TO MOCK JESUS.
Despite claims from critics (many of whom hadn’t even watched the film), Life of Brian does not mock Jesus or his teachings. (His followers, those who misinterpret him, and organized religion, however, are fair game.) Early in the writing process, the Monty Python team agreed that Jesus himself should not be a subject of ridicule. This decision wasn’t rooted in reverence but rather practicality: they found nothing inherently laughable about Jesus' words or actions. As Eric Idle later remarked, "He's not particularly funny. What he's saying isn't mockable; it's very decent stuff."
4. JESUS SPOKE WITH A STUTTER.
Although Life of Brian revolves around a man whose life mirrors that of Jesus, Jesus himself makes only a brief appearance (and, as the Pythons emphasized, it’s done respectfully). Terry Gilliam revealed that Kenneth Colley, the actor portraying Jesus, had a severe stammer in real life, which miraculously disappeared when he delivered lines onstage or on camera. (Incidentally, Colley also portrayed Admiral Piett, an Imperial officer, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.)
5. JOHN CLEESE ADVOCATED FOR A HIGH-PROFILE ACTOR TO PLAY JESUS.
Cleese proposed George Lazenby for the role, explaining, "I thought having '...and George Lazenby as Jesus Christ' on the poster would be something people would cherish for the next thousand years." While he may have been correct, it’s likely for the best that Jesus wasn’t portrayed by a well-known actor.
6. THE FILM'S FINANCIAL SAVIOR WAS A BEATLE.
Just two days before the crew was scheduled to depart for Tunisia, EMI Films' head, Bernard Delfont, withdrew funding, fearing the film’s controversial nature would make it unprofitable. (Gilliam noted that Delfont had finally read the script.) Production halted as the Pythons desperately sought a new backer. Enter George Harrison, a devoted Monty Python fan with ample funds from his Beatles earnings. Harrison established HandMade Films, a production company, and personally invested $4 million. "I liked the script and wanted to see the movie," he later remarked. Terry Jones dubbed it "the most expensive movie ticket in history." The film concludes with a subtle jab at Delfont, as the singer of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" mutters, "I told him, 'Bernie, they'll never make that money back.’"
7. A MAKESHIFT CIRCUMCISION WAS NECESSARY.
Eric Idle shared that during the filming of the scene where Brian, played by Graham Chapman, appears nude at a window, director Terry Jones noticed an issue with Chapman's appearance, stating, "We can see you're not Jewish." This observation was crucial since Brian needed to appear circumcised. Chapman ingeniously used a rubber band to alter his appearance, showcasing his commitment to the role.
8. IT INITIALLY OFFENDED SOME MUSLIMS.
During the filming of the window scene, the majority of the extras were Muslim women from Tunisia. In their culture, it is inappropriate for women to see a man other than their husband unclothed. Chapman later reflected on the incident, noting that many of the women fled in shock upon seeing him, which deeply affected him.
9. THE CREW MADE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE FILMING LOCATIONS, YET SOME DAMAGE OCCURRED.
Several sets were repurposed from Jesus of Nazareth, while others were custom-built for Life of Brian. Additionally, some scenes were shot in historic structures near Monastir, Tunisia. The production team aimed to reduce their environmental footprint, but some damage was unavoidable. For instance, Terry Gilliam, the production designer, mistakenly thought the black marks left by the UFO crash scene (around the 44-minute mark) would wash off. When they didn’t, he discreetly had the stones repainted to their original color, hoping no one would spot the difference.
10. THE FILM'S U.S. RELEASE BEFORE THE U.K. HAD A TACTICAL PURPOSE.
While Monty Python enjoyed immense popularity in the U.K., their U.S. fan base was smaller. Despite this, Life of Brian premiered in America first. The reason? The Pythons anticipated accusations of blasphemy, and unlike the U.K., the U.S. lacked blasphemy laws. Their concerns were justified, as England had recently seen a blasphemy case involving a provocative poem about Jesus.
11. THE INITIAL PROTESTS CAME FROM AN UNEXPECTED GROUP: RABBIS.
While the filmmakers expected backlash from Christian groups, they were surprised when the first objections came from a council of rabbis. Their issue? The stoning scene, which humorously critiques Jewish reverence for God’s name, and features John Cleese, as a Jewish leader, wearing a sacred prayer shawl.
12. FILMING THE UFO SCENE WAS A RUSH AGAINST TIME AND TAX REGULATIONS.
During production, Graham Chapman resided in the U.S. and faced strict tax laws limiting his stays in England to 24 hours. While most scenes were filmed in Tunisia, the UFO sequence required shooting in London. Chapman flew in, rushed to the set, spent hours inside the spacecraft, and left before exceeding his time limit.
13. GRAHAM CHAPMAN ALSO SERVED AS THE SET'S PHYSICIAN.
Before his comedy career, Chapman studied medicine and became a licensed doctor while already working in British TV. On the Life of Brian set in Tunisia, he balanced acting with running an evening clinic, treating injuries and prescribing medications for the cast, crew, and extras.
Additional Sources: Criterion Collection DVD bonus features and commentary
