Date: 25th March 2004

Python film to challenge Passion


Monty Python's film Life Of Brian, The (1979) is to return to US cinemas next month following the success of The Passion Of the Christ (2004).

The Biblical satire will be re-released in Los Angeles, New York and other US cities to mark its 25th anniversary, reports the BBC.

Adverts will challenge Mel Gibson's blockbuster with the lines "Mel or Monty?", "The Passion or the Python?"

Distributor Rainbow said it hoped the film would "serve as an antidote to all the hysteria about Mel's movie".

The Life of Brian was condemned as blasphemous before its original release, although Monty Python insisted it was intended as a spoof on Bible films and intolerance rather than Christianity.

The film could not be completed until former Beatle George Harrison stepped in to finance it after EMI Films withdrew, fearing it was too controversial.

Rainbow president Henry Jaglom said: "We decided this is an important time to re-release this film, to provide some counter-programming to The Passion."

He said the surviving members of the Monty Python comedy team "all agreed this was a good time" and have pledged to help promote it.

Mr Jaglom, whose partner John Goldstone produced the original film, said trailers for the comedy would start to appear in cinemas on Good Friday.

Source: Press Release


 

 

Related Stories

Film Stories : Life Of Brian, The (1979)