Monty Python's classic film Life of Brian almost never made it to the big screen after its original backer, EMI, pulled out just before production was due to begin. The film, which parodies religious fervour and mistaken identity, was saved only when former Beatle George Harrison pawned his house to raise $5m. When asked why, Harrison simply said: 'Because I want to see it.'
The idea for the film emerged during a publicity tour for Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Amsterdam, when Eric Idle suggested the title Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory. The group initially dismissed it as too controversial but soon embraced the challenge of a film about religion, set in the time of Jesus but focusing on a man mistaken for the Messiah who spends the entire film protesting that he is not.
The script was largely written during a two-week trip to Barbados, where the Pythons worked in separate groups before coming together to link the sketches. Director Terry Jones, who helmed the film alone, aimed for a gritty, realistic look, shooting in Tunisia to create a 'dirty and decayed' atmosphere that he felt made the humour funnier. The Pontius Pilate scene proved the most difficult to film, as actors had to suppress laughter while delivering lines about 'Biggus Dickus' and 'Wodewick'.
The film faced widespread censorship, being banned in Ireland, Norway, and Italy, while 39 British councils either banned it or gave it an X certificate. John Cleese and Terry Jones defended the film on a BBC chat show against the Bishop of Southwark and Malcolm Muggeridge, which Cleese later described as a turning point that helped break the assumption that religion was beyond criticism.
Despite the controversies, Life of Brian has endured as a comedy classic, with Harrison's investment proving a pivotal moment in its creation.
