A book about the film Monty Python's Life of Brian : all of the references from Assyrians to Zeffirelli

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 CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION ABBREVIATIONS SCENE ONE. IN A BETHLEHEM MANGER SCENE TWO. ANIMATED TITLE AND CREDIT SEQUENCE SCENE THREE. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT SCENE FOUR. THE STONING SCENE FIVE. ALMS FOR AN EX-LEPER SCENE SIX. I’M NOT A ROMAN, MUM! SCENE SEVEN. THE COLOSSEUM, JERUSALEM SCENE EIGHT. THE PEOPLES’ FRONT OF JUDEA SCENE NINE. THE LATIN LESSON SCENE TEN. THE PFJ PLAN THEIR RAID SCENE ELEVEN. IN THE PALACE SEWERS SCENE TWELVE. IN PILATE’S JAIL SCENE THIRTEEN. IN THE COURT OF PONTIUS PILATE SCENE FOURTEEN. THE SPACE MOVIE INTERRUPTION SCENE FIFTEEN. STREET PREACHERS AND HAGGLING SCENE SIXTEEN. HIDING WITH THE PFJ SCENE SEVENTEEN. BRIAN GIVES A SERMON SCENE EIGHTEEN. SIMON THE HERMIT SCENE NINETEEN. “HE’S NOT THE MESSIAH” PANTO SCENE TWENTY. BRIAN IS ARRESTED, AGAIN SCENE TWENTY-ONE. THE PFJ DISCUSSES SCENE TWENTY-TWO. THE CRUCIFIXION QUEUE SCENE TWENTY-THREE. PILATE’S PASSOVER ADDRESS SCENE TWENTY-FOUR. THE CRUCIFIXION QUEUE, PART II SCENE TWENTY-FIVE. PILATE’S PASSOVER ADDRESS, PART II SCENE TWENTY-SIX. THE CRUCIFIXION PARTY SCENE TWENTY-SEVEN. PILATE’S PASSOVER ADDRESS, PART III SCENE TWENTY-EIGHT. LOOKING FOR BRIAN SCENE TWENTY-NINE. THE PFJ RESOLVES SCENE THIRTY. TOWARD CALVARY SCENE THIRTY-ONE. “ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE” BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR "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 since been 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 the References from Assyrians to Zeffirelli, Darl Larsen identifies and examines the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions in the film--from first-century Jerusalem through 1970s Great Britain. Organized chronologically by scene, the entries in this volume cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places, as well as the many social, cultural, and historical elements that populate this film"--Page [4] of cover. 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 since been 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 the References from Assyrians to Zeffirelli, Darl Larsen identifies and examines the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions in the film--from first-century Jerusalem through 1970s Great Britain. Organized chronologically by scene, the entries in this volume cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places, as well as the many social, cultural, and historical elements that populate this film--back cover This book identifies the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical references in the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian. The author cites and explains virtually every allusion—from first-century Jerusalem through 1970s Great Britain, from terror groups ancient to modern, from Pontius Pilate to Margaret Thatcher—that appears in the film.