What happens when a renowned comedy group’s most controversial work is left stranded days before filming begins? For Monty Python, 1978 was shaping up to be a complete disaster due to the withdrawal of financial support for its ‘Life of Brian‘ project, leaving the entire movie on the verge of cancellation.
But then an unexpected savior emerged. With the film on the verge of collapse, a surprising music icon stepped in and did everything possible to help the legendary comedy troupe bring the project to life. His swift intervention and millions of pounds in funding saved the project.
EMI Nearly Derailed ‘Life of Brian’ Before Filming Began
In 1978, Monty Python prepared to shoot ‘Life of Brian‘ under a financing deal with EMI Films. The crew finalized all pre-production work—locking down locations, casting roles, and hiring staff.
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However, the movie’s fate became endangered just days before production started, when EMI’s chief, Bernard Delfont, allegedly read the screenplay and found it rather controversial. Nervous about the film’s religious themes, the studio decided to withdraw its financial backing.
With no studio backing the project and considerable money already committed to pre-production, the film faced the very real possibility of collapsing before the cameras even rolled.
George Harrison Bankrolled ‘Life of Brian’ When No One Else Would
To save the movie from the scrap heap, Eric Idle turned to Monty Python fan George Harrison for advice after traditional investors refused to touch the controversial project.
Rather than seeking another studio or investor to rescue ‘Life of Brian,’ George Harrison and his business partner Denis O’Brien chose to finance the film themselves.
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They founded a company called HandMade Films, through which they invested about £3 million in ‘Life of Brian;’ moreover, according to some sources, Harrison mortgaged his Friar Park estate to raise the required funds.
When reporters later asked the musician why he chose to pour such a massive fortune into a controversial comedy project, he replied that he simply wanted to see the movie.
This remark eventually inspired Eric Idle to coin the phrase “the world’s most expensive cinema ticket” when describing the project. Fortunately, Harrison’s gamble paid off as ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian‘ won over audiences worldwide, and critics now crown it the best comedy movie of all time, securing its legacy for generations to come.
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