Episode 40- Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Part 2 of 2

Luke and Antony complete their look at the classic comedy ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian', the talk originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below).It’s hard to avoid the controversy that surrounded this filmwhen it came out, and you will hear a clip or two from the remarkable TV debate around the more contentious aspects of it, the like of which would surely not be seen these days.Most important though is the marvellous, some would sayflawless, content of the film, and we discuss some of the most famous and iconic scenes. Expect to hear about what the Romans did for civilisation, a famous Roman governor with a speech impediment, a rather unique Latin lesson and of course a controversially jolly accompaniment to the most agonising death imaginable.Our review of the follow-up film ‘Monty Python’s The Meaningof Life’ will follow (as it should) in JanuaryFor now, enjoy! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Luke’s English Podcast (main site and you tube channel) https://teacherluke.co.ukhttps://www.youtube.com/LukesEnglishPodcast Luke & Antony’s previous Python film collaboration (HolyGrail) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtOOBpRBaA episode linksVideo version of this discussion (June 2025)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNW-fBpUoc&t=5674s ‘Life of Brian’ film pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Life_of_Brianhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/ The Secret Life of Brian (recommended documentary)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdU_6jUQI9s The TV debate in full and the ‘Not The Nine O’Clock News’parodyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYMpObbt2rshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U&t=1s The graffiti Latin lesson scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ogBSKySo8U Crucifixion admin scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnqLfUF5a9s Commentary tracks for the film by the Monty Python membershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNpCzcbpjc8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQGMKk6h_nw&t=159s How bad was crucifixion? (caution- very grisly)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-EVfxABSoU

What more is there to say about Monty Python’s Life ofBrian? Well, we may as well give it a bash.  Luke Thompson takes on hosting duties for a swapcast between Film Gold and Luke’s English Podcast, originally recorded on video earlier this year (see below). In this first part, Luke & Antony discuss among otherthings their histories with the film, the basic philosophy of the Python team regarding biblical epics, some of the original inspiration for the film, and its production and financing.  Fans of the film will know that in that final aspect, acertain Beatle may well get a mention… Part 2 will follow in early December Enjoy! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Luke’s English Podcast (main site and you tube channel) https://teacherluke.co.ukhttps://www.youtube.com/LukesEnglishPodcast Luke & Antony’s previous Python film collaboration (HolyGrail) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMtOOBpRBaA episode linksVideo version of this discussion (June 2025)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNW-fBpUoc&t=5674s Film trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYHEordIo88 ‘Life of Brian’ film pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Life_of_Brianhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/ Saint George to the rescue!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDFdcfRAaCg The Secret Life of Brian (recommended documentary)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdU_6jUQI9s George Harrison & Michael Palin in The Rutles’ filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ifa3wqqDE

Among Oliver Stone’s large and celebrated body of work is afilm from 1997 that was largely ignored and derided at the time but is a classic case of a rediscovered gem with cult appeal. Scott Phipps joins Antony to look at the dark and twisted ‘U Turn’.Sean Penn leads an ensemble cast including the ultimate femme fatale Jennifer Lopez and many recognisable and renowned names at various stages of their careers. We recommend multiple viewings of this film to fullyabsorb all the details and vast array of imagesIs this actually a comedy of the blackest kind, as thetrailer would lead you to believe? Will Bobby Cooper ever get out of town? And is everyone in Superior, Arizona on drugs?'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Media podcasts⁠⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com⁠⁠https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com⁠ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode links‘U Turn’ original trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uidcyKDkFWU&t=1s ‘U Turn’ Wikipedia & IMDB pageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_Turn_(1997_film)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120399/ Film ’97 original featurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oonm3a6xPSM Roger Ebert reviewhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/u-turn-1997 Oliver Stone commentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R22-lLw5eMc&t=375s Ennio Morricone and U Turnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8PthAjIlZs 1997 in film (lots of competition!)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_in_film

This time round we present our second Steven Spielberg filmand one that was very much a forerunner to (and inspiration for) the more famous ‘Jaws’, as an ordinary man is forced to find inner resources and transcend his limitations in order to defeat a seemingly unstoppable force that can’t be reasoned with. By kind permission of Julian Charles of The Mind Renewed,the recording used here is from TMR’s 20th movie roundtable, featuring Antony as a guest alongside Julian, Frank Johnson and Mark Campbell. Dennis Weaver stars as David (every)Mann, a salesman driving his beloved red Plymouth Valiant through the California desert on his way to an important work appointment, when a predatory monster of a smoke-spewing truck inexplicably picks him as its unsuspecting prey. (from TMR shownotes)‘Join us as we examine the tension, explore the film'sminimalist brilliance, and ask what "takeaways" might be gleaned from Spielberg's early TV/cinematic masterpiece’.  'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Mediapodcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ‘The Mind Renewed’ website/podcasthttps://themindrenewed.com/episodes/2022-25/1646-ep084episode links‘Duel’ original trailer & IMDB pagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m9aeCeHbiQhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067023/ Steven Spielberg on the making of the film (3 parts)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luG6wuSQYUEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKd8z-3GXohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wob0Y0KVvC8 David Mann calls Chief Brody (Duel vs Jaws)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA0Y6SzEKrE

And so we say goodbye as Charles Foster Kane faces the final curtain… Antony wraps up Citizen Kane’s final scenes, discusses the critical response to the film and its multi-decade legacy, and the final words -13 minutes of them- are given to the man himself, Orson Welles, aided by Huw Wheldon and Dick Cavett If you’ve listened through this series (and the previous3-parter on Orson), we sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed it 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles andPsychology/Alt. Media podcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion:On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode linksThe Snow Globe scenehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSj-BCOlGPY The Rosebud revealhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr93wwtiKQM Citizen Kane film pages⁠⁠⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane⁠⁠⁠ Citizen Kane: Anatomy of a Classic (presented by BarryNorman)⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCez9Pgqb5s The life of Charles Foster Kane⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Foster_Kane⁠⁠ The Citizen Kane files (Wellesnet archive)⁠⁠⁠https://www.wellesnet.com/citizen-kane-resources/⁠⁠ Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles(must-watch doc, 2014)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtpfRl2wyE

Antony continues a scene-by-scene analysis of Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. As we enter the second half of the film, things are still going reasonably well with Charles Foster Kane, but the slow descent into despair and emptiness will soon begin with the famous ‘breakfast table montage’.As you listen to this and/or watch the film, it’s worth asking a fundamental question about acceptance of reality and whether public acclaim is merely a poor substitute for something fundamental to a happy life. The final part of this series will be out at the end of the month We hope you enjoy the show! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠ Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt.Mediapodcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: OnJohn Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode linksCitizen Kane film pages⁠⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1⁠⁠⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane⁠⁠ Original trailer for the film⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dxh3lwdOFw⁠⁠ The life of Charles Foster Kane⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Foster_Kane⁠ The Citizen Kane files (Wellesnet archive)⁠⁠https://www.wellesnet.com/citizen-kane-resources/⁠ The breakfast table montagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfl2M8B9WA8 Do we create our own reality?https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intimacy-path-toward-spirituality/201412/do-we-create-our-own-reality How to accept yourselfhttps://psychcentral.com/lib/ways-to-accept-yourself Are the rich more lonely?https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/are_the_rich_more_lonely

Our continuing journey into the world of Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane finds Antony beginning a scene-by-scene analysis, starting with the film’s Gothic horror opening,possibly the best-known final word of a character in any film, and then the sudden and jarring segue into the newsreel obituary of the world-famous Charles Foster Kane. We try to make sense of the sometimes absurdly non-linear structure of the film while admiring the remarkable artistry contained in every scene. The young Kane is brash, charismatic and successful in his professional and personal life, but his downfall will soon begin… Part 4 will be out next month We hope you enjoy the show! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠ Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt.Media podcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode linksCitizen Kane film pages⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane⁠ Original trailer for the film⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dxh3lwdOFw⁠ The life of Charles Foster Kanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Foster_Kane The Citizen Kane files (Wellesnet archive)⁠https://www.wellesnet.com/citizen-kane-resources/⁠ The electric opening to the filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFSjHBVx-xk News On The March!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ6QnaEQ7sY The projection roomhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZjkzM8N_oQ The full first half of the filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ol6mKC3aY The Union Forever- The White Stripes vs Citizen Kanehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X6PoXzpyz0 Renee Zellweger as Judy Garlandhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_dizVjNTbg

We continue our multi-part series on Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane, finishing our prelude to the main film by looking at the shooting, storytelling, special effects, editing and sound/music. We also detail its commercial performance and the pushback from William Randolph Hearst. In Part 3, Antony will begin going scene by scene through the film We hope you enjoy it! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠  Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠  Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠  Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt.Media podcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion:On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode linksCitizen Kane film pagehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033467/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 Citizen Kane: Anatomy of a Classic (presented by Barry Norman)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCez9Pgqb5s The Citizen Kane files (Wellesnet archive)https://www.wellesnet.com/citizen-kane-resources/ Gregg Toland (ace cameraman)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol3hAubwtM8 The Best of Bernard Herrmannhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0FRC1MTocs

Following on from Film Gold’s Orson Welles special last time round, Antony this time tackles head-on, with another multi-parter, the grandaddy of American films, Citizen Kane. The first two parts look at the background and the making of the film before we go scene-by-scene through the film in later parts.This time round, Antony intros this deep dive and looks at Orson Welles’s arrival in Hollywood, his incredible RKO contract, and the writing and inspiration(s) for the multi-layered character of Charles Foster Kane We hope you enjoy it! 'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.  Feedback to [email protected]  Facebook⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠  Twitter⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠  Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠  Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Media podcasts ⁠⁠https://glassoniononjohnlennon.comhttps://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/ Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠OR⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠⁠ episode linksCitizen Kane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Kane Original trailer for the filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dxh3lwdOFw The Battle Over Citizen Kane (Welles and Hearst)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1W65RHqM2k William Randolph Hearsthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst Mank (2020)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10618286/ Raising Kane (Pauline Kael, 1971)https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1971/02/20/raising-kane-i Heart of Darkness radio version (Orson Welles, 1938)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=201xgXsJMuA

Just as Orson Welles finally bowed out in 1985, we must do the same. This time round Antony and Ghosty pick up Orson’s film career from his acting gig in the sublime ‘The Third Man’, a couple of returns to Shakespeare territory and a trio of absolute masterworks of his own making, namely ‘Touch of Evil’, ‘The Trial’ and ‘F For Fake’ (plus a couple of other films along the way). Finally we look at interviews, his fall from grace into TV commercials, more comparisons with Marlon Brando and a final summing-up of our feelings about his life and legacy.   We (and Orson up there in the clouds) hope that you have enjoyed this latest series and Film Gold will be back before the end of the year for more. In the meantime, please check out Antony’s other podcasts (links below)   'Film Gold' is on all the main podcast platforms.   Feedback to [email protected]   Facebook⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/filmgoldpod⁠⁠   Twitter ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/FilmGold75⁠⁠   Antony's website (blog, music, podcasts) ⁠⁠ https://www.antonyrotunno.com⁠⁠   Antony’s John Lennon/Beatles and Psychology/Alt. Media podcasts ⁠⁠ https://glassoniononjohnlennon.com https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/   Support Antony’s podcast work (Film Gold, Glass Onion: On John Lennon and Life And Life Only) at ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/antonyrotunno⁠⁠ OR ⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/antonyrotunno⁠⁠   Ghosty’s Cliff Richard & The Shadows podcast ⁠https://wesayyeah.podbean.com/⁠   Interview clips from Ghosty’s radio show ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GhostyTMRS⁠   episode links Website for everything Orson https://www.wellesnet.com/   The Third Man theme played by Anton Karas & also The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oEsWi88Qv0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1cHZSskXxw   Poignant scenes from ‘Touch of Evil’ (1958) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTI6rN0Vmes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeccTYUrb_Q   Law court scene from ‘The Trial’ (1962) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGlB4a2B1I   F For Fake (1973) podcast deep dive https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/2020/08/episode-482-f-for-fake-1973.html   Recommended documentaries about Orson (Arena special, Magician, One-man band) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFqW6b1hfFY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brVah-r65pI&t=1s https://dochouse.org/event/magician-the-astonishing-life-and-work-of-orson-welles/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eoN1m73xXk   Simon  Callow (Orson biographer x many) discusses him on the ‘Great Lives’ podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b0b1r3hs   Classic Orson interviews (Dick Cavett 1970, Michael Parkinson 1974) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTOSevzp4w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NTOSevzp4w   Orson loses it over frozen peas! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyko_oQ0da8