The Other Life Of Brian

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.

Brian Johnson’s memoir from growing up in a small town to starting his own band to ultimately replacing Bon Scott, the lead singer of one of the world biggest rock acts, AC/DC. They would record their first album together, the iconic Back in Black, which would become the biggest selling rock album of all time. Brian Johnson was born to a steelworker and WWII veteran father and an Italian mother, growing up in New Castle Upon Tyne, England, a working-class town. He was musically inclined and sang with the church choir. By the early ’70s he performed with the glam rock band Geordie, and they had a couple hits, but it was tough going. So tough that by 1976, they disbanded and Brian turned to a blue-collar life. Then 1980 changed everything. Bon Scott, the lead singer and lyricist of the Australian rock band AC/DC died at 33. The band auditioned singers, among them Johnson, whom Scott himself had seen perform and raved about. Within days, Johnson was in a studio with the band, working with founding members Angus and Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd, along with producer Mutt Lange. When the album, Back in Black, was released in July—a mere three months after Johnson had joined the band—it exploded, going on to sell 50 million copies worldwide, and triggering a years-long worldwide tour. It has been declared “the biggest selling hard rock album ever made” and “the best-selling heavy-metal album in history.” The band toured the world for a full year to support the album, changing the face of rock music—and Brian Johnson’s life—forever.

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.

Brian Honour was born in the former pit village of Horden, County Durham, and his passion from a young age was always to become a professional footballer. Despite the odds and many setbacks, that's exactly what he achieved, giving his all to the game and earning respect from fans, fellow players and the media alike. Many believed his skills would clinch him a place with a Premiership side and, although this was never to be, he is rightly considered a legend and The Life of Brian is a fitting tribute to the man who was affectionately dubbed ‘Mr Hartlepool United'. Brian first became involved in football at the age of four, when Sir Stanley Matthews visited his home. He subsequently signed Schoolboy forms for Aston Villa, where he stayed for three years before being rejected as being too small. He then went for a trial at Darlington and signed as an apprentice, and in 1982, at the age of 18, he obtained a full professional contract. However, his dreams were soon shattered for a second time, when again he was told he was too small by the former Tottenham Hotspur and England fullback Cyril Knowles, then the Darlington manager. Brian moved into non-League football with Peterlee Newtown, before being plucked from the mist at Tow Law by Billy Horner, the Hartlepool United manager. He would stay at the Victoria Ground for almost 11 years as a player before persistent injury forced him to retire. He was voted the supporters’ Player of the Season three times and was a member of the promotion-winning side of 1991. He has proved to be an excellent and inspiring youth coach, and spells in non-League football with Durham City, Horden Colliery Welfare and Bishop Auckland (twice) have run in tandem with his business ‘The Brian Honour Football School’.

This is the real life story of Brian a retired marine engineer. The book starts with his memories from World War 2 when he lived in Essex during the Battle of Britain and the following years. He tells many humorous stories about his travels abroad as a marine engineer and an insurance engineer. The book covers a period of employment in Libya when Gadaffi nationalized the oil company he was working for. During the final chapters he deals with redundancy and finally retirement. It is a story of an interesting life well spent by someone with a keen sense of humour.

Monty Python's Life of Brian film is known for its brilliant satirical humour. Less well known is that the film contains references to what was, at the time of its release, cutting edge biblical scholarship and Life of Jesus research. This research, founded on the acceptance of the Historical Jesus as a Jew who needs to be understood within the context of his time, is implicitly referenced through the setting of the Brian character within a tumultuous social and political background. This collection is a compilation of essays from foremost scholars of the historical Jesus and the first century Judaea, and includes contributions from George Brooke, Richard Burridge, Paula Fredriksen, Steve Mason, Adele Reinhartz, Bart Ehrman, Amy-Jill Levine, James Crossley, Philip Davies, Joan Taylor, Bill Telford, Helen Bond, Guy Stiebel, David Tollerton, David Shepherd and Katie Turner. The collection opens up the Life of Brian to renewed investigation and, in so doing, uses the film to reflect on the historical Jesus and his times, revitalising the discussion of history and Life of Jesus research. The volume also features a Preface from Terry Jones, who not only directed the film, but also played Brian's mum.