The ex-Python and Oscar-nominated film director Terry Gilliam has revealed how George Harrison came to the rescue on the controversial classic, Monty Python's Life Of Brian. "We had pop stars who were our friends, rich pop stars like George Harrison and record companies who made a lot of money, and they liked us, and they gave us money," he says in a documentary about his work to be screened on Turner Classic Movies on November 24. "Just as the crew was heading out to Tunisia to go to work, EMI, who were backing at that point, pulled out, leaving us high and dry. "Thank God George Harrison came to the rescue, and thank God he liked what we had done, and we were able to make the film without any Hollywood involvement or anything, just private pop star money." Harrison set up Handmade Films in 1979 to finance Life Of Brian. The company subsequently went on to make other British classics including The Long Good Friday and Withnail & I.
The ex-Python and Oscar-nominated film director Terry Gilliam has revealed how George Harrison came to the rescue on the controversial classic, Monty Python’s Life Of Brian.
“We had pop stars who were our friends, rich pop stars like George Harrison and record companies who made a lot of money, and they liked us, and they gave us money,” he says in a documentary about his work to be screened on Turner Classic Movies on November 24.
“Just as the crew was heading out to Tunisia to go to work, EMI, who were backing at that point, pulled out, leaving us high and dry.
“Thank God George Harrison came to the rescue, and thank God he liked what we had done, and we were able to make the film without any Hollywood involvement or anything, just private pop star money.”
Harrison set up Handmade Films in 1979 to finance Life Of Brian. The company subsequently went on to make other British classics including The Long Good Friday and Withnail & I.
