Search - Life of Brian [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Humor Movie Release: 1979 DVD Release: 11/16/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 34 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 33 Genres: Comedy, Parody/Spoof, Absurd Comedy, Religious Comedy See Also: Life of Brian, Life of Brian [Collector's Edition] [Widescreen], Life of Brian [Blu-ray]

On a midnight clear 2,000 years ago, three wise men enter a manger where a babe is wrapped in swaddling clothes. It is an infant called Brian...and the three wise men are in the wrong manger. For the rest of his life, Brian (Graham Chapman) finds himself regarded as something of a messiah -- yet he's always in the shadow of this other guy from Galilee. Brian is witness to the Sermon of the Mount, but his seat is in such a bad location that he can't hear any of it ("Blessed are the cheesemakers?"). Ultimately, he is brought before Pontius Pilate and sentenced to crucifixion, which takes place at that crowded, nonexclusive execution site a few blocks shy of Calvary. Rather than utter the Last Six Words, Brian leads his fellow crucifixees in a spirited rendition of a British music-hall cheer-up song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." The whole Monty Python gang (Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and Terry Gilliam) are on hand in multiple roles, playing such sacred characters as Stan Called Loretta, Biggus Dickus, Deadly Dirk, Casts the First Stone, and Intensely Dull Youth; also showing up are Goon Show veteran Spike Milligan and a Liverpool musician named George Harrison. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Graham Chapman - Brian Called Brian
Terry Jones - Mandy
Michael Palin - Wise Man
John Cleese - Wise Man
Eric Idle - Stan
Terry Gilliam - Person

Criterion has released a superb version of Monty Python's Life of Brian on DVD. The widescreen anamorphic transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The film has never looked this good on video before. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English subtitles are accessible. The fantastic supplemental materials include one commentary track by director Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle, as well as a second commentary track by John Cleese and Michael Palin. Also available are the original theatrical trailer, deleted scenes with commentary from Python members, British radio spots, and a documentary film made during production. The film looks great and the bonus features give Python fans everything they could want. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide