Back in 1979, Monty Python released their new feature-length film, a comedy about a mistaken messiah living at the same time as Jesus Christ. Incredibly controversial and banned outright in some places on its debut, Life of Brian is today hailed as one of the greatest comedies of all time. But did you know it’s thanks to The Beatles’ George Harrison that the film was even made?
Just days before Life of Brian was due to start shooting, funding by EMI Films was withdrawn.
So big Monty Python fan George formed production company HandMade Films to finance the comedy.
And now his fellow Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has praised the late star’s bravery for getting the religious satire made.
Appearing on The Adam Buxton podcast, the 78-year-old was asked about his relationship with comedy.
READ MORE: Terry Jones dead: WATCH Monty Python star’s FUNNIEST movie moments
Interestingly enough, it’s often forgotten that Jones also co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail and directed Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
Back in September, Sir Paul McCartney shared a touching childhood photograph with George Harrison and Ivan Vaughan.
The latter was The Quarrymen member who introduced Sir Paul to John Lennon on July 6, 1957, at the Woolton village fête.
The snap shared by the 78-year-old was taken a year later when he and Ivan were around 16 and Harrison 15.
Posted on his Instagram, Sir Paul commented: “We had a few words and phrases that, if one of us said it, would amuse the others because it was like a secret code…”
Vaughn played tea-chest bass part-time for The Quarrymen and went on to study Classics at University College, London. Throughout this time, he remained in touch with his friends The Beatles as they rose to fame. He went on to teach Psychology at Homerton College, Cambridge from 1973 to 1983.
But tragically was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at a young age. After retiring, Vaughn wrote a book called Living with Parkinson’s, published in 1986. He died in 1993 at the age of just 51-years-old and at the funeral McCartney’s Blackbird was sung.
The Beatle even sent a poem called Ivan to his widow, which echoed their friendship and those “crazy invented words” Sir Paul mentioned in his post. A line from the poem reads: “A classic scholar he, A rocking roller me, As firm as friends could be.”
