After Monty Python and the Holy Grail, reporters constantly asked the Monty Python troupe members what they were going to do next.
Eric Idle finally smarted off and said, “Jesus Christ’s Lust for Glory.”
That shut the reporters up, so the troupe made it their standard answer.
Humor and trivia from a portrait of life 1st-Century, Roman-occupied, Jerusalem after the break.
- Six cast members, some decent makeup, a couple of clever camera angles, and a variety of costumes can net you 40 different characters.
- You can’t give balm to a baby.
- When EMI pulled out, believing the film to be blasphemous, George Harrison (of The Beatles) created Handmade Films to pay for it.
- Jesus was a Capricorn.
- Banned in Norway for a year. Banned in Ireland until 1987. Banned in Aberystwyth, Wales, until cast member Sue Jones-Davies (center, above, with Terry Jones and Michael Palin) was elected mayor.
- The script is dedicated to Keith Moon, of The Who, who was supposed to play a street prophet in the film until his untimely death.
- “Blessed are the cheesemakers” is obviously metaphorical, and refers to any manufacturer of dairy products.
- Jesus clearly fails to understand that it’s the meek who are the problem.
- There’s one premature stoner in every crowd.
- Matthias, son of Deuteronomy of Gath, has the right idea. If you’re going to be stoned to death, you might as well go down swinging. Then go home and provide a meeting place for the People’s Front of Judea.
- Things are hard for ex-lepers.
- The members of the Judean People’s Front are wankers. The Judean Popular People’s Front are splitters. The Popular Front of Judea is just lonely.
- Gladiators really ought to do more cardio.
- Roman centurions take graffiti very seriously.
- Apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads (which should go without saying), the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
- Bad backs excuse you from terrorist actions.
- You’ve had a hard time? I’ve been here five years. They only hung me right way up yesterday.
- He has a wife, you know. Her name is Incontenentia. Incontenentia Buttocks.
- So it is written in the Book of Cyril.
- Crucifixion’s a doddle. Especially after you’ve narrowly escaped stoning.
- I’m worried about what you’ve got against birds. And lilies of the field.
- Blessed are they who convert their neighbors’ oxen, for they hall inhibit their girth. To them shall be given…oh, nothing.
- Cast off the shoe! Follow the gourd!
- It’s easier to spot Messiahs after you’ve followed a few.
- Only the true Messiah denies his divinity.
- It’s hard to distinguish between the Messiah and a very naughty boy.
- Look, you’ve got it all wrong! You don’t NEED to follow ME, You don’t NEED to follow ANYBODY! You’ve got to think for your selves! You’re ALL individuals!
You know, you come from nothing, you’re going back to nothing. What have you lost? Nothing!
