Monty Python's The Meaning of Life [30th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray]

Overview

The Meaning of Life is without a doubt the most tasteless of the Monty Python feature films; it also happens to be one of the funniest. Life's questions are "answered" in a series of outrageous vignettes, beginning with a pre-credits sequence at a staid London insurance company which transforms before our eyes into a pirate ship. One of our favorite bits involve the National Health doctors who try to claim a healthy liver from a still-living donor, pointing out that there's nothing in his contract preventing this. And of course, there's the scene with the world's most voracious glutton, who brings the art of vomiting to new heights before his spectacular demise. Be warned: though hilarious, this may be the grossest bit of comedy filmmaking ever conceived (there aren't enough words in the world to describe it in detail!). Loyal Pythonites Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin star in The Meaning of Life and share writing responsibilities, while Jones is in the director's chair this time out.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/16/2018
UPC:	0191329070284
Original Release:	1983
Rating:	R
Source:	Universal Studios
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:48:00
Sales rank:	2,262

Special Features

Blu-Ray Exclusives: ; The Meaning of Monty Python: 30th Anniversary Reunion - in this hilarious hour-long featurette, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam look back ath the last movie they made together and reflect on the meaning of life, death, comedy, recognition and fish.; Sing-Along version; ; Bonus Features: ; Prologue with Eric Idle; The meaning of making The Meaning of Life; Feature commentary with Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam; Soundtrack for the lonely; Snipped bits; Un Film de John Cleese; Education tips; Song and dance; Songs unsung; And much more!

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Graham Chapman	Chairman/Fish #1/Doctor/Harry Blackitt/Wymer/Hordern
John Cleese	Fish #2/Dr. Spencer/Humphrey Williams/Sturridge/Ainsworth
Terry Gilliam	Window Washer/Fish #4/Walters/Middle of the Film Announcer
Eric Idle	Gunther/Fish #3/Mr. Moore/Mrs. Blackitt/Watson/Blackitt
Terry Jones	Bert/Fish #6/Mum/Priest/Biggs/Sergeant/Man with Bendy Arms,Chadwick/Jeremy Portland-Smythe
Michael Palin	Window Washer/Harry/Fish #5/Mr. Pycroft/Dad/Chaplain/Carter
Carol Cleveland	Beefeater Waitress/Wife of Guest 1/Leaf Mother/Leaf Daughter
Patricia Quinn	Mrs. Williams
Judy Loe	Nurse #1
Andrew MacLachlan	Groom/Wycliff/Victim #1/Guest #3
Valerie Whittington	Mrs. Moore
Mark Holmes	Victim #2/Troll Waiter/Guest #2
Jennifer Franks	Bride
Peter Lovstrom	Brown's Son
Imogen Bickford-Smith	Nurse #2
Victoria Plum	Actor
George Silver	Diner Eating Howard the Fish
Angela Mann	Wife of Guest #2
Anne Rosenfeld	Actor
Sydney Arnold	Actor
Guy Bertrand	Actor
Andrew Bicknell	Actor
Ross Davidson	Actor
Myrtle Devenish	Old Lady
Tim Douglas	Actor
Eric Francis	Actor
Matt Frewer	Cornered Executive who Jumps
Billy John	Actor
Russell Kilmister	Actor
Peter Mantle	Actor
John Du Prez	Composer
Peter Merrill	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Cameron Miller	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Gareth Milne	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Larry Noble	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Leslie Sarony	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
John Scott Martin	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Eric Stovell	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
Wally Thomas	(segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")

Technical Credits

Terry Jones

Terry Gilliam

Eric Idle

John Cleese

Michael Palin

Graham Chapman

Terry Jones	Director,Screenwriter
Terry Gilliam	Screenwriter,Director
Eric Idle	Screenwriter
John Cleese	Screenwriter
Michael Palin	Screenwriter
Graham Chapman	Screenwriter
John Goldstone	Producer
Terence J. Cox	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Though their work as a television comedy troupe ended in 1974, Monty Python would intermittently reunite for features, including 1975's Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1979's The Life of Brian, and 1983's The Meaning of Life. Unlike Brian, their most cohesive effort, Meaning is a likably scattershot collection of vignettes, reminiscent of the Monty Python's Flying Circus series and their first film, 1971's And Now for Something Completely Different. The film swings wildly between pointed hilarity and just plain silliness; the humor is also notably coarser and more vulgar their previous work, exemplified by the classic scene with a gastrologically challenged overeater. In this outing, the directing tasks were handed over to Terry Jones, but Meaning retains the idiosyncratic visual style established by longtime Python director Terry Gilliam. The comedy unexpectedly garnered the Grand Jury Prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival.

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