Video: 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' trailer

(Friday, August 17, 1979, 12:30 EDT) — Monty Python’s Life of Brian, a British comedy film about a young Jewish man who is born on the same day as — and next door to — Jesus Christ, and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah, opened today at Cinema 1 theater in Manhattan in New York City.

Directed by Terry Jones, the film starred Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Jones and Michael Palin.

The film would not have been made without Python fan former Beatle George Harrison, who set up HandMade Films to help fund it at a cost of £3 million. Harrison put up the money for it as he “wanted to see the movie” — later described by Terry Jones as the “world’s most expensive cinema ticket.”

The original backers, EMI Films, had been scared off at the last minute by the subject matter.

As a reward for his help, Harrison appears in a cameo appearance as Mr. Papadopoulos, “owner of the Mount”, who briefly shakes hands with Brian in a crowd scene (at 1:09 in the film). His one word of dialogue (a cheery but out of place Scouse “‘ullo”) had to be dubbed in later by Michael Palin.