by John Cleese
First published 2008
In 1978, American Python fan Kim "Howard" Johnson traveled to Tunisia and talked his way into the production of Life of Brian. He doubled for the Pythons, played a Roman soldier and peasant, served as unit journalist and backup photographer, and kept detailed notes throughout the six-week shoot. Johnson recorded the comedy legends at work and at leisure. He documented John Cleese's bartering tactics, Terry Jones directing while wearing women's clothing, Michael Palin's acting methods, Graham Chapman's nude scenes, Terry Gilliam covered in dirt, and Eric Idle's negotiation skills. The diary captures badminton games, spontaneous cricket matches, cake fights that threatened filming, George Harrison discussions, and the debut performance of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." Johnson preserves conversations, arguments, embarrassing moments, and petty conflicts among the six comedians during their creative peak.
Genres: humor, 20th-century, non-fiction, comedy, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, fish-out-of-water, memoir
Setting: Tunisia
Period: 1978
368 pages · Kindle Edition · Thomas Dunne Books