Life of Brian - 1979 debate

[vrdiver]

I just watched the debate hosted by Tim Rice, shortly after the film was first released in 1979, between Malcolm Muggeridge and Mervyn Stockwood (the then Bishop of Southwark) attacking the film, with John Cleese and Michael Palin defending it..

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ni559bHXDg
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku3GcPrW9xg
Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGI9UevrzGc
Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXmJHlqMvvE

The whole thing is about 50 minutes or so.

I was thinking how times have changed, but then remembered the 2009 Oxford debate about the catholic church being a force for good (particularly for the Stephen Fry / Ann Widdecombe elements).

That debate can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRcYaAYWg4

My favourite line from the comments section has to be:

Stephen and Christopher are such hypocrites. They say that killing people is bad yet they murdered the two idiots they debated

(Mods - this is intended as a nostalgic look back at some of our entertainment and its relationship with our cultural values, but appreciate it may be better suited to e/g/ PD, depending on how responses go (assuming any!). Please relocate if required.

VRD

[Urbandreamer]

While on the subject, check out the "not the nine o'clock news" response!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U

[redsturgeon]

While on the subject, check out the "not the nine o'clock news" response!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U

Thanks for that link, I'd not seen that before...very funny.

Going back to the original clip which of course I have seen before, I find several things about it most remarkable.

Cleese and Palin are the absolute paragon of patience and politeness against some quite shocking patronising on the part of the bishop and Muggeridge. here are two intelligent and successful guys in their 30s being treated as naughty schoolboys and having their work trashed. You can see particularly Palin quietly seething under his cool exterior but neither he nor Cleese ever actual even slightly raise their voices. You can't imagine any celebrity today taking this on the chin as they did. The deference they showed to two aged old codgers spouting complete rubbish was amazing.

The set itself was also a picture of 1970's strangeness, whose conservatory did they steal the bamboo chairs from?

The bishop just rambles on and drifts off the point in such a way as to be the best self parody of an English bishop I have ever witnessed. He is so camp, so introspective and un self-aware, fiddling with his large ornate cross like it is some sort of comfort blanket...I certainly would not leave any young 14 year old in a room alone with him...why did he and Muggerige keep going on about innocent 14 year olds anyway? And let's not forget Mother Theresa, how on earth did her name enter into the debate...most odd.

The received pronunciation of all 5 protangonists was quite something too...is that how we all spoke in 1979...I don't remember, although I was in my 20s at the time, and a non northern grammar school boy.

The life of Brian of course has the last laugh and is still loved and remembered and watched by many today who would have no clue who Muggeridge or Stockwood were.

John

[Redmires]

The life of Brian of course has the last laugh and is still loved and remembered and watched by many today who would have no clue who Muggeridge or Stockwood were.

For me, one of the best films ever made. My favourite anecdote about the film is that it was banned from many towns in Britain. The ban was still in place in Aberyswyth 30 years later until Sue Jones-Davies became the Lord Mayor of the town. Palin & Jones attended the screening when the ban was lifted. Sue Jones-Davies played Brian's girlfriend in the film.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... or-2120766

[UncleEbenezer]

The life of Brian of course has the last laugh and is still loved and remembered and watched by many today who would have no clue who Muggeridge or Stockwood were.

John

Episcopi eunt domus?