Jones started grabbing people at random, shouting, WHO EES MONTY PYTHON???
Well, were trying to achieve the widest possible audience, he explained.
The experience, the night before, of a black-tie audience watching theCitizen Kaneof gross-out comedy had been indelible.
From left, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Lewis and Sophia Loren at theCannes Film Festivalin 1983Micheline Pelletier/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
But the moment that registered the most strongly with Gilliam was completely left-field.
In the midst of all this, said Gilliam, suddenly I could feel this heat on my back.
It was like the sun was burning, it was really hot.
We were in France and the camera was interested inus, and hehatedus.
It was just a great moment.
It came down, said one French critic, to the pro-Bresson party versus theanti-Bresson party).
The jurywasunited on one thing, however.
We never thought it would go to America, Cleese later recalled.
The film flopped, but the Pythons werent surprised.
It soon transpired that most of the films most vociferous critics hadnt actually bothered to watch it.
You dont need to go near a pigsty, hed said, to know that it stinks.
But afterFawlty Towersbecame a hit, it was clear that camaraderie alone would not carry the day.
That was a nice prospect, Cleese said.
The Pythons subsequently parted ways with OBrien, which made another film with Handmade untenable.
On the flight over, Jones was nervous.
I had a look at what I had and found Id packed a script which our continuity lady had.
I said, What are we all worrying about?
All weve got to do is get the structure.
Hearing that, Idle revivedThe Meaning of Lifeas the title, and the approval was unanimous.
It was like working for a Hollywood studio.
All in all, it was a better and more original result than any of us could have imagined.
(Quentin Tarantino has since said, I still cant think about that scene without retching.)
None were at all surprised, therefore, when Cleese chose not to join them on the Croisette.
I cant imagine anything more tedious).
Thats why its great.
he said, Because the crap is there to balance the greatness.
We all get to heaven, dont we?
