Page "Monty Python's Life of Brian" Paragraph 31

Writing began in December 1976, with a first draft completed by mid-1977.

The final pre-production draft was ready in January 1978, following " a concentrated two-week writing and water-skiing period in Barbados ".

The film would not have been made without former Beatle and Python fan George Harrison, who set up Handmade Films to help fund it at a cost of £ 3 million ( a move later described by Eric Idle as the " world's most expensive cinema ticket ").

Harrison put up the money for it as he " wanted to see the movie ".

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

As a result, the very last words in the film are: " I said to him, ' Bernie, they'll never make their money back on this one '", teasing Delfont for his lack of faith in the project.

Terry Gilliam later said, " They pulled out on the Thursday.

The crew was supposed to be leaving on the Saturday.

Disastrous.

It was because they read the script ...

finally.

" 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.

His one word of dialogue ( a cheery Scouse, but out-of-place-in-Judea, " ullo ") had to be dubbed in later.