# Is "Life of Brian" based on a true story? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878 "2011-08-16T07:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/41 "2011-08-16T20:11:24Z")
> [@Toucanna](#): > > I think the only reason you started this thread is because you’re trying to con people into following the shoe. > > People, follow the sandal. It’s your only way to the true path!!! No, follow the gourd!! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/42 "2011-08-16T20:45:36Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > On that point, compare these two [movie](http://posterwire.com/wp-content/images/ben_hur.jpg) [posters](http://www.impawards.com/1979/posters/life_of_brian_ver3.jpg). Linky 1: Ben Hur Linky 2: no worky ---
**Author:** ![TonKa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@TonKa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonKa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/43 "2011-08-16T20:50:28Z")
Brian: I am NOT the Messiah! Arthur: I say you are Lord, and I should know. I’ve followed a few. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/44 "2011-08-16T21:07:43Z")
_ **I** _ didn’t bring forth juniper berries! The _ **juniper bushes** _ brought forth _ **juniper berries** _!!! ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/45 "2011-08-16T21:17:43Z")
And don’t forget the [musical version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1616543/). ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/46 "2011-08-16T21:22:47Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > I had a history professor who showed Life of Brian in his class, because he believed it provided an accurate depiction of Roman provincial policy. You mean like how they can fit 20 Roman legionnaires in tiny room full of Judean guerillas, and the legionnaires can’t find anyone? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZXVN7QJ8m88/hqdefault.jpg "Life of brian - the search") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXVN7QJ8m88) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/47 "2011-08-16T21:29:59Z")
Jehovah! Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah!! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/48 "2011-08-16T21:31:56Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > You mean like how they can fit 20 Roman legionnaires in tiny room full of Judean guerillas, and the legionnaires can’t find anyone? > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXVN7QJ8m88](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXVN7QJ8m88) Well, probably more about how most people think of cruxifiction as a savage, barbaric progress - rather than the calm, orderly, pleasant succession that it really was.. “Crucifixtion? Good. Third door on the left, one cross each!” ---
**Author:** ![TonKa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@TonKa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonKa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/49 "2011-08-16T21:50:09Z")
I think the scene with the babbling prophets along the city wall looked very authentic. Jesus had quite a few competitors in his days. " \*…there shall, in that time, be _rumors_ of things going astray, errrm, and there shall be a great confusion as to where things really are, and nobody will really know where lieth those little things wi - with the sort of raffia work base that has an attachment. At this time, a friend shall lose his friend’s hammer and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight o’clock. Yea, it is written in the book of Cyril that… \*" [More quotes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/quotes) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/50 "2011-08-16T21:54:11Z")
“You are all individuals!” “Yes, we are all individuals!” “I’m not!” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/51 "2011-08-16T21:56:43Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > Jehovah! Jehovah Jehovah Jehovah!! You’re only making it worse for yourself! ---
**Author:** ![TonKa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@TonKa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonKa)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/52 "2011-08-16T21:58:23Z")
[Movie Poster](http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1020/466343.1020.A.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/53 "2011-08-16T22:16:54Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Linky 2: no worky Rrrrg. It did earlier. Try [this](http://www.culture.com/film/4718/life-of-brian/gallery/index.phtml) instead. ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/54 "2011-08-17T03:46:15Z")
Tonka’s poster link is interesting because it shows the spaceship. Not seen this poster before. Giant spoiler. I saw LoB on the day of its release and missed a good five minutes of the movie-as did everyone else-when the aliens arrived. Never laughed so much at the unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/55 "2011-08-17T04:15:01Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Could a mod lock this thread? It’s gotten too silly. Those responsible have been sacked. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/56 "2011-08-17T04:21:23Z")
And those responsible for sacking those responsible have been sacked. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/57 "2011-08-17T04:36:28Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > What’s so special about the cheesemakers?. It’s a metaphor, it really refers to makers of _all_ dairy products. My question is: where does the Holy Hand Grenade fit it? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/58 "2011-08-17T04:38:55Z")
I don’t know, I just know you’re supposed to throw it after you count to…what was is two? Four? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/59 "2011-08-17T04:59:29Z")
> [@TonKa](#): > > No, my mom won’t let me… > > What do you think… Is the Pope Catholic? Yes. [Cite.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=znMlKFaZnTQ&feature=fvwp) > [@](#): > > I am 50 and my mother is 84. Well, then her not letting you watch a Funny Film is understandable. Why don’t you watch Lawrence Welk with her until she falls asleep, and then slip a comedy into the ol’ Betamax… > [@](#): > > I feel a deep need for a special “silly questions section”. That’s just fine. I would participate. And I’m looking forward to hearing from the people here who care about your feelings. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-of-brian-based-on-a-true-story/592878/60 "2011-08-17T14:12:38Z")
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