On October 7 and 8, the Getty Villa will screen the classic comedies Monty Python’s Life of Brian and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in the outdoor classical theater.
Monty Python’s hysterical British classic approaches Biblical history with a new twist: meet the unlikely Brian, born on the same day as Christ—only a stable over. Watch as Brian runs into a series of awkward, outrageous situations, from defaming the governor’s palace with the phrase “Romans Go Home” in grammatically incorrect Latin to escaping arrest from the Romans by babbling pseudo-religious nonsense. Life of Brian is truly a treasure, mocking historical legends with a British brand of humor that will not disappoint.
Richard Lester’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was acclaimed by The New York Times as a hilarious rendition of the ancient Roman comedy by Plautus about a house slave’s twisted plot to gain his freedom. With esteemed actors Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, and Buster Keaton, Forum succeeds at capturing incredible, colorful scenes with a madly theatrical spirit true to the original work, written about 2,000 years before. The storyline flows in and out of gags, trickery, and clumsy love as it follows the slave’s scheme of convincing his master to elope, (sweetly complementing the Getty Villa’s production of Haunted House Party, also an adaptation of a Plautus comedy). Forum is a delightful and beautifully filmed comedy that appeals to all folks looking for a good laugh.
While viewing these films, visitors will be able to enjoy the specialty cocktail Vine Brulé Bianco, a warm spiced white wine with seasonal fruit, fresh-popped popcorn, and gourmet boxed meals including a Mediterranean platter, sopressata & provolone Ciabatta, roast beef on baguette, Greek chicken wrap, grilled eggplant & broccolini wrap, and all beef hot dog. All dining options will be available starting at 6pm at the Getty Villa Café. The museum galleries and gardens will also be open at 6:00pm for visitors to enjoy prior to the screenings.
The film series takes place in the outdoor classical theater at the Getty Villa on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8 at 7:30pm.
Monty Python’s Life of Brian Directed by Terry Jones Featuring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin (English, 1979, 94 minutes)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Directed by Richard Lester Featuring Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Phil Silvers, and Buster Keaton (American, 1966, 99 minutes)