Book Review: "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography" - by Eric Idle
I am a Monty Python fan and have been a fan of Monty Python for a
very long time. I was introduced to their humor in their first movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That was a new, and very different kind of humor than I had ever seen. When I found their television series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, I became a full fledged Python fan.
In the Holy Grail, the scene when King Arthur meets and confronts the French at the castle, is one of the funniest scenes ever on film. It is classic Python humor.
Over time, I have seen all of their movies, every Flying Circus episode and as many of their television specials as I could see. In short, I love the Python humor.
So, when I found an autobiography written by Eric Idle, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography, I bought it right away. Idle’s light brand of humor comes through on every page. There are details of his early life, the events leading to the formation of the Monty Python comedy group, the Flying Circus years and the group’s movies.
I also found it interesting that many, not all, but many of the songs in their movies and their television series were written by Eric Idle.
His most famous song, hands down, is Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, which was from the Monty Python movie, The Life Of Brian. So famous is that song, that it was used during the Opening Night Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. I remember how much fun Prince Harry had, sitting in the Royal’s seats at the Olympic Stadium, singing and laughing.
I wish Idle would have spent a bit more time writing about the inner workings of how some of the scenes and/or skits came to be. But I very much enjoyed reading the book.
If you have memorized, every line of the following sketches:
Dead Parrot.
The Spanish Inquisition.
The Funniest Joke in the World.
The Lumberjack Song.
Self-Defense Against Fresh Fruit.
Nudge Nudge.
Dirty Fork.
Crunchy Frog
Or if you know every insult that comes with the line - Your Mother Was A Hamster, And Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries, You are a Python fan and should read - Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography.
I do and I did.
And, I recommend this book.
William Kercher
