[ book tip by Robin Lindsey ] This is the true story of Handmade Films, the British production company that was responsible for many of the best cult films of the 1980s. It’s a fascinating insight into the creation of such classic Brit flicks as Life of Brian, The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits, Mona Lisa and Withnail and I. George Harrison founded the company when the Monty Python team lost the funding for Life Of Brian at the last minute. The ex-Beatle was a fan of the comedy team and stumped up the cash for what is now considered to be one of the funniest films of all time.

Harrison and his business partner Denis O’Brien are at the centre of the story and their conflicting approaches to business made for a truly unique production company. They took huge risks and produced the kind of distinctive, offbeat and hugely entertaining films that just don’t get made these days. But the glory days were over by the end of the 1980s and the demise of the company provides the sad end to the story.

The book is packed with interviews with stars such as Sean Connery, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin and Robbie Coltrane. The contributors are refreshingly candid, the anecdotes entertaining and informative. Obviously you will get the most out of this book if you are familiar with the films and want to learn more about their history. But Sellers’ prose is direct and he has a knack for capturing the personalities of the main players, making it an easy and entertaining read. Essential for any British cinema fan.

[ book info ] Sellers, Robert : Very Naughty Boys. (Book language: English) Metro, London, 2004 (2004). ISBN: 1-84358-093-4.