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| Mayor wants Python film ban ended | Mayor wants Python film ban ended |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| She's not the messiah, she's the mayor of Aberystwyth and she has a plan. | She's not the messiah, she's the mayor of Aberystwyth and she has a plan. |
| Sue Jones-Davies is trying to overturn a near 30-year ban imposed by the town on Monty Python's Life of Brian - the film in which she played a role. | Sue Jones-Davies is trying to overturn a near 30-year ban imposed by the town on Monty Python's Life of Brian - the film in which she played a role. |
| Long before she donned her mayoral robes in the mid Wales town, she played Brian's girlfriend in the movie. | Long before she donned her mayoral robes in the mid Wales town, she played Brian's girlfriend in the movie. |
| Opponents claimed it made fun of Jesus, but she says it's "amazing" that a town like hers still officially bars a movie now regarded as a comedy classic. | Opponents claimed it made fun of Jesus, but she says it's "amazing" that a town like hers still officially bars a movie now regarded as a comedy classic. |
| In 1979, however, it grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons, with critics accusing the Python team of blasphemy with its story about a Jewish man who was mistaken for the messiah and then crucified. | In 1979, however, it grabbed the headlines for the wrong reasons, with critics accusing the Python team of blasphemy with its story about a Jewish man who was mistaken for the messiah and then crucified. |
| Some religious groups picketed cinemas which screened the film. | Some religious groups picketed cinemas which screened the film. |
| Given what's on TV now I think it's amazing a ban in Aberystwyth still exists Sue Jones-Davies | |
| A number of areas in Wales banned it, as former Python John Cleese recalled during an interview on Channel 4's Richard and Judy programme on Wednesday. | |
| But nearly 30 years on, the new mayor of Aberystwyth wants the restriction lifted in her town. | |
| "Given what's on TV now I think it's amazing a ban in Aberystwyth still exists," said Ms Jones-Davies. | |
| "I think it should be lifted. | "I think it should be lifted. |
| "I would like to think that any religion would have the generosity to see the film for what it is, which is a comedy. | "I would like to think that any religion would have the generosity to see the film for what it is, which is a comedy. |
| "I was surprised at the outrage it caused at the time, but I did not expect or appreciate the impact and never thought it would turn out to be so popular." | "I was surprised at the outrage it caused at the time, but I did not expect or appreciate the impact and never thought it would turn out to be so popular." |
| The movie has maintained its popularity. It is usually at or near the top of lists of the greatest comedy films. | The movie has maintained its popularity. It is usually at or near the top of lists of the greatest comedy films. |
| It featured some iconic lines, most famously the verdict by Brian's mother on her son: "He's not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy". | It featured some iconic lines, most famously the verdict by Brian's mother on her son: "He's not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy". |
| Parts of the script are still quoted at Ms Jones-Davies today, but she confessed the lines were wasted on her: "I can't remember the lines from the script now - it's nearly 30 years ago," she explained. | |
| Sue Jones-Davies as Judith Iscariot in the Life of Brian | Sue Jones-Davies as Judith Iscariot in the Life of Brian |
| Ms Jones-Davies played a revolutionary called Judith Iscariot, and she had a nude scene with the film's hero, Brian, played by the late Graham Chapman. | |
| But she very nearly didn't appear in the movie at all. | But she very nearly didn't appear in the movie at all. |
| "I got the part because somebody dropped out," she said. "I had the same agent as John Cleese and was recommended for the part. | "I got the part because somebody dropped out," she said. "I had the same agent as John Cleese and was recommended for the part. |
| "I went for an interview at a flat in London and all the Monty Python crew were there. | "I went for an interview at a flat in London and all the Monty Python crew were there. |
| "It was quite funny really because it wasn't a proper interview at all, as you'd expect with Monty Python. | "It was quite funny really because it wasn't a proper interview at all, as you'd expect with Monty Python. |
| "They were all chipping in and saying, 'Oh yes, she'll be fine'. I wasn't asked many questions." | "They were all chipping in and saying, 'Oh yes, she'll be fine'. I wasn't asked many questions." |
| It was shot in Tunisia, but part of the crucifixion scene had to be filmed in a sandpit in Kent. | |
| "It was great fun to work on, and we had the odd day off. One day I went with Terry Gilliam to buy a carpet and driving along we came to a river," she added. | "It was great fun to work on, and we had the odd day off. One day I went with Terry Gilliam to buy a carpet and driving along we came to a river," she added. |
| "Local people nearby were warning us not to go through it, but Terry just drove on - I thought we were going to sink but we managed to make to the other side." | "Local people nearby were warning us not to go through it, but Terry just drove on - I thought we were going to sink but we managed to make to the other side." |
| Recalling her famous nude scene, Ms Jones-Davies said: "It was a part and I just played it, although I did call for a closed set. | Recalling her famous nude scene, Ms Jones-Davies said: "It was a part and I just played it, although I did call for a closed set. |
| 'Commercial impact' | 'Commercial impact' |
| "It was filmed in a sort of small tunnel, and wasn't very sensual at all." | "It was filmed in a sort of small tunnel, and wasn't very sensual at all." |
| It is understood a committee made up of church leaders in Aberystwyth recommended a band in 1979. | |
| Ceredigion council has the power to lift it, but a spokesman said no-one in the licensing department knew about the ban. | Ceredigion council has the power to lift it, but a spokesman said no-one in the licensing department knew about the ban. |
| But Michael Davies, the owner of Aberystwyth's Commodore Cinema, said he was sure it was still in place. | |
| "As far as I know the Life of Brian is still banned from being shown at the cinema," he explained. | "As far as I know the Life of Brian is still banned from being shown at the cinema," he explained. |
| "My father ran the cinema when the ban was imposed and I suppose it would have had a commercial impact at the time because it was a huge film and made a fortune. | "My father ran the cinema when the ban was imposed and I suppose it would have had a commercial impact at the time because it was a huge film and made a fortune. |
| "I don't think lifting the ban now would make much of a difference." | "I don't think lifting the ban now would make much of a difference." |
| Stars such as Spike Milligan and ex-Beatle George Harrison, who financed the Life of Brian when no-one else would, played cameo roles. |