John Cleese’s two movies to bargain his way into heaven
The Two Films John Cleese Would Bargain His Way Into Heaven
When legend John Cleese finally takes his bow, one wonders what memories remain most vivid. For the man whose career spanned decades of boundary-pushing, satirical comedy, the selection of what to present to the divine is no small matter. In a moment of reflection, Cleese revealed which two films he would show to the man upstairs, and which ones he would rather forget, offering a hilarious glimpse into the career highs and lows of a true comedy master.
Cleese’s extensive filmography is filled with iconic work, yet even the most brilliant careers inevitably contain a few misfires. As he looked back on his near six-decade journey, he admitted there were a few cinematic blunders that even his own family couldn’t ignore.
Among the films he wished to overlook were those that marked some of his less successful ventures. He joked about how his daughter often introduces him to an audience as the star of The Pink Panther 2, a sequel that remains an amusing footnote in cinematic history.
Another memorable misstep involved the early 2000s, a period when the genius of Fawlty Towers admittedly wrestled with some quality control issues. Cleese recalled the infamous 2002 sci-fi comedy The Adventures of Pluto Nash, a film that is widely regarded as one of the biggest box office disasters of all time.
This shared experience of cinematic regret links Cleese to fellow comedians like Steve Martin, who also faced criticism for their work. Both Cleese and Martin endured the professional sting of audiences and family members pointing out their less fortunate cinematic efforts.
However, when it came time to identify the cinematic treasures, Cleese was unequivocal. He pointed to two masterpieces that, in his estimation, were untouchable. These were the films he would happily present to the Pearly Gates, asking only, “Look, can I come in, please?”
These two films, Life of Brian and A Fish Called Wanda, stand as pillars of Cleese’s comedic genius.
Life of Brian is celebrated as the high-water mark of Python comedy. It is a brilliant biblical satire about an unsuspecting man born on the same day as Jesus Christ, and its brilliance was so profound that reports suggest even George Harrison of The Beatles was reportedly laughing so hard as he read the script. The film’s success was so notable that the Fab Four reportedly invested the necessary funds to ensure it was made, despite the religious context making it a tough sell for conventional American studios.
A Fish Called Wanda, conversely, is considered Cleese’s magnum opus. The film, which earned Cleese a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for its intricate plotting, was a painstaking creation, requiring thirteen drafts to finally achieve its perfect form. Cleese himself recounted that he wrote five major drafts and eight minor ones while polishing the script, illustrating the sheer dedication poured into crafting that comedic masterpiece.
Cleese reflected that these two works represent the true zenith of his craft. They remain the films he considers the purest expressions of his comedic vision.
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