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PR A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman on DVD Feb 12

Virgil Films & Entertainment

Graham Chapman was a member of the legendary British TV comedy troupe Monty Python and had the starring roles in the feature films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. But he was largely an enigma, even to his troupe mates John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and animator Terry Gilliam.

NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: A COMIC GENIUS TELLING HIS LIFE STORY - FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman

The Acclaimed and Utterly Unique Cinematic Memoir, With Contributions From Other Monty Python Members, Comes to Virgil Films DVD on February 12, 2013

"an affectionate, imaginative tribute to the artist's idiosyncratic take on life." - Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix "The best film I have been in since I died!" -Graham Chapman

He never expected the Spanish Inquisition, but Graham Chapman apparently did expect there would be a movie about his life, so he has sort of made it himself - despite being dead for 23 years. Following its hit theatrical release, A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman now comes to DVD to delight and surprise the legion of devoted Python lovers. Virgil Films will release the disc on February 12, 2013, with an SRP of $24.99.

Graham Chapman was a member of the legendary British TV comedy troupe Monty Python and had the starring roles in the feature films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Life of Brian. But he was largely an enigma, even to his troupe mates John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and animator Terry Gilliam.

The man who co-wrote the immortal "Dead Parrot" sketch became himself "demised" in 1989 at age 48 from throat cancer. But in seeming preparation for this event, Chapman years earlier recorded himself reading from his book A Liar's Autobiography. Now, directors Bill Jones (son of Terry Jones), Jeff Simpson and Ben Timlett, with help from animators at 14 studios, have ingeniously turned those tapes into a hilarious, revealing and poignant look at this creative genius and complicated man.

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman utilizes a wide range of animation techniques (some of them very Pythonesque) and new contributions from the other Pythons (and surprise guests) to tell the story of the tall, handsome, brilliant comedian. A man of deep contradictions, he lived fairly openly as a gay man at a time when that was rare, but kept his serious drinking problem in the closet.

Not a documentary, not a Monty Python film, A Liar's Autobiography is Chapman's own take on his bizarre life and his search for self-knowledge. Incredible, yes. Surreal, certainly. True? Who knows?

Wrote New York Post critic Kyle Smith, "The movie is a weirdly entertaining, quirky meditation about stardom, booze and '70s excess." Betsy Sherman of the Boston Phoenix called the movie "anarchic, witty, frank, raunchy and dark."

The DVD boasts over an hour of hilarious video extras, including a behind-the-scenes featurette, "Anatomy of a Liar," trailers and more.

About Virgil Films
Virgil Films & Entertainment was founded in 2003 by Joe Amodei to acquire, market and distribute DVD, TV and Digital product in the theatrical feature film, documentaries, special interest and sports categories. The company has built partnerships with OWN, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment, National Geographic Cinema Ventures, ESPN, MLB Productions, Morgan Spurlock's Warrior Poets and other high-profile entertainment brands since their inception. Recent releases from Virgil Films & Entertainment include the documentary, Ayn Rand and the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged; the award winning My Run, The Last Lions and the hit documentary Forks Over Knives. They have also successfully released last year's Oscar(R) nominated documentary Restrepo. www.VirgilFilmsEnt.com

A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman
Street date: February 12, 2013
Prebook: January 8, 2013
SRP: $24.99
Running time: 85 minutes
Rated R
DVD extras: Making-of featurette, trailers

Virgil Films & Entertainment

Posted by: News Editor - February 12, 2013, 8:52 am - PR
Keywords: biography