Terry Gilliam

August 19, 1996

Gilliam, Monty Python alum-turned-cult director, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 22, 1940. He was known as the only American of the British comedy group Monty Python, and he did much of the animated sequences for the groups movies and TV show. His first film as a director was the classic comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). That was co-directed with fellow group member Terry Jones. Gilliam's solo directing debut came with Jabberwocky (1977), a grim tale about the middle ages, inspired by the famed Lewis Carroll poem.

He scored his first success, with the "children's" comedy-fantasy, Time Bandits (1981). His next movie, the Orwellian tale Brazil (1985), has inspired a huge cult following and has also gained huge critical acceptance. The next fantasy, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989), was Gilliam's first major commercial and critical flop. Based on the classic children's stories, it was full of marvelous visuals, but failed in capturing the magic of those popular fairy tales. He has returned in the 1990's with two outstanding features. The Fisher King (1991), a fantasy-drama that was appealing to both the mainstream and art house crowd.

His most recent is 12 Monkeys (1996), a amazing Sci Fi tale, featuring Gilliam's usual stunning visuals and eccentric storylines stealing the show. He has been able to make imaginative tales, that also contain the black humor of his Monty Python days. He is not perfect, yet he appeals to a massive audience and his stories are always interesting.

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