Dark Knights & Holy Fools: The Art and Films of Terry Gilliam

by Bob McCabe

Covering all of Gilliam's work from Monty Python's Flying Circus to the 1998 big screen version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The book is fabulously illustrated featuring many previously unseen photographs, storyboards and drawing from Gilliam's private archive. Each chapter features an interview with Gilliam which gets his take on the work. Chapters include Early childhood and early collaborations with John Cleese and Woody Allan; Monty Python - for the first time Gilliam talks about the creation of the cultiest of cult TV shows; Python and the Holy Grail first attempt at directing includes interviews with John Cleese and Terry Jones; Jabberwocky, includes interviews with Michael Palin; Time Bandits; Brazil including the inside story of the infamous ad war with Universal, interview with co-writer Tom Stoppard; The Budget fiasco which was Baron Munchausen; Fisher King includes interview with Robin Williams; Twelve Monkeys includes an interview with Bruce Willis; Fear and Loathing Hunter S. Thompson talks about Gilliam's adaptation. Also includes the abandoned projects A tale of Two Cities with Mel Gibson and Defective Detective with Nicholas Cage, as well as work in progress on Time Bandits II.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Biography, Art, Pop Culture, Media Tie In

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 16, 1999

Reviews

[Simon X Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touch too forgiving or at least overly painting a nice picture of someone who is clearly difficult to work with. But very interesting having this much depth and visual insight into the filmmaker's journey up until his height. And then seeing what he had planned, only one successfully getting made (after a long arduous time too) with his constant battle between what he should make, his own ideas or other's, even when 3/4 of his most successful films were penned by others. Does make you wonder what could have been if he was more willing to play the game or whether he really is more a visionary than a fantastic storyteller.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good look at Gilliam's career through Fear and Loathing, which does end up covering his best work. There's a decent amount covering his process and working relationships with Monty Python, though it's far from comprehensive. The rest of the films get a good selection of art and photos along with Gilliam's thoughts on the process and product. Also includes several pages on unmade projects, which is fun because it includes his Don Quixote project before it actually went into production and failed. Worthwhile read for fans, although I preferred the later Gilliamesque.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the majority of Gilliam's career (he hasn't made anything worthwhile since the work covered in this book). Full of insight and anecdote, and makes me want to go back a rewatch a lot of his stuff.

[Stan Pedzick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great biography of Terry Gilliam and his movies.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich liebe Gilliam-Filme wie Brazil, Fear and Loathing, die visuelle Vielfalt von Parnassus und The Fisher King. Aber ich habe nicht alle Filme von Terry Gilliam gesehen. Soviel zur Info.
Was das Buch enthielt, war unterhaltsam und schön anzusehen und gut zu lesen: Unverwendete Plakatentwürfe und Skizzen von Terry Gilliam und Fotos; zu jedem Filmprojekt bis zu Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas gibt es nicht nur eine mit Anekdoten gespickte Entstehungsgeschichte mit Einblicken in die Arbeitsweise Gilliams, sondern auch jeweils ein Interview mit selbem. Doch vor allem die Kurztexte zu den "Great Unmades", zu den nicht realisierten Projekten, erlauben teils verblüffende Einblicke in das Geschäft der Filmemacher. Bob McCabe versucht dabei leider nicht, ein objektives Bild abzuliefern, sondern betont seine Verehrung für Gilliam und dessen Probleme mit dem Moloch Hollywood, während der Regisseur selbst wesentlich neutraler daher kommt.
Auch schön für den Leser aus dem Jahr 2012: Der Ausblick am Ende des Buchs mit anstehenden Projekten.
Ganz kar wäre es Zeit für eine überarbeitete, aktualisierte Ausgabe.
Jetzt bin ich auf der Suche nach einem guten Buch, das sich speziell mit dem Stil Terry Gilliams beschäftigt - any suggestions?

[Samuel Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated now having been released in 1999, which is the problem of making a comprehensive book of an artist who is still pursuing his craft. But let's be honest, this does capture the important works on Gilliam's resume. Part of the reason of my attraction to Gilliam's works in the first place is they are absolutely works of art and Gilliam has a style so unique you can see a work of his and without any prior knowledge say with certainty "that is Gilliam." This book being a partial biography (covering Gilliam pre-film) once it gets to his films really focuses on how Gilliam created the looks of his iconic worlds. A subchapter chronicled the films Gilliam failed to get made which was also kinda fascinating. By no means comprehensive, although for the Gilliam fan this would be a must read for you.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always liked his films, now I know a little more why.