Dark Knights and Holy Fools: The Art and Films of Terry Gilliam: From Before Python to Beyond Fear and Loathing

by Bob McCabe

Award-winning film director, animator, and actor Terry Gilliam has been one of the most original, controversial, and successful filmmakers of the last three decades. Since 1969, when he became the only American among the otherwise all-British Monty Python team. Terry Gilliam's work has won plaudits and acclaim for its originality and imagination. His films are renowned for the quality of performances from some of Hollywood's top acting talent, such as Robert de Niro, Brad Pitt, Robin Williams and Johnny Depp.

For the first time, this book traces thirty years of the work and art of Terry Gilliam, from his pre-Python days through to the astounding adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , released in 1998.

Using Gilliam's own drawings, storyboard and scripts, this book builds to a complete overview of the director's work, examining in detail his striking visual sense ad labyrinthing stories of Man against bureaucracy ( Brazil, Twelve Monkeys ), triumphant tales of imagination winning over mediocrity ( Time Bandits, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King ) and, of course, something completely different ( Monty Python and the Holy Grail ).

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

192 pages, Paperback

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.

[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.