Product Description

Brazil is regarded as Terry Gilliam's masterpiece. The genesis for Oscar nominated screenplay to the film lies in a faded notebook in Terry Gilliam's attic. It began life in 1977 when Gilliam was working on the Jabberwocky. He had had in his mind for years an image of a totalitarian state, an image of a superficial society where dreams have become scarce. He retired to a cottage in Wales for a month with Jabberwocky screenwriter Charles Alverson and created a 150 page screenplay which, eight years later he and Tom Stoppard used as the blueprint for the final film. This screenplay is significantly different to that filmed featuring numerous previously undisclosed fantasy sequences, plot lines and characters. The original script is wonderfully biting. It also has some of the most eccentric characters in all of cinematic history. In addition to the full, restored, previously unseen screen-play, the book includes an extensive foreword chronicling the beginnings of the project, featuring extracts and sketches from Gilliam's notebooks and includes new in-depth interviews with both Terry Gilliam and Charles Alverson talking for the first time about his contribution to the movie. With its huge cult appeal this is a fascinating insight into the evolution of a modern movie classic.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61107 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-15
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Terry Gilliam will promote Never before published screenplay, sketches and notes. The Battle of Brazil was number one in the film book bestsellers for 10 weeks and sold over 10,000 copies Timed to publish with the release of Gilliam's new movie Who Killed Don Quixote? Bob McCabe broadcasts on film for Radio 1 and is associate editor of 'Film Guide'. He contributes to 'Empire', and 'Q' magazines and has also contributed to 'Premier', 'Film Review', 'Evening Standard', 'Daily Mirror', 'The Express' and was film editor of 'Vox'. He is the author of the BFI book on 'The Exorcist'. Bob McCabe broadcasts on film for Radio 1 and is associate editor of Film Guide. He contributes to Empire and Q magazines and has also contributed to Evening Standard, Daily Mirror and Daily Express, and was film editor of Vox. He is the author of The Pythons by The Pythons and numerous other books, most recently the authorised biography of Ronnie Barker.

Customer Reviews

An engrossing read
I have been a fan of this film for many years, and at last this book explains why so few people I talk to about it have heard of it, let alone seen it. Gilliam's struggles with stroppy ( and wonderful) cast members, and the usual tales of his struggles just to get his ideas out of his head and onto the screen fade into significance compared to the struggles he had during the editing process.
I think that some of what is spoken of in this book is rather tamed down compared to what actually happened, but it still gives you a great idea about what can happen when a great genius mind and a great moneymaking mind clash. Genius should always win, but we all have to eat...
By the way, I bought this along with the scripts, but don't bother, as the script in included in this tome.

Mind-blowing (as the movie)
It is remarquable how little litterature has yet been published on Terry Gilliam's masterpiece "Brazil", in spite of the fact that it clearly stands out a chilling, but intellectually extremely challenging piece of art. In this book, for the first time the reader is granted insight in the creative mind of cinema genious Terry Gilliam as he originally imagined the plot. It shows astounding dream sequences that could not be filmed for financial reasons and allows us to come closer to what "Brazil" could have become with a more "commercial" budget. If you haven't seen the movie, this book will certainly make it easier to enjoy and understand, while unconditional fans will find loads of fascinating details, all confirming the cult status of Gilliam's work. A definite must-have for negative-utopia fans or neophites !