George Harrison

The Man Who Saved Monty Python

George Harrison mortgaged his Friar Park mansion to finance Life of Brian in 1978. The original EMI investors had pulled out just days before filming began, fearing religious protests. But he wanted to see the film finished and decided to pay for it entirely out of his own pocket.

That gesture founded HandMade Films. The company became the engine of independent British cinema during the 1980s. It wasn't after quick profits or social prestige. Harrison simply enjoyed the creative process of others.

And the gamble paid off.

His relationship with the camera began long before the boardrooms. In 1964 he shot A Hard Day's Night under the direction of Richard Lester. That film transformed the look of modern music cinema through frantic editing and a dry humor that Harrison handled better than anyone.

He never felt comfortable being the center of attention. He preferred working behind the scenes on the technical side. So on Help! in 1965, he used breaks during filming to explore Indian culture through the instruments that appeared on set.

The Risk of Producing Without a Safety Net

HandMade Films didn't live on surreal comedy alone. In 1980 they produced Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits. It was an unexpected box office hit that proved Harrison's judgment went beyond simple personal friendship with the directors.

But it wasn't all financial rejoicing at the London offices. Filming Shanghai Surprise in 1986 turned into a logistical and personal disaster. The press hounded Sean Penn and Madonna for weeks in Hong Kong, and the budget spiraled out of control.

Harrison had to travel to the set to mediate the ego clashes among the stars. In the end, the film lost nearly all the capital invested in its international distribution.

It was the price of independence.

In 1987, he revived his standing in the industry with Withnail and I. This small cult production was shot on a tight budget of 1.1 million pounds. Today it is still studied in film schools for its perfect screenplay and decadent atmosphere.

Leaving the Studios Behind

The company's internal management began to falter toward the end of the decade. Harrison discovered financial irregularities committed by his partner Denis O'Brien. That episode soured his view of the film business, and he decided to step back from the front lines.

In 1994, he sold his stake in HandMade Films to a Canadian company for close to 8.5 million dollars. He retreated to his garden to tend his plants and record music now and then, free from the pressures of the major labels.

His last major film appearance was in the documentary The Beatles Anthology, released in 1995. In it, he reviewed his career with an analytical coolness that surprised his most nostalgic fans.

Harrison died in Los Angeles in November 2001. He left behind 23 feature films produced and a music catalog managed entirely by his family company, Harrisongs.