The Seventh Python is a hit at Hollywood premiere! Reviewer: "Made me want to stand up and cheer!"

The premiere of The Seventh Python last night at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood was a rousing success for movie subject Neil Innes, Mods & Rockers Film Festival impresario Martin Lewis and our pals at Frozen Pictures who produced the film. And leave it to legendary blogger and Internet journalist Luke Ford to be first out of the gate with a review of the picture:

"A sweet and funny documentary!
The Seventh Python made me
want to stand up and cheer
for a good and funny man!
A must-see for any Monty Python fan!"
--Luke Ford

Chelsea Handler, Mark Hudson and music legend Chris Montez were seen in the crowd, which roared with laughter, applauded with approval and joined in a standing ovation!

Luke did the interviews above. See more here.



More to come...

'Charming and illuminating!" LA Times returns to The Seventh Python hours before world premiere

The LA Times has certainly taken notice of the world premiere of The Seventh Python tonight at the Mods and Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood. Hours after the publication of a full-length feature in the Guide section, music writer Randy Lewis-- who got a sneak preview of the film-- writes this afternoon:

You can tell a lot about a person from their heroes. There are those who cite great statesmen or politicians; others look up to athletes, scientists, philosophers or artists.

For British musician and humorist Neil Innes, it’s Brian Dunkleman, who quit his job co-hosting “American Idol” with Ryan Seacrest because he didn’t like the way contestants were being treated.

“Dunkleman turned his back on a fortune, and people ridicule him for it — I think he’s a hero,” says Innes, one-time member of the inner circle of the Monty Python comedy troupe who’s often referred to as “The Seventh Python.” That happens to be the title of a new film documentary on Innes’ career, which also has included membership in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Eric Idle’s Beatles satire project The Rutles, for which Innes wrote all the delightful Fab Four-esque songs.

“I say we should start a ‘Dunkleman for President’ campaign,” he said.

His admiration for a pop culture footnote goes to the heart of the charming and illuminating documentary by director Burt Kearns who, like many of those he interviewed for his film, laments that Innes never has received wider recognition for his creative wit and musical acumen...

“That’s the problem I’ve had all my life,” Innes said, an ever-present lilt in his voice. “The truth is there is a lot of music out there that isn’t trying to be funny, but it still is. The Bonzos used to point this out in the ’60s. There’s that thing that you can’t ignore what you see, and the human condition is funny.”

So is much of “The Seventh Python” — even to its subject. “There’s a wonderful moment when they’re on the street showing a photo of me and no one can identify it. Then one person looks into the camera and says, ‘I know what you’re doing — you’re making a documentary about someone nobody’s ever heard of.’ I just adored that.”

Read the entire article here.

LAist's Innes interview on morning of premiere

The LAist has Bob Thompson's great interview with Neil Innes, hours before the premiere of the Innes biopic, The Seventh Python (from our pals at Frozen Pictures) at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Some highlights (though personally, we like the juxtaposition of the two photos on the webpage):

Director Burt Kearns’ previous work will probably be familiar to many in the audience, though they may not know and might not admit it: much of his resume is in tabloid TV... His experiences on the front lines of exploitation led him to write the book Tabloid Baby, which he calls “part mea culpa, part expose”, in 1999... With this film, he hopes, if not to make Neil Innes into an actual celebrity, at least to level the market share a little. Innes himself hasn’t seen the final cut of the film yet. “I’m not sure if I’ll have to walk round the theater until it’s over,” he says from his room in Hollywood. Despite any last-minute jitters, he sounds more than pleased to be here, and talks most excitedly about his latest work, including a 2007 Bonzos album, the first full-length since 1971. Being the subject of a documentary, which I presume you’ve now seen, was there anything surprising that you learned about yourself while watching it? No question, it’s one of the oddest things I’ve ever found myself doing in my life. Because it’s not my film. And it shouldn’t be my film. But it’s funny to see my friends saying nice things because they’re normally very rude to me. So it’s a little bit hard to take (laughter.) I am still naturally quite shy. But a lot of it I quite like. I think John Cleese is very funny, Phil Jupitus is very funny. But I haven't seen the final cut, I saw it when it had everything and I did say, cut it down so that someone who never knew anything about me would get something, but don't dwell on things too much. What can you tell us about the live show on Friday? Is this a band show?
I’d love to have had a band… the daft thing is, basically, I’m doing a benefit for Cinematheque. Most people come out to Hollywood to get in a movie and make a lot of money; I come to Hollywood and do a benefit for a cinema. But that’s true to form. (Laughter.) You see, Cinematheque and I have a lot in common, both of us are non-profit. No, it’ll be a one-man show. There just wasn’t time to do that sort of thing. Actually a couple of guys, Ken Simpson and Ken Thornton, are coming from Illinois… and they’ll pop up and play a bit.

Neil Innes performs in concert at the Egyptian tomorrow night. Both shows at 7:30 pm; tickets here.

Preview: LA Times on Seventh Python premiere

Tomorrow's edition of the LA Times announces the June 26th world premiere of The Seventh Python, the film from our pals at Frozen Pictures about Monty Python collaborator, Rutle and Bonzo Dog Neil Innes as the opening selection of the Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood. In keeping with Neil's artistic integrity and forty-year campaign to sidestep celebrity and fame, the typesetters left his name out of the lede!

We're sure they'll fix it by tomorrow... but meanwhile, it's a good collectors' item.

Here's the story:

Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood opens June 26

By Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 12, 2008

The ninth Mods & Rockers Film Festival opens June 26 in Hollywood with the world premiere of "The Seventh Python," a look at the life and music of longtime Monty Python associate, former Bonzo Dog Band member and Rutles singer and songwriter .

The following night, Innes will play a solo concert in the American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre, where the festival's mix of new and classic music-centric films will be run. "The Seventh Python" references Innes' close working and personal relationship with the six members of the British comedy troupe. The opening-night program also will include the first public screening of the film of the Bonzo Dog Band's 40th anniversary concert.

"I've always thought Neil Innes is the embodiment of the two finest aspects of the culture of the last 40 years: the music and the humor," festival organizer Martin Lewis said Wednesday. "It's still astonishing to me how few people know about him. There's no point in having a film festival if you can't use it to promote the people who are truly worthy of it."

Seventh Pythonmania hits the UK!

Excitement over the June 26th premiere of The Seventh Python has already reached back to the United Kingdom, where it all began in the first place. And in the country that gave us Oasis, there's reason for soccer-style chants and anticipation, for while many in the United States may be unaware of the brilliant work and widespread influence of the satirist, songwriter and performer, Neil Innes is a hero in his homeland, and word of the imminent release of a movie about his life and career is causing great ripples across Old Blighty.

The latest bulletin comes from Chortle, the UK comedy guide:

Rutle & Hum
Innes subject of new documentary movie

Musical satirist Neil Innes is to be the subject of a new documentary film, The Seventh Python.

The movie - which features John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin talking about Innes's contribution to Monty Python – receives its word premiere in Hollywood later this month.

Other contributers include Simpsons creator Matt Groening, singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and comedians Phill Jupitus and Emo Philips.

The film charts Innes's career from art school through The Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band, work with the Beatles, Monty Python and The Rutles, mixed with concert footage and animations.

Here’s a trailer for the film, which will open the American Cinematheque's ninth annual Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 26:

AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE ANNOUNCES THAT 'THE SEVENTH PYTHON' WILL OPEN NINTH ANNUAL MODS & ROCKERS FESTIVAL; STAR NEIL INNES TO APPEAR & PERFORM

We’ve been telling you about it for weeks now, but now the esteemed American Cinematheque has officially announced that its Mods & Rockers Film Festival will open with the world premiere of The Seventh Python, the new musical feature film about musical satirist and unheralded superstar Neil Innes, produced by our pals at Frozen Pictures.

And not only will Neil Innes be appearing at the legendary Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre for the premiere on June 26th— he’ll also be performing in a special concert at the theatre the following night:

Here’s the announcement from the American Cinematheque:

June 26 - July 9, 2008

Mods and Rockers

An Egyptian Theatre exclusive!

Join us for our ninth Mods and Rockers Festival, straddling the months of June and July in wide-stance, rock star fashion. We’re kicking off with the World Premiere of THE SEVENTH PYTHON, a superb documentary about founding Bonzo Dog Band member (and prime Python and Rutles accomplice) Neil Innes (who’ll be appearing In-Person)! It’ll be a super fun night, followed by another evening with Neil live in concert at the Egyptian.

We’ll also be featuring the U.S. Premiere of LOVE STORY, the fascinating documentary about key L.A. ‘60s band, Arthur Lee and Love as well as the Los Angeles Premiere of THIS IS GARY MCFARLAND, an incisive look at the Mod, ascot-wearing vibraphonist who died mysteriously in 1971. Plus in July you can look forward to screenings of Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett rarities as well as the welcoming of filmmaker Tony Palmer In-Person for his multi-episode extravaganza ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, a glorious celebration of American music over 4th of July weekend. For more details go to: www.modsandrockers.com.

Thursday, June 26 – 7:30 PM
Rare L.A. Show by Neil Innes -
Double Feature: World Premiere!
Python/Rutles/Bonzos Star
Neil Innes In-Person!

THE SEVENTH PYTHON, 2008, Frozen Pictures, 88 min. Dir. Burt Kearns. "The Most Famous Rock Star You’ve Never Heard Of…" 40 years after he made his debut in the Beatles’ MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR as a founder member of the legendary Bonzo Dog Band, the gloriously unplanned career of Neil Innes is spotlighted in this new documentary. Featuring appearances by all 5 surviving members of Monty Python. "You've got to remember that the Bonzos did 26 television shows with Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Terry Gilliam. I think Eric's acknowledged that there was an influence from the Bonzos in terms of the anarchy. There is a link…when the band first met Eric and Mike and Terry and whatnot, there was a certain mutual suspicion, 'cause we were crazy guys just coming off the road. And they'd come from Oxford and Cambridge, and they'd written stuff for David Frost, and they were young, up-and-coming writers…It was a kind of cross-fertilization that took place over a couple of years. We all became very good friends." – Neil Innes (from a Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine interview) http:///www.theseventhpythonmovie.com.

THE BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND 40^th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT, 2007, Classic Rock Legends, 89 min. Featuring original members: Neil Innes, Roger Ruskin Spear, Rodney Slater, Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, Sam Spoons, Bob Kerr and the Irrepressible "Legs" Larry Smith. The year 2006 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of ‘My Brother Makes The Noises For the Talkies’, the first record by The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. The part of the late great and sorely missed Vivian Stanshall is performed here in the live concert variously by Messrs Stephen Fry, Adrian Edmondson, Phill Jupitus and Paul Merton. For the first time since the group broke up in the early ‘70s, a British stage once again resounded to the inspired flights of lunacy of the Bonzos favorites performed live. Some of the songs included: "My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies," "Little Sir Echo," "Falling In Love Again," "We Are Normal," "The Trouser Press," "My Pink Half Of The Drainpipe," "Mr Apollo," "Look At Me, I'm Wonderful," "Rhinocratic Oaths," "Monster Mash," "Urban Spaceman," "Canyons Of Your Mind," "The Intro and Outro" and more! http://www.bonzodog.co.uk Plus Rutles and Bonzo Dog film and TV rarities. Discussion in between films with Neil Innes.

Friday, June 27 – 7:30 PM
Rare L.A. Show by Neil Innes -
Live Performance of Monty Python,
Rutles & Bonzo Dog Songs!

LIVE CONCERT WITH NEIL INNES. In celebration of the World Premiere of the new film about him, THE SEVENTH PYTHON, Neil Innes gives a very rare solo concert to celebrate the celebrations. He will perform songs from throughout his 40-year career, including material from the Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python and Rutles canons. Entire program approximately 120 min.

The prestigious festival was founded by producer, humorist and impresario Martin Lewis (left) and Cinematheque programming director Dennis Bartok in 1999. Martin Lewis, who recently pulled off an unprecedented, historic reunion of The Rutles at the Egyptian, continues as the curator and face of what’s become the most prestigious pop culture and rock ‘n’ roll film festival in the world.

Lots of Seventh Python photos & video at MySpace

Our pals at Frozen Pictures are really getting into gear in the lead-up to the premiere of their film, The Seventh Python. The movie opens the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 26th, and as the promotions begin, the lads are loading up their Seventh Python MySpace page with lots of production stills featuring star Neil Innes and others who appear in the film, including comedy legends John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin of Monty Python's Flying Circus, as well as members of the Rutles and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Emo Philips, Aimee Mann and-- well, check out the MySpace collection and see for yourself.


They've also started adding exclusive Neil Innes performance video and outtakes, with a new clip planned each week til the premiere-- which would turn out to be-- ah, we'll let you do the math.


We'd mentioned that the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a fitting place for the premiere, since the multitalented comic genius Mr. Innes has spent a career avoiding fame-- but judging from some of the press material, promising that the movie takes "direct aim at today’s shallow celebrity culture," we'd venture that it could even make some noise as a convincing denunciation of the celebutardia celebrated by some of those corporate porn-pushing gossip sites out there.

Exclusive, unseen Neil Innes performance footage shows up on The Seventh Python MySpace page

So what's the greatest rock 'n' roll song ever? A candidate for the most influential, unsung talent in the field certainly is Neil Innes, the satirist, songwriter and performer who's being featured in exclusive, private performance video on the The Seventh Python MySpace page promoting his upcoming biopic.

Innes has been a prime mover for more than forty years, since his days in the Bonzo Dog Band (immortalized in Magical Mystery Tour, through his work with Monty Python, George Harrison and The Rutles, his recent Bonzos reunion album (without question one of the best of 2007)and now, finally getting his due with The Seventh Python, the musical feature from our pals at Frozen Pictures.


Python will premiere at the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood at the end of June, and it's already generating tremendous buzz in the industry and in fan circles after a sneak screening on the Sunset Strip and a trailer that ran at Martin Lewis' unprecedented Rutles reunion at the Egyptian Theatre.


The first MySpace clip went up over the weekend. The Frozen team tells us they'll continue to add new, exclusive, unseen Innes clips up to the movie's premiere.

The Seventh Python movie to premiere in June at Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood

The world premiere of The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic produced by our pals at Frozen Pictures, will take place in June at the American Cinematheque's Mods and Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

The announcement was made tonight by festival founder, host and curator Martin Lewis, as he premiered The Seventh Python trailer (above) before the festival's 30th anniversary screening of The Rutles in All You Need Is Cash at which the four stars of the film, Innes, Eric Idle, Ricky Fataar and John Halsey were united for the first time.

Meet The Rutles:
Martin Lewis (right) introduces John Halsey, Ricky Fataar, Neil Innes & Eric Idle

The trailer can also be viewed here on the new Seventh Python movie website that went into operation tonight.

Lewis said The Seventh Python will open the festival, and that Neil Innes will most likely be on hand for the much-anticipated world premiere.

"I want to see the Neil Innes movie," Eric Idle told the enthusiastic crowd. "Not only is he an untold story, he's an unsold Tory!"

"We're honored to be invited to such a prestigious and acclaimed festival," said Python director Burt Kearns, who wrote and produced the nonfiction musical with Brett Hudson. "Martin Lewis has done tremendous things and made worldwide headlines this week and we're especially grateful that he found the time to be so generous to us and our film. This is the perfect place to introduce this picture and Neil Innes' gifts to the world."

www.TheSeventhPythonMovie.com