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.

THESEVENTHPYTHONMANIA! Neil Innes invades America! Kicks off concert tour! Appears with film in Illinois! At Secret Policeman's Ballfest in Hollywood!

Musical treasure and legendary satirist Neil Innes lands in America tomorrow to kick off a pre-summer tour that will be capped off with live appearances alongside some very special films: in Wilmette, Illinois for a command performance of The Seventh Python, the nonfiction musical comedy about his life and work from our pals at Frozen Pictures, and alongside Martin Lewis as the Mods & Rockers film program kicks off a monumental bicoastal festival dedicated to the The Secret Policeman's Ball concert film series.

"Off to USA tomorow," Innes twittered hours ago. He'll be landing in New York and opening his acclaimed one-man multimedia concert tour in New Jersey, before touching down June 9th at the historic Wilmette Theatre outside Chicago, where he'll perform live before an audience that includes Chicago's comedy elite after a showing of The Seventh Python.


Two days later, he'll be onstage at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard (where The Seventh Python had its world premiere last summer), with impresario and producer Martin Lewis to launch the film festival that will be showing the entire series of Amnesty International benefit concert films that began 30 years ago (the shows started out as comedy galas featuring popular British comedic performers and later expanded to include top rock stars, inspiring musicians like Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting and Peter Gabriel and events like Live Aid and Live 8):

Thursday June 11, 2009 - 9:30 pm
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood

Opening Night Extravaganza!
Three World Premieres in one night!
Series star Neil Innes and series co-creator/co-producer Martin Lewis in-person

REMEMBER THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALL? (2004, 75 min)
THE SECRET POLICEMAN ROCKS! (2009, 60 min)
THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S RARE NUGGETS! (2009, 15 min)
The Opening Night of the festival features no less than three premieres and an in-person appearance by Neil Innes (Monty Python and The Rutles) to share his memories of appearing in three of the first four Amnesty shows. There will be the World Theatrical Premiere of a superb documentary about the “Secret Policeman’s Ball” series – crammed full of vintage clips and contemporary recollections by the stars. This will be followed by the World Premiere of a new special celebrating 30 years of rock performances for Amnesty. And finally the World Premiere of some wacky outtakes and rarities from the Secret Policeman’s vaults. Given the wealth of Monty Python fans and Amnesty supporters in the entertainment community – the opening night audience is likely to be rather star-studded…

Friday June 12, 2009 - 7:30 pm
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood

Double-bill of the first two shows before they had the "Ball" title
Two US Premieres!
Series star Neil Innes and co-creator/co-producer Martin Lewis in-person

PLEASURE AT HER MAJESTY'S (1976, 101 min)
THE MERMAID FROLICS (1977, 52 min)
THE SECRET POLICEMAN'S RARE NUGGETS! (2009, 15 min)
The “Secret Policeman’s Ball” title was first used for the 1979 Amnesty show – but the seeds of the series were planted in 1976 and 1977 with these two pioneering shows organized by John Cleese. These shows subsequently became regarded as part of the “Secret Policeman’s” canon. “Pleasure At Her Majesty’s” is the film of the 1976 show “A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick)” which was to British comedy what George Harrison’s 1971 “Concert For Bangladesh” was to rock music. A gathering of the British comedic tribes. Never before screened uncut in the US. Includes the only-known documentary footage of the Monty Python troupe rehearsing. “The Mermaid Frolics” stage-directed by Monty Python’s Terry Jones has never been seen in the US in any form. Never on TV, VHS or DVD. This double-bill of rarities is a delight for fans of Monty Python, Beyond The Fringe and British comedy. Followed by a quickie nightcap of outtake treasures from the vaults. Expect to see familiar faces among the many aficionados of British comedy in the audience…


Here's the Innes itinerary:

Neil Innes US Tour

Saturday 5/30/09
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Ave
Bordentown, NJ 08505
609-324-0880
(website)

Sunday 5/31/09
Rams Head Tavern Annapolis
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 268-4545
(website)

Tuesday 6/2/09 8:00 PM
B.B. King's Blues Club and Grill
237 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036
(website)

Wednesday, 6/3/09
Sellersville Theater 1894
24 W. Temple Ave.
Sellersville, PA
215-257-5808
(website)

Thursday 6/4/09
The Bop Shop Atrium
(formerly Bodhi's Cafe)
274 N. Goodman
Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 271-3354
(website)


Friday 6/5/09
The Winchester
12112 Madison Avenue
Lakewood/Cleveland OH 44107
(216) 226-5681
(website)

Saturday 6/6/09 7:00 PM
The Abbey
342 W. Grace
Chicago, IL 60618
(website)

Sun 6/7/09 8:00 PM
Magic Bag
22920 Woodward Avenue
Ferndale, MI 48220
(website)

Tues 6/9/09
Screening of Seventh Python
Mini-concert & Q&A with Neil
The Wilmette Theatre
1122 Central Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-7424
(website)

Thurs 6/11 9:30
Friday 6/12 7:30
Secret Policeman's Ball Film Festival
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(website)


The festival is also showing in NYC. Click here for more information.

And watch this space for the latest!

Monty Python website features The Seventh Python

Pythonline, the official website and news source for fans of Monty Python, is featuring a major item on The Seventh Python, the new movie about Python associate, Bonzo and Rutle Neil Innes, produced by our pals at Frozen Pictures and premiering June 26th as the opening selection of the ninth Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

THE SEVENTH PYTHON WORLD PREMIER! WITH NEIL INNES

Mods & Rockers festival number 9 opens on Thursday June 26 at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre with the World Premiere of the full-length documentary “The Seventh Python.” The film is a portrait of Neil Innes – who since his film debut in the Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” in 1967 has been a major presence as a comedic composer and performer with Monty Python, The Rutles (the spoof Beatles band he created with Eric Idle) and originally with the cult British group – the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. The film features all five of the surviving Monty Python members – John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam – who in a nod to the expression “the Fifth Beatle” – have dubbed Neil Innes as “The Seventh Python”. Innes will be present for the World Premiere and will partake in a conversation about his career with Festival producer Martin Lewis.

(Innes and Lewis are old friends and collaborators. They worked together on Lewis’ “Secret Policeman’s Ball” shows in the 1970s and 1980s – and Lewis instigated and produced Innes’ Rutles reunion album “Archaeology” in 1996.)

SECOND NIGHT – FIRST-EVER MODS & ROCKERS CONCERT AT EGYPTIAN!
The festival’s second night – Friday June 27th - sees a first – the first-ever concert presented inside the historic Egyptian Theatre as part of the Mods & Rockers Festival. Neil Innes will return to the theatre to present a very rare solo concert – his first L.A. live appearance in several years. He will perform songs drawn from his entire 40-year canon – including Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python and Rutles material – and from his extensive solo catalogue.

click here for more information and ticket sales

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."

Media: Monsters & Critics & The Seventh Python

Monsters and Critics, one of the larger independent web-only news and review publications, reaches millions of unique visitors each month and this weekend they’re reaching them with the latest news about The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic from our pals at Frozen Pictures that’s been selected to open the American Cinematheque’s prestigious ninth annual Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood on June 26th:

Movies Features
The Seventh Python Neil Innes fêted in Hollywood June 26, 27

by April McIntyre

A rare Neil Innes concert will follow the world premiere of “The Seventh Python,” Frozen Pictures’ nonfiction film about the life, work and unplanned career of musical satirist, Rutle and Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes, Thursday, June 26th at 7:30PM at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

The biopic opens the American Cinematheque’s 9th annual Mods & Rockers Film Festival.

The two-day premiere includes a special concert performance by Innes at the Egyptian on Friday, June 27th.

The film will combine concert performance footage, animation, a unique interactive element and interviews, appearances and performances by Innes' friends, colleagues and protégés, including surviving Pythons: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

Matt Groening, Aimee Mann, comedians Phill Jupitus and an assorted Rutle or two, among others will be in attendance.

“The Egyptian Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the perfect place to open this film,” says director Burt Kearns, who produced and wrote Python with Frozen partner Brett Hudson.

“Neil Innes has spent his entire career fighting the celebrity fame game that’s gotten so out of control here in recent years. This film celebrates a true comedy and musical genius who’s been all too happy to work beneath the radar. Until now, of course.”

“Even more important,” Hudson adds, “we explain why Neil wears a duck on his head.”

Innes’ resistance to the celebrity worship that haunted his friend George Harrison is at the heart of this film that one early reviewer has called “Touching, hilarious and inventive!”

“The Seventh Python” traces Innes’ winding path at the edge of fame with his influential work that keeps one foot each planted in the worlds of comedy and rock ‘n’ roll.

From the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band to the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, from Monty Python to The Rutles, from his work with Harrison to his songs in Idle’s Broadway smash Spamalot, Neil Innes is that rare artist who is both a brilliant satirist and songwriter who happens to occasionally wear a duck on his head.

John Cleese has likened Innes to Steve Martin and Charlie Chaplin; Terry Jones draws comparisons of him to Paul Simon.

Showtime is 7:30PM for the June 26th premiere. Tickets are available for the film and the June 27th Innes concert online here or at the Egyptian Theatre box office.

LA Times on tomorrow's Seventh Python premiere

The Los Angeles Times has run another feature on The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic from our pals at Frozen Pictures that has its world premiere in less than 24 hours at Martin Lewis' ninth Mods & Rockers Film Fest (a division of American Cinematheque).

Susan King writes:

"Over the last four decades, the 63-year-old singer-songwriter has fronted the beloved British group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band; performed and written songs for the comedy troupe Monty Python’s Flying Circus; and played the John Lennon-esque Ron Nasty in the 1979 Beatles' spoof 'The Rutles,' which was created by Innes and Python Eric Idle. "So it's fitting that Innes is front and center at the ninth edition of the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre. The festival's opening tonight features the world premiere of the 2008 documentary 'The Seventh Python,' as well as the 2007 documentary 'The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band 40th Anniversary Concert.' And on Friday, Innes will perform in concert. "'It's really nice,' Innes says from England about the Mods & Rockers' honors. 'A lot of people can't get around the fact that I have met all of these people and worked with all of these people and still kept out of the limelight. I don't like that side of it.'"

Read the entire article here.


Showtime is at 7:30 pm. Neil Innes himself will be there; a Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band concert film follows, and on Friday, Neil is performing an unprecedented solo show at the Egyptian!

Tickets at ModsandRockers.com.

"Weird Al" meets The Seventh Python

Ha! Check out this press release from our pals at Frozen Pictures, whose new movie, The Seventh Python, premieres Thursday as the opening selection of the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood:

"Weird Al" Yankovic raves about The Seventh Python:
"WITHOUT QUESTION, ONE OF THE FINEST DOCUMENTARIES I'VE SEEN!
(about Neil Innes) (so far this year)!"

HOLLYWOOD (JONAS PR) - Grammy-winning, million-selling, Top 10 recording artist, parodist, singer and accordionist 'Weird Al' Yancovic has stunned the show business world and brought the art of the 'movie quote' to a sublime new level of greatness in his outrageous praise of The Seventh Python, Frozen Pictures' nonfiction film about fellow satirist, Rutle and Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes, which premieres June 26th at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, opening the ninth Mods & Rockers Film Festival.

"Weird Al" was among a select group-- including Innes, festival organizer Martin Lewis and comic Emo Philips-- to attend an early advance screening of the film on the Sunset Strip. As he prepares to embark on his Summer 2008 Straight Outta Lynwood concert tour that opens Friday June 27 in Henderson, Nevada, he took time to send producers a quote that sums up his feelings about the film:

"The Seventh Python is without question one of the finest documentaries I've seen about Neil Innes so far this year."

Blue Smoke & Mirrors Inc., the design firm that created The Seventh Python graphics and ad campaign, slapped the quote on the premiere poster that's showing up across Hollywood this weekend.

By the time the film's producers read the quote, it was too late.

"It sounded right," says BS&M's creative director Joaquin Blanco, whose native language is Portuguese. "In my business, you don't always have time to read the fine print."

Innes, who's traveling from London to Los Angeles for the promotion leading to the premiere and his June 27th solo show at the Egyptian, said he thought 'Weird Al' captured the spirit perfectly.

Tickets for The Seventh Python on July 26th at 7:30 pm and the Neil Innes concert on July 26th at 7:30 pm are available at www.modsandrockers.com

Tickets for "Weird Al"'s Straight Outta Lynwood Summer Tour can be found at www.weirdal.com/touring.htm

The Seventh Python opens The Pacific Palisades Film Festival Thursday, May 14th!

The excitement is building for the screening of the award-winning The Seventh Python at the Pacific Palisades Film Festival next Thursday night, May 14th. The nonfiction comedic musical biopic of legendary satirist Neil Innes was hailed last week by the local Palisadian-Post as "riotously entertaining."

This week, the paper focuses on the film's producers, our pals at Frozen Pictures. Some highlights from Michael Aushenker's article:

Monty Python's Innes Doc Opens Film Fest

Call Neil Innes the missing link of the legendary six-man British comedy troupe Monty Python. Or perhaps Shemp to their Three Stooges. You'll also call him funny, outrageous, even musically inclined. The enigmatic Innes is the subject of a documentary, 'The Seventh Python,' which opens the Sixth Annual Pacific Palisades Film Festival on May 14.

'Neil's a great songwriter, a great comedian, and a great philosopher,' says 'Seventh''s director/co-producer, Burt Kearns. 'And all this while rejecting the star-making machinery, which is quite relevant today.'

With the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in 1968, Innes recorded 'I'm The Urban Spaceman,' the group's only hit, which was produced by Paul McCartney.

'Neil appeared in The Beatles film 'Magical Mystery Tour,'' Kearns continues. 'He appeared in the last season of Monty Python's 'Flying Circus.' They did a parody of the Beatles called The Rutles. It was brought to 'Saturday Night Live' by Eric Idle in the late 1970s. The Rutles took on a life of its own.' Indeed, when 'Spamalot' arrives in L.A. in July, the Python musical will contain Innes' ditties ('Brave Sir Robin').

'Our film is a crowd-pleaser, with lots of laughs and songs,' Kearns says.

'How it came together, that's a movie unto itself,' says 'Seventh' producer Brett Hudson.

Kearns has lived in Pacific Palisades since 2000... and the documentary has other local ties. Supervising producer Alison Holloway lives here (conveniently, Kearns' wife) and associate producer Joachim 'J.B.' Blunck, an Emmy-winning producer/director and former Palisadian, now resides in Malibu, where producer/musician Hudson (one of the original Hudson Brothers and an uncle of actress Kate Hudson) also lives. And, Kearns notes, 'My son Sam is a production assistant on the film.'

...Kearns met Hudson in the late '90s while working on Miramax's 'The Best Money Can Buy'...

Kearns and Hudson formed Frozen Pictures, producing documentary-style programming, including 'All the President's Movies' for Bravo, Showtime's 'My First Time,' and 'Adults Only: The Secret History of the Other Hollywood,' which, after Court TV tried to bury it with a Sunday-night airing, pulled in the highest ratings for original programming in the channel's history.

'What Burt and I like to do,' Hudson says, 'is not give our point of view. We lay the truth out and let viewers decide.'

In 2006, Frozen released the Burt Reynolds comedy 'Cloud Nine.'

Kearns got the idea for 'Seventh Python' while working on a doc called 'Death of a Beatle.'

'I went to London and traced John Lennon's life,' he says. 'The person I wanted to interview was the guy who played John Lennon in The Rutles.'

'As a musician, I listen to his melodies, his harmonics,' Hudson says. 'He's very clever. The guy had fame in front of him on a silver platter and he rejected it. Given my background, I find that unique.'

Kearns credits associate Bonnie Rose for playing a key role: 'Bonnie had brought him to Hollywood in 2002. We thought he'd be a good documentary subject.

'I don't like what tabloid television gave birth to, this whole culture of stalking celebrities. The film with Neil is an antidote to that, the way he could influence culture and not be a part of it.'

...'It's not archival-looking black-and-white footage,' Kearns says. 'You're seeing the Pythons today.'

Last summer, 'Seventh Python' debuted at American Cinematheque's Mods and Rockers festival, and has since screened in Chicago, New Jersey, and at the Las Vegas Film Festival, where it won a Golden Ace Award.

Up next for Frozen: documentaries on Latin rocker Chris Montez, and on John Lennon's seven-month 'lost weekend' (in Los Angeles) with mistress May Pang. Last year, Hudson conquered throat cancer, and this inspired 'The Klinik,' about his journey to Germany to get cured. This is also in development, as is the pair's scripted comedy, 'Live From The Gaza Strip.'

For now, all eyes are on 'Seventh''s Palisades premiere.

'This is literally a homecoming,' Kearns says. 'To be invited to the festival is in itself a great honor. And then to be opening it!'

'The Seventh Python' screens with Jennifer Clary's short, 'The Christmas Conspiracy,' at 7 p.m., Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd.

Tickets: www.FriendsOfFilm.com.

The producers of The Seventh Python have dedicated the evening to the late Dom DeLuise.

Every ticketholder gets a free The Seventh Python poster!

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

The Seventh Python a hit in UK premiere!

The Seventh Python, the acclaimed, award-winning film about the acclaimed Bonzo Dog Band, Monty Python, Rutles and solo legend Neil Innes from our pals at Frozen Pictures, had its United Kingdom premiere over the weekend at the 2010 Slapstick Festival in Bristol.

"I really enjoyed it," reports one festivalgoer on the Neil Innes fansite. "A great representation of all things Innes! Fantastic, and great work with the animation! I hope this gets a DVD release, so I can get the chance to watch it again. Loads of laugh out loud moments lapped up by a very receptive crowd... Great closing credits as well, although the waffle recipe went a little to quickly for me to write it all down!"


The Saturday night screening at the Arnolfini Arts Centre in Bristol Harbor also featured a Neil Innes Q&A and performance. The Frozen filmmakers, director Burt Kearns and producer Brett Hudson, are on location shooting their latest project on iconic pop star Chris Montez and were unable to attend the historic event at the festival that made worldwide headlines with its award the previous evening to Monty Python star Michael Palin-- who also stars in The Seventh Python.


Our pals at Frozen Pictures tell us they've signed a distribution deal that could put The Seventh Python in theatres and home distribution in 2010.


And if you hear that The Seventh Python is showing at a film festival near you, let us know-- we'll pass on the word!

Python in Perth, Bruce: Australian film festival launches tonight; tickets selling fast for two screenings of The Seventh Python

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival launches today in Perth, Australia, along with great excitement for the two prime-spot screenings of The Seventh Python.

The Saturday, July 4th presentation of the acclaimed, award-winning documentary about legendary pop satirist, wit and Monty Python cohort Neil Innes will be the Australian premiere of the film from our pals at Frozen Pictures that's received accolades and standing ovations as its made its way across America through film festivals, special event screenings and Beatles fan conventions since its premiere at the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival last summer.

The 12th annual Revelation Perth Fest is perhaps the most respected film festival in all of Australia. One film reviewer writes: "Under the curatorial leadership of author Jack Sargeant for the second year running, Revelation aims to bring new, weird, interesting and unusual features and documentaries that wouldn't otherwise get screened in cinemas to Perth audiences."

There's particular excitement about The Seventh Python-- enough that the musical comedy doco is getting two screenings at prime times. Along with the Saturday, July 4th showing at 7:15 pm, The Seventh Python will also be screened on Friday, July 10th at 7:15 pm.

click photo to enlarge

One reason for the buzz Down Under can be found on the Festival website: "Alongside many interviews The Seventh Python features numerous versions of Innes’ songs including the Australian version of The Philosopher’s Song."

Australian readers, click here to get your tickets.

New news on The Seventh Python premiere

In the LAist's comprehensive report on Monday night's reunion-- and historic first-time performance-- of The Rutles, there's more information about the premiere of The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic from our pals at Frozen Pictures, thats set for June at very same Mods and Rockers Film Festival that brought together Eric Idle, John Halsey, Ricky Fataar and Seventh subject Neil Innes:

"...There was also a preview for the upcoming documentary on Neil Innes, titled The Seventh Python. The documentary will be premiering at this summer's Mods and Rockers Film Festival. Martin Lewis, co-founder and producer of Mods and Rockers has some serious mojo...

"This may be the first and last time all four Rutles performed together, but this is not the last you will see of The Rutles. Neil Innes told LAist that when he returns in June for the Mods and Rockers Fest to premier his documentary, The Seventh Python, he may form a trio with Ricky Fataar (Martin Lewis - seriously, the guy is magic)..."

Looks like more history-making music could be ahead. We'll be there at the Egyptian Theatre. Stay tuned here for details.

The Seventh Python's executive producer Sean Connors & Martin Lewis
at the Rutles reunion bash

Sean Connors (center) & The Rutlemania! dancers

Monty joins The Seventh in Python media blitz

Monty Python’s Flying Circus will make its 21st century U.S. television series debut May 26th on BBC America-- just weeks before the world premiere of The Seventh Python movie.

BBC America picked up all four seasons of the series (the final season, which John Cleese did not appear in, features performances by Neil Innes (above, second from left), as well as Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, the special edition of the series produced in Germany (two 45 minute episodes were shot entirely on film and in the German language-- though the second was recorded in English and dubbed).

The announcement comes on the heels of Martin Lewis' unexpected and spectacular staging of a Rutles reunion and his confirmation that the Neil Innes musical biopic, the Seventh Python, will premiere in June at the Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood.

Visit The Seventh Python movie website here.

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.

Premiere eve: CityBeat meets The Seventh Python

On the eve of the world premiere of The Seventh Python, the Neil Innes biopic from our pals at Frozen Pictures, the LA CityBeat weekly newspaper is running a prominent interview in its issue that hits stands later today:

In a town full of fame junkies and discarded icons, the affection held for the unglamorous likes of Neil Innes is heartening. A nimble musical satirist in the jolly company of W.S. Gilbert and Spike Jones... the low-key and eccentric Innes is the subject of the documentary The Seventh Python, premiering Thursday at the venerable “Mods & Rockers” festival at the Egyptian Theater, and performs a solo concert there on Friday...

CityBeat: Hello and how do you find yourself this morning?

Neil Innes: Well, I just rolled back the sheets and there I was!

Tell us about The Seventh Python. It sounds a bit like Harry Reems meets Ray Harryhausen.

Bonnie Rose and Laurie Stevens started this Web site a couple of years ago in L.A. and they decided to get in contact with me and asked if I’d come play there. I was coming through in 2003 on my way to a comedy festival in Melbourne, and said if they can find a couple of rooms, we’d play. A little band was put together and, in typical fashion, the Iraq war and the Oscars happened that weekend, so L.A. was pretty much gridlocked. But nevertheless, the filming took place and the movie began to take shape, and it soon turned out they were making a movie about someone who didn’t really want to become rich and famous! [wheeze] So they had to work hard to make it interesting, and they have the rest of the Pythons on there talking through their trousers. I haven’t seen the finished thing, but it’s quite sweet and fun for me to hear people go on about my songwriting in a grown up way, since I muck about so. It’s not a career move, but hopefully an interesting thing, as it was born out of love.

Read the entire interview here.

The Seventh Python is the opening selection in Martin Lewis' ninth Mods & Rockers Film Fest (a division of American Cinematheque). Showtime is at 7:30 pm. Neil Innes himself will be there; a Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band concert film follows, and on Friday, Neil is performing an unprecedented solo show at the Egyptian!

Tickets at ModsandRockers.com.

'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.

Fan websites drive Seventh Python awareness

With tickets now on sale for the world premiere of The Seventh Python at Martin Lewis’ Mods & Rockers Film Festival next month, much of the buzz in and beyond the Innes fanbase has been generated by Innes fan sites on the Internet. And all that’s very fitting, since the worldwide Web is the very platform that’s spread Innes’ publicity around the globe for the past decade— and the movie itself is being billed as an “interactive” feature that sends viewers to their home computers for more after they leave the theatre (see the end of the post).


The Words of Innespiration website at Neil Innes.org is the original, a comprehensive guide to all things Neil, a starter course for newcomers and the meeting place for Innes fans around the world and universe. The site was created Bonnie Rose and Laurie Stevens, two fans in Los Angeles who ran the site and attracted fans from around the world for two years until Innes found out about. He approved.


This past week, Bonnie— who produced and directed animations for the film-- created a special The Seventh Python page on the Innespiration site-- and a new command center and clearinghouse for all things Seventh Python.


Neil in Us: The Neil Innes Unofficial Fan Page is a newer site begun by a diehard fan from Texas. Barb is her name and she’s got to be the #1 Neil Innes cheerleader in America right now. New friends welcome.


The Seventh Python Official MySpace page is just that—the movie’s MySpace page. In the first month of operation, it’s attracted thousands of MySpace “friends” and features new photos and exclusive Innes performance videos each week leading up to the big premiere.


A Tribute to Neil Innes is a new site run by a fan and writer based in the UK. It features great photos and videos of Innes from throughout his career.


Rokuvajes (a reference to Rock of Ages, Barb's favorite Innes song) is a companion page to the Neil in US site.


As is the recent The Innes Book of Memories. (See page six.)

The Seventh Python returns to Chicago!

Friday, August 14th, The Comedy Shrine
22 E. Chicago Avenue Naperville, Illinois 630.355.2844

So what is it with The Seventh Python and Chicago? The veddy-Anglocentric award-winning nonfiction feature about the veddy-British musical satirist, rock 'n' roll legend and Monty Python compatriot Neil Innes from our pals at Frozen Pictures returns to the Chicago area on Friday, August 14th, with a one-night-only screening and (two-thirds) Hudson Brothers performance at The Comedy Shrine.

The announcement is great news for comedy and Monty Python fans... but begs the question why, after entertaining audiences and winning standing ovations around the world-- from Perth, Australia to the New Jersey Meadowlands-- The Seventh Python keeps returning to the City of Big Shoulders in the American Heartland?

Since the film's premiere at the American Cinematheque's Mods & Rockers Film Festival in Hollywood, it's played at:

The Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans...

The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival...

The Wilmette Theatre...

and now..

The Comedy Shrine
22 E. Chicago Avenue
Naperville, Illinois
630.355.2844

So what's the secret to Chicago?


"The secret to Chicago is-- there is no secret," says Seventh Python director Burt Kearns. "Chicago is a comedy capital. They've got The Second City there, but also universities, where some of the finest comics and comedy writers were schooled. There are a lot of comedy legends in and around Chicago."

One of those legends is Dave Sinker. The longtime Hudson buddy, Emmy-winning writer and Second City veteran runs The Comedy Shrine, and came up with the idea of bringing back The Seventh Python for a return engagement.

The Friday evening show on Chicago Avenue in Naperville is set to begin with a screening of the hilarious film starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Aimee Mann, Matt Groening and many others, followed by a special performance by Brett and Mark Hudson (they'll arrive after they appear at The Fest for Beatles Fans at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare). Brett produced the film. Mark, the noted music producer and performer, was music supervisor.

Click here for tickets. Arrive early so you'll have some time to check out the extensive comedy memorabilia collection. They don't call it The Comedy Shrine for nothing.