Palin - Halfway to Hollywood Diaries 1980-1988

1 Brian Moody

2 Authors Collection

3 HandMade Films Partnership

4 Sam Emerson

5 Pic Photos

6 Trevor Jeal

7 Andy Hanson

8 Chris Richardson

9 David Appleby

10 Mark Mullen

11 David Farrell

12 Erik Heinila

13 David James

While every effort has been made to trace copyright holders, if any have inadvertently been overlooked the publishers will be pleased to acknowledge them in any future editions of this work.

As with the first volume, 19691979, The Python Years , I have had to reduce over a million words of diary entries to something nearer a quarter of a million. In this task I have, as before, been sagely advised and supervised by Ion Trewin. Michael Dover at Weidenfeld and Nicolson has been a constant encouragement in the completion and collation of the edit, and Steve Abbott and Paul Bird at my office have been, as ever, hugely supportive.

Once again, I must reserve my most special thanks to Katharine Du Prez for her patience and persistence in the Herculean labour of transcribing the contents of twenty-four close-packed, handwritten notebooks.

FAMILY

Mary Palin , mother, living at Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk. Father died in 1977.

Helen , wife

Children:

Tom born 1968

William born 1970

Rachel born 1975

Angela , sister. Married to Veryan Herbert and living at Chilton, Sudbury, Suffolk. Died 1987.

Children:

Jeremy born 1960

Camilla born 1962

Marcus born 1963

Helens family:

Anne Gibbins , mother

Elder sister, Mary , married Edward Burd in 1964

Daughter, Catherine , born 1966

Younger sister, Cathy

FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND COLLEAGUES

Richard and Christine Guedalla , and daughters Louise and Helen, neighbours

Clare Latimer , neighbour

Terry Jones and Alison

Terry Gilliam and Maggie

John Cleese , formerly married to Connie Booth , one daughter, Cynthia , born 1971, married Barbara Trentham 1981, separated 1987

Graham Chapman , partner David Sherlock . John Tomiczek (adopted)

Eric Idle , married Tania Kosevich 1981

Robert Hewison . Contemporary of MP at Brasenose College, Oxford 19625, during which time he persuaded MP to perform and write comedy for first time.

Simon and Phillida Albury . Simon met MP after Oxford in 1965. Television journalist, producer and Gospel music fan.

Ian and Anthea Davidson . Met MP at Oxford. Encouraged him to perform in revue and gave him early work at the BBC. A writer and director and occasional Python performer.

Chris Miller and Bill Stotesbury . Chris looked after Erics son Carey during Life of Brian . Bill is a designer and banjo player.

Neil and Yvonne Innes . Neil, Ex-Bonzo Dog Band. Worked closely with the Pythons especially on their stage appearances. Collaborated with Eric to create the Rutles. Sons: Miles and Luke.

Mel Calman , cartoonist and friend

George Harrison . Musician, ex-Beatle. Married to Olivia Arias, son Dhani born 1978.

Derek and Joan Taylor , Beatles publicist and wife

Chris Orr , artist and printmaker

Charles McKeown , actor, writer and performer in many MP films and TV shows

Geoffrey Strachan . Editor at Methuen who encouraged Python to go into print. Also published the Ripping Yarns books.

Tristram and Virginia Powell . Tristram was director/collaborator on East of Ipswich , Number 27 and worked on development of American Friends .

Andr Jacquemin . Recording engineer, Python recordist, composer (with Dave Howman) of some Python songs. Founder of Redwood Studios.

Trevor Jones/John Du Prez , musician and composer (Python songs and A Fish Called Wanda )

Ray Cooper , legendary percussionist who became important go-between and general troubleshooter on all the HandMade films

OFFICE

At Mayday Management/Prominent Features :

Anne James , formerly Henshaw, manager. Married to Jonathan James, a barrister

Steve Abbott , accountant/management, also film producer ( A Fish Called Wanda )

Alison Davies

At EuroAtlantic/HandMade :

Denis OBrien , Chief Executive, Executive Producer ( Time Bandits , The Missionary , A Private Function )

Mark Vere Nicoll , legal expert

FILM REGULARS

Richard Loncraine , Director. First wife Judy. Married Felice 1985.

Neville Thompson , Producer

Mark Shivas , Producer

Julian Doyle . Editor, cameraman, who could turn his hand to any part of the film-making process. Indispensable part of both Python and Gilliam films.

John Goldstone , Producer of Monty Python films Holy Grail , Life of Brian and Meaning of Life

Sandy Lieberson , Producer and sounding board for many projects, including Terry Gilliams Jabberwocky

Patrick Cassavetti , Producer

IN AMERICA

Al Levinson . After wife Eves death, married Claudie Calvez in 1979. Gwenola is their daughter.

Nancy Lewis . Publicist for Python in the USA, deserves much credit for getting them on US TV in the first place. Married actor Simon Jones in 1983.

The Films:

MONTY PYTHON LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

TIME BANDITS