Money for Monty Python

George mortgaged his 120-room Friar Park mansion to finance the 1979 film 'Monty Python's Life of Brian', because he was a big fan of the comedy troupe and had been disappointed by EMI's decision to withdraw funding shortly before production was set to start.

His decision to back the movie himself was described as "the most expensive cinema ticket ever issued" by the musician.

From this initial project he and his manager Denis O'Brien founded Handmade Films which was responsible for making classic movies including 'Time Bandits', 'The Long Good Friday' and 'Withnail and I'.

Harrison remained close friends with Python member Eric Idle, who described him as "one of the few morally good people that rock ‘n’ roll has produced".