Fun facts about film financing from Eric Idle, who was here talking about the lastest compilation of Monty Python sketches, "Monty Python's Personal Best," which will begin airing next month on PBS:

-- "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" cost $400,000 to make and was funded by a small group of investors -- including the members of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Genesis -- who kicked in $10,000 apiece.

"It was paid for by British rock and roll, basically, who didn't really want their
money back and have been surprised ever since that they still get checks from 'Spamalot,' said Idle.

-- "The Life of Brian" cost about 10 times as much as the Holy Grail and was paid for by ex-Beatle George Harrison.

"He mortgaged his house because he wanted to see the movie. It's still the
most that anybody has ever paid for a movie ticket," said Idle.

"And then I think they were kind of -- his partner, Dennis 'Brien, they did a bit of Bialystock and Bloom. Suddenly it started to make money, and they
had to collapse the company and go offshore. They expected it to, you know, lose. It was just like 'The Producers.' What, a film about the life of Brian? This could never work."