Almost ten years before "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", Terry Gilliam began his career directing another short film named "Miracle of Flight". Here he returns to the genre, though no animation, but live action instead. This effort managed a BAFTA-nomination for Best Short film, but came up short against a film named "Goodie-Two-Shoes", which has pretty much vanished into oblivion by now.
But not so The Crimson Permanent Assurance. It deals with an office full of elderly workers. Everybody seems to be working as fast as they can without enjoying it, almost like galley slaves. When one of the bunch is fired by the foreman, the situation escalates. His colleagues rise to the occasion and take over. As they turn the building into a pirate-ship they start sailing the seas and we get to accompany them on their journey which includes among other things, entering and taking over an enemy company. It's a good film that profits a lot from a truly smart idea and the good execution of it. It's certainly one of Gilliam's best works and a must-see for every Monty Python enthusiast. I wouldn't say it's 17 minutes that flew by second to none, but all in all it's still a recommendable final result.
But not so The Crimson Permanent Assurance. It deals with an office full of elderly workers. Everybody seems to be working as fast as they can without enjoying it, almost like galley slaves. When one of the bunch is fired by the foreman, the situation escalates. His colleagues rise to the occasion and take over. As they turn the building into a pirate-ship they start sailing the seas and we get to accompany them on their journey which includes among other things, entering and taking over an enemy company. It's a good film that profits a lot from a truly smart idea and the good execution of it. It's certainly one of Gilliam's best works and a must-see for every Monty Python enthusiast. I wouldn't say it's 17 minutes that flew by second to none, but all in all it's still a recommendable final result.