Life of Brian tops poll

Monty Python's Life Of Brian has been voted the funniest film ever.

The 1979 comedy topped the poll of 4,000 movie fans by the video chain Choices Video.

But the second-placed film is something of a surprise: National Lampoons' European Vacation. That 1985 Chevy Chase vehicle didn't even merit a place in the top 100 US comedies when the American Film Institute issued its list of funniest comedies two years ago.

Top actor in this new poll was Steve Martin with four films in the top 20 - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Man With Two Brains, Planes, Trains & Automobiles and The Jerk.

Hazel Laking, of Choices Video, said: "We have found that a lot of people have gone back to the older classics for their choice.

"The British have a great sense of humour and it's great to see a Brit winner.

"It's clear that everyone has a different opinion about what makes us laugh, but you'd have to be the most miserable person in the world to not crack a funny bone watching these movies."

The full list is:

1. Monty Python's Life of Brian
2. National Lampoon's European Vacation
3. Blazing Saddles
4. Bridget Jones's Diary
5. The Wedding Singer
6. Dumb and Dumber
7. Airplane
8. When Harry Met Sally
9. Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
10. Some Like It Hot
11. The Princess Bride
12. Shrek
13. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
14. The Man With Two Brains
15. Happy Gilmore
16. Planes, Trains & Automobiles
17. The Ladykillers.
18. The Jerk
19. Austin Powers International Man of Mystery.
20. The Mask
    

Published: 5 Jul 2003