There are some shows that hold up well on multiple viewings and I think Fawlty Towers is one prime example. To watch Basil Fawlty's pathetic schemes come to naught is painful and funny--like watching a man trying to saw a limb off the branch of a tree he is sitting on--and then to take said
branch and beat his malfunctioning minicar with it!
His inexcusable physical attacks on Manuel and the odd traveling spoon-salesman aside, I always felt confident that each episode revealed a bit more sadness behind this hotelier's desperate attempts to crash into a stratum of society he could never pull off. It was equally true that few characters got their just desserts at the end of each episode than this demented example of the human frailty most of us share writ large in a person so, so very much in the wrong profession.
And I would caution all viewers please "don't mention the war" in any comments they might wish to include below. Your patronage as always is deeply appreciated and please consider stopping at "Doug's Site" when you make plans for next season's social networking holiday.
Doug. Absolutely brilliant. We own just about all the Fawlty Tower videos and watch them occasionally. I`ve also got a tall lanky friend called Chris who used to run a hotel in Leeds. He is the spitting image of Basil.
ReplyDeleteJeff
I imagine the poor fellow more took a bit of ribbing from his guests when they caught site of him at the hotel, Jeff.
ReplyDeleteI used to manage for a hotel chain myself for awhile, and I don't miss the stress. I never as bad as Basil, of course, but it's the only job that ever got me talking to myself after a long day ;-)
Did you know there were only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers made? I am the biggest fan ever!! My two cats are named Basil and Manuel!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I was surprised to find that out years ago. I think that was one of the secrets to John Cleese and Connie Booth's success writing the show; they didn't over tax the formula. There were some American versions of the sit-com (one with Bea Arthur) but none of them caught on. Something about the Britishness of the show defied transfer.
ReplyDeleteThis is a brilliant series Doug. There are so many funny moments it is hard to chose one. If I had to, I'd chose the episode where Manuel's rat goes missing and the Health inspector is arriving to check the hotel...................classic!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder... Cassandra
This is a brilliant series Doug. There are so many funny moments it is hard to chose one. If I had to, I'd chose the episode where Manuel's rat goes missing and the Health inspector is arriving to check the hotel...................classic!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder... Cassandra
Can you change your signage from Doug's Site as Used Its Go in future please.
ReplyDeleteI never followed him that much but this is hilarious Doug.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was one of the best. The rat as I recall was that Manuel thought was a hamster! And of course "the hamster" is served to the inspector on a desert tray!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites is where Basil tries to throw a "Gourmet Night" at the hotel and winds with a drunk cook. So he has to go across town to secure a duck a l'orange, which gets mixed up with a plate of tripe . So Basil winds up serving the food critic ordinary tripe.
"Duck's off tonight I'm afraid, " he says, "Anyone for tripe? " :- )
You're right Cassandra, too many funny moments!
Very clever Ian. I've always been a bit slow at anagrams ;-)
ReplyDeleteI would recommend renting the first six episodes some time, Jack. Classic comedy.
ReplyDelete"a person so, so very much in the wrong profession."
ReplyDeleteIn my experience Basil is actually in the right profession Doug. All owners of small hotels in England are stark staring bonkers, it's a well known fact. A classic comedy series indeed.
I really liked Cleese's 1986 film Clockwise, which was mostly filmed at locations close to where I live as a matter of not very remarkable fact.
I very much doubt that verbal and physical abuse of a Spanish (or any other nationality) waiter would be tolerated in light entertainment nowadays. Damned country has gone to the dogs Doug.
And the ones who aren't bonkers Fawlty-style probably look like Charles Laughton and have guests checking in and not checking out. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned "Clockwise", a movie I too enjoyed from the 1980's. Bit more subtle humor than "Fawlty", like an old Ealing film. With any luck I can find a DVD rental of it this weekend. Which part of England was it filmed in?
Yes, AA, attacking the immigrant waitstaff with impunity was once a great Anglo-American comic tradition. I mourn its passing sometimes when I get insomnia. We need more of that infectious BNP spirit in light entertainment ;-)
Poor old John Cleese has just gone through a dreadful divorce, "Dreadful" in the sense it cost him a packet. £77,500 a month to be precise in maintenance. I don`t think Connie Booth got that much.
ReplyDeleteMore info at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1953556/Ex-Monty-Python-John-Cleeses-divorce-worth-every-penny.html
So many memories from that clip. John Cleese is a brilliant comedian.
ReplyDeleteI thought the episode with Mrs. Richards was one of the funniest ever....and of course the Germans, CLASSIC!
ReplyDeleteOuch! And since he was living with her in California, a "community property" state, she will likely get half of what he's got.
ReplyDeleteAnd I say again, "Ouch!" Looks like he 's putting a brave face on it. Perhaps this will give Mr. Cleese a chance to commiserate over a couple gin and oranges with Mel Gibson, who's also going to feel some financial pain from his former missus.
That he is, Iri Ani, and quite as brilliant a writer as an actor of comedy it seems. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, Mrs. Richards! Quite a formidible opponent/guest. I agree that was an excellent episode, Roo.
ReplyDelete"But we mustn't mention the war..."