Description:
John Cleese has always maintained that Fawlty Towers was inspired by a real hotel that was run by a proprietor who treated guests as an inconvenience to running a business. No one in the world, however, can possibly match the sheer insolence and incompetence of Basil Fawlty, perhaps the most brazenly rude character in the history of customer disservice. "Gourmet Night" is Basil's brilliant idea to raise the quality of the clientele of his dingy little establishment, but when his new cook gets blind drunk, he responds by importing the food from another restaurant, with the usual Fawlty foul-ups. Basil's fevered floggin
John Cleese has always maintained that Fawlty Towers was inspired by a real hotel that was run by a proprietor who treated guests as an inconvenience to running a business. No one in the world, however, can possibly match the sheer insolence and incompetence of Basil Fawlty, perhaps the most brazenly rude character in the history of customer disservice. "Gourmet Night" is Basil's brilliant idea to raise the quality of the clientele of his dingy little establishment, but when his new cook gets blind drunk, he responds by importing the food from another restaurant, with the usual Fawlty foul-ups. Basil's fevered flogging of his sputtering car is a surreal series highlight. In "The Germans," perhaps the best-loved episode of the series, John Cleese hits all-time heights of impertinent provocation when his wife, Sybil, is in the hospital for an ingrown toenail (much to Basil's glee). Simple instructions not to mention "the war" to the German guests sends Basil into a flustered frenzy of conversations that all wind back to WWII, culminating in his stork-like goose step as he offers his impersonation of Adolf Hitler. "Communications Problems" finds Basil once again plotting behind his wife's back, this time for a little off-track betting. His horse comes in, but his effort to hide his winnings becomes complicated when a guest is robbed and Basil's sneaking and sudden handful of cash make him the prime suspect. Complicating matters is dotty Major Gowan, the reality-impaired resident whose forgetfulness only lands Basil in worse trouble. Basil's prudish hypocrisy gets a workout in "The Psychiatrist" when a handsome young chap sneaks a girl into his room. Compounding Basil's strange behavior is the discovery that another guest is a psychiatrist, sending Basil into a tizzy as he is sure the man is analyzing his every utterance. As his attempts to catch the adulterers in the act turns into a bedroom farce, Basil finds himself caught in a position both compromising and absurd--his duck-walking climax has to be seen to be believed. --Sean Axmaker
Check in to the most popular BBC comedy of all time, where merriment and madness are on the house. Newly remastered for better-than-ever viewing, this disc contains four classic episodes, as well as interviews, behind-the-scenes and cast bios. John Cleese stars as Basil Fawlty, the sharp-tongued, short-tempered owner of Fawlty Towers, a hotel plagued by crisis, chaos and bizarre characters.The Kipper and the Corpse: When a guest dies, Basil?s only concern is hiding the corpse-and the old kippers-from the other guests - but the body winds up everywhere. Waldorf Salad: An outspoken American guest demands a Waldorf Salad and a level of service quite unavailable at Fawlty Towers. The Anniversary: Sybil thinks Basil forgot their wedding anniversary again. Actually, he?s planned a surprise party but is left inventing excuses when she decides to play golf. Basil the Rat: Manuel insists his pet rat is a Siberian hamster. Basil knows the health inspector won?t agree and vows he?ll never set eyes on the rat-but the rat has other ideas.
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Manufacturer: BBC Warner
Release date: 16 October 2001
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 9780790760407 UPC: 794051157423
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