![The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u1gveCvFlU1-HvjlaAVFDz-C3HEl6jCDPBh4tqkaJW4bacPksulAvWgrBTeE4V8su3_39K7sO_FNonxsoVxSLcjpjndiU0LhytUfG47MWGn66knJWJJWgMXk1mmg6Nc8o=s0-d) | The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975] |
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Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #24 in DVD
- Released on: 2005-10-03
- Rating: Parental Guidance
- Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
- Format: PAL
- Original language: English
- Subtitled in: English, French, German
- Number of discs: 3
- Running time: 360 minutes
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Often hailed as the greatest ever British sitcom, Fawlty Towers is closer to the more elaborate tradition of farce. Comprising two series made in 1975 and 1979, the total of just 12 episodes were painstakingly constructed by writers John Cleese and Connie Booth. Unlike most British farces, however, Fawlty Towers deals with the big themes--death, psychology, xenophobia and even sex-o-phobia (Basil's marriage to Sybil is the most sterile ever depicted in a sitcom). Basil's contempt for his guests is, of course, legendary. It takes little from patrons to unleash his sledgehammer sarcasm: "Rosewood, mahogany, teak? Sorry, I was wondering what you'd like your breakfast tray made out of," he sneers at a guest who dares request breakfast in bed. Like every Englishman, he wants to be king of his own castle and resents having to take in lodgers to maintain the place, especially the open-necked younger generation, whom he regards as sub-human. Mostly, though, Fawlty Towers is comedy of exasperation--who can forget the "damn good thrashing" Basil gives his clapped-out car, or the nervous breakdowns he almost suffers trying to make himself understood to Manuel? It's also comedy of embarrassment. The very fear of losing his dignity generally leads Basil into the most spectacularly undignified of predicaments. His inevitable misery is our sheer delight.--David Stubbs
Synopsis
This set includes the entire Fawlty Towers collection. The collection is broken down as follows: Basil the Rat includes "Basil the Rat", "The Anniversary" and "Communication Problems". The Germans includes "A Touch of Class", "Hotel Inspectors", and "The Germans". The Kipper and the Corpse includes "The Kipper and the Corpse", "Gourmet Night", and "Waldorf Salad". The Psychiatrist includes "The Builders", "The Wedding Party" and "The Psychiatrist".
Important note: The first series will suffer from freezing on the following DVD players only:
Sony RDR-GX120
Samsung DVD5600
Cinetec 5050
Power DVD V7 (PC DVD Player)
Panasonic DMR E55, E15
Please note this is a player-specific problem, rather than with the DVD. From the Studio
Fawlty Towers remains a timeless example of comic writing, acting, and characterisation at its very best. This special edition DVD set features all 12 episodes from both seasons of this classic series. Also included are exclusive interviews with the stars, commentaries by the various directors, artist profiles, outtakes and a Torquay tourist guide. Despite there being only a dozen episodes and 30 years having passed since they were first aired this remains the definitive British sitcom, with lifetime best performances from John Cleese as hotelier Basil Fawlty and Prunella Scales as his long suffering wife.
Customer Reviews
All twelve episodes a treat
This is a unique combination of some fairly 'intellectual' and witty sayings with slapstick humour and it works brilliantly. Most comedies that are aired by the BBC are not usually repeatedly viewed as they are frankly not good enough but if they were viewed repeatedly then huge holes would appear in the plot.
I am not an expert on what makes a comedy work but these episodes contain a good story line, tension, brilliant timing, clever spatial arrangements, facial expressions, pauses and witty lines and the combination is hilarious.
It contains some allusions that would only have been picked up by a reasonably well educated audience in the 1970s e.g jokes about types of wine and the preparation of certain sorts of cuisine and references to historical events and foreign places.
Some memorable lines include:
..."What are we talking about Proust or E M Forster?" to the couple who also turned out to like Harold Robbins as well as Fawlty's wife.
..."Racket, It's Brahms!"
..."Look, this is not a proposition from Wittgenstein, you know"
..."it's not the Burma Railway..."
..."it's the Admiral Crichton!"
..."Sydney Opera House, Hanging Gardens of Babylon..."
This is combined with slapstick incidents such as pouring cream all over a difficult guest (the spoon salesman) as he was leaving the hotel.
Although one can spot very minor faults and illogicalities in the plots if one watches it again and again no other series could be repeatedly watched like this one and still seem funny. For example, Fawlty was extremely snobby about Harold Robbins but is seen reading "Jaws" in bed in another episode and this is just as bad as anything by Harold Robbins. The spoon salesman had only just beaten up Fawlty and was hardly likely to meekly walk away after being completely drenched in cream. If one ignores these minor inconsistencies in the plots, however, the illusion and the humour work brilliantly.
Absolutely splendid.
A bargain - but you may want to hold fire
Fawlty Towers is (of course) as good as comedy gets and this package is a bargain. However completists may want to be patient. Rumour has it that John Cleese is preparing commentaries for all 12 episodes in preparation for an extra special re-release. I believe he needs the money to pay for his divorce!
The real toast of British comedy
The Complete Fawlty Towers offers 12 delighful and entertaining episodes to viewers in a nicely presented DVD package. BBC is renowned for its long line of great comedies during the glorious era of the 70's to the 80's. Fawlty Towers represents the list. The extras are not anything special. It not really relevant as the DVD set entertains you.
The idea of Fawlty Towers was inspired by the hotel trade business during the 1970's. Basil's (played wonderfully by John Cleese) character is a typical representation of a rude and agressive hotel owner based in a seaside location. He lacks respect for anyone else. The remarks are really insulting. cruel and predujuice towards others. The customer care skills are absymal,as his attidude towards customers really stinks. The hilarious antiques involving petit quarrels and eccentric behaviour towards guests are the main highlights of the show. The wife Sybril is the mirror image of Basil. Manuel the spanish servant (played wonderfully by Andrew Sachs) does not speak English fluently, very clumsby and stupid, but likeable. Manuel is an unfortunate victim of Basil's constant bullying and racist attacks. That is a real flavour of what to expect. It potrayed the hotel business and politics in a comical display.
Depsite the short-running of Fawlty Towers, it is still voted one of the best British TV programmes according to recent surveys. The ideas and characters are the main selling points that established Fawlty Towers as a frontrunner of classical British comedies. The Complete Fawlty Towers is a great set DVD set for anyone who loves and appreciates quality comedy.
