As quintessentially British a show as was ever devised, the beloved Fawlty Towers, re-released here in its entirety to celebrate the series 30th anniversary, was in fact born out of simple truth rather than any strokes of comic genius. Co-creators John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth conceived this fast paced, farce-based sitcom from their own experience. While filming Monty Python’s Flying Circus the troupe had the misfortune to stay in a rundown Torquay hotel managed by a puffed-up grouch named Donald Sinclair, a man Cleese described as being “Gratuitously rude.”
The basis for the now legendarily eccentric Basil Fawlty, the abrasive Sinclair was witnessed, amongst other things, flinging a timetable at one guest who inquired about a bus into town, rearranging the “clearly American” Terry Gilliam’s silverware in the middle of his dinner, and hiding Eric Idle’s briefcase behind a wall at the far end of the swimming pool because he was concerned that it might be a bomb brought in by disgruntled staff.
As the gangly, gormless hotelier Basil Fawlty, Cleese took Sinclair’s worst qualities and ran with them, resulting in one of the most popular, and enduring sitcoms of all time. A charmless fountain of henpecked rage with a well-defined vein of cruelty running through him, Basil deflects his inability to stand-up to his wife Cybil (a delightful Prunella Scales) onto his long staff, the long suffering Polly (Connie Booth) and Spanish waiter Manuel (Andrew Sachs).
A hysterical kaleidoscope of orchestrated chaos the comedy stems from Basil’s pathological need to gratify his own massive sense of self-importance at the expense of everyone around him, and ultimately himself. A monstrously unlikable character it is a great testament to Cleese’s ability as a physical comedian, and also the quality of the writing, that the show manages to win the audience over each and every time. Key to that success is lack of self-awareness in the character. You honestly get the impression that he simply cannot help himself and the fact that his antics are at all times self-defeating makes him almost sympathetic.
A short, sharp shot of comic iconography, this newly remastered edition includes all twelve episodes of this groundbreaking series. Series one ran during the winter of 1975 with a break of four years before series two. Resisting pressure from the BBC to keep it going Cleese wisely decided to end the series there and the compact nature of the stories combined with the breakneck pace ensures that repeat viewings are welcome.
Though certainly a product of its time (the racial element present in some of the humor would never fly today), Fawlty Towers has transcended its small-screen origins and inserted itself into the worldwide cultural lexicon. While every episode is a classic, the standout sequence will always be Basil and the Germans (“Don’t mention the war!”); likewise, the images of him concussed, adopting a finger moustache, and goose-stepping his way across the dining room will endure forever.
DVD Bonus Features
Extras on this three-disc set include commentary tracks on all series one episodes by John Cleese and director John Howard Davies, and all series two episodes with Cleese and director Bob Spiers. A separate disc of extras contains archival interviews with the entire cast as well as recent interviews conducted specifically for this anniversary edition. "Torquay Tourist Office" is a neat little documentary whereby former guests, colleagues, and townsfolk share their experiences with Basil Fawlty’s inspiration Donald Sinclair. "Helpful Staff" is a series of informative if somewhat dry audio biographies on the cast. "Guest Registry" does the same for some of the series’ notable guest stars. Outtakes and a 60 second spoof lead-in for whatever program replaced the series are also featured.
"Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection - Remastered" is on sale October 20, 2009 and is rated NR. Comedy. Directed by John Howard Davies, Bob Spiers. Written by Connie Booth & John Cleese. Starring John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs.
