Even though dated it is genius. The best comedy series are ones that are self aware enough to know when to stop, like The Office or the wonderful Detectorists.
He could have made a lot more money by making more series but he knew it would dilute it. Bet after all his divorces he wishes he made that bit more money though.
“If I get a room with a sea view, I expect to be able to see the sea.” ”You can see the sea. It’s over there between the land and the sky.”
What were you expecting go see from a Torquay hotel window? The hanging gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the savannah?
This is the kind of brilliant comedy that lured me straight into Blackadder. These kind retorts are just superb!
Basil: Yes, France, I believe. They seem to like it there. And the swim would certainly sharpen your appetite. You’d better hurry, the tide leaves in six minutes.
The woke brigade will have a meltdown watching Faulty Towers.
Good they can the OC brigadecand sod off. They can then discuss all the things they accuse the rest of us of and we can get on treating each other normally and not being offend by things that are not intended to offend or hurt people.
As the owner of a guesthouse, I feel empathy with Basil Fawlty. The inner Basil usually remains reluctantly bottled up but does occasionally make an appearance. We've ordered food from outside and sneaked it in, not due to a drunken chef though, I remember standing staring at a rat while chatting to a guest, trying to keep him with his back to where it was standing, and if I'm ever asked if I have a room with a better view I have to control myself not to come out with Basil's famous lines to the excellent Joan Sanderson. And some of the workmen we've had would give O'Reilly a run for his money, for example the roofers that decided to fix the collapsed ceiling before fixing the broken roof tiles. You can guess what happened when it poured overnight! And we've had staff that make Manuel look like he could be working at Downton Abbey!
I'm sure I have enough material for my own TV series!
It is pure comedy genius. It's interesting to me that my kids who usually have an attention span of a few seconds will sit through episodes of Fawlty Towers crying with laughter.
My two all-time favourite scenes:
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Mr Hamilton: What I'm suggesting is that this place is the crummiest, shoddiest, worst-run hotel in the whole of Western Europe.
Major: No! No, I won't have that! There's a place in Eastbourne.
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Basil: So, this is your new menu.
Colonel Hall: Duck with orange; duck with cherries; duck surprise.
Mrs. Hall: What's duck surprise?
Basil Fawlty: Er... that's duck without orange or cherries.
Colonel Hall: I mean, is this all there is - duck?
Basil: Umm... yes... done, of course, in three extremely different ways.
"Manuel... you are a waste of space" (knocks Manuel on the head with a spoon)
I knew Andrew Sachs and he once told me that he did complain to Cleese about how much this part of the scene hurt him during rehearsals. Cleese just said you are getting paid good money. Kind of put me off Cleese as Andrew was an extremely pleasant gentleman.
Manuals waiter’s uniform has been donated to the V&A.
Comments
"you are hideous oorang-uutang"
These kind retorts are just superb!
As some have said, my favourite after OFAH.
Basil: Me? You started it.
German Guest: We did not!
Basil: Yes, you did. You invaded Poland.
Is there anywhere they do French food?
Basil: Yes, France, I believe. They seem to like it there. And the swim would certainly sharpen your appetite. You’d better hurry, the tide leaves in six minutes.
Basil on availability of a table tennis...
RIGHT!!
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Mr Hamilton: What I'm suggesting is that this place is the crummiest, shoddiest, worst-run hotel in the whole of Western Europe.
Major: No! No, I won't have that! There's a place in Eastbourne.
----
Basil: So, this is your new menu.
Colonel Hall: Duck with orange; duck with cherries; duck surprise.
Mrs. Hall: What's duck surprise?
Basil Fawlty: Er... that's duck without orange or cherries.
Colonel Hall: I mean, is this all there is - duck?
Basil: Umm... yes... done, of course, in three extremely different ways.
deaf woman: why what’s wrong with him?
"Did it?"
Loved the Major
She's still got my wallet.
Basil: Well, she’d know, wouldn’t she? Her and that cat
Sybill “oh do you now...”
Basil cowering “oh god don’t smile at her”
Matron “ I’ll get a doctor “
Basil “you need a plastic surgeon not a doctor”