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Fawlty Towers: Complete Series 2 [1975]
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Series 2:
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £6.48 (subject to change)
Editorial
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 farce, 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
Communication Problems
The Psychiatrist
Waldorf Salad
The Kipper and the Corpse
The Anniversary
Basil the Rat
Editorial
DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
Exclusive interview with John Cleese
Exclusive interview with Prunella Scales
Director commentary
Artist profiles
Scene selection
Special Basil Fawlty link
Digitally remastered
Out takes
Includes a special illustrated booklet
Editorial
Synopsis
Basil (John Cleese) continues his manic and incompetent run of the Fawlty Towers hotel in this hilarious second season of the hit BBC sitcom. Will his staff (and those eccentric guests) finally give him a nervous breakdown
Editorial
From the Back Cover
Communication Problems: The geriatric Major and the intermittently deaf Mrs Richards lead Basil ever closer to a nervous breakdown.
The Psychiatrist: A visiting psychiatrist seems to find Basil rather fascinating.
Waldorf Salad: An American guest demands quality service.
The Kipper and the Corpse; With total disregard for Basil's blood pressure, one of the guests dies in the hotel.
The Anniversary: Sybil flounces off to the golf course when Basil has apparently forgotten their 15th wedding anniversary.
Basil The Rat: Manuel insists that his pet rodent is a Siberian Hamster. Basil is convinced it's a rat.
There is enough material for entire conference(Psychiatrist)
Review date: 2001-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10
I saw Fawlty Towers for the first time by coincidence as a late TV show. That was the first time TV made me laughed to cry. I was still a student at that time and that was my evening pleasure after all day's study. Although I am not a fan of Monty Pyton and serial is now about 25 years old, I still find Fawlty Towers as the best comic serial ever. It is not slimy as some American serials and on the other hand it is not too black. John Cleese is very persuasive with his growing lies and pretending. I can't decide which episode were my favourite, but "The Psychiatrist" with checking the wall and "Waldorf Salad" with chef's letter, are certainly in the very top class. I have waited for DVD edition of Fawlty Towers and here it is. The media must be permanent because according to my previous experiences I will watch the serial again from time to time.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
John Cleese
Connie Booth
Andrew Sachs
Prunella Scales
Creators:
John Cleese (Primary Contributor)
Prunella Scales (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503106522
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2001-10-08
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 194 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1978-02-28
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)