Farty Towels (Fawlty Towers)

[on:]

So who here is a fan... "I am!"

[Reply #1 on:]

Yeah, I'm a fan!

[Reply #2 on:]

yep, i am aswell! my brother has series 1 and 2 on DVD. classic show! 

[Reply #3 on:]

It's funny there were only ever 12 episodes, it feels like there are more.

[Reply #4 on:]

Love that show! Got both seasons on DVD! You've got to wonder why they stopped making them. Maybe they ran out of anagrams for the sign? Then again, maybe they decided to heed the phrase "quit while you're ahead".

[Reply #5 on:]

i like it when mr fawlty used to poke manwells eyes!

[Reply #6 on:]

Manwell?  Really?

Manuel, he's from Barcelona!

*pokes eyes*

[Reply #7 on:]

[Reply #8 on:]

My favourite charactor is Basil, he can just never drop the problem with the waldorf salad!

[Reply #9 on:]

He's based on a real person, a hotel manager who the Pythons encountered when they were filming in Torquay back in 1969.  They were shooting stuff for the second series of MPFC (Scott Of The Sahara) and basically had their lives made a living hell by this hotel manager.

I have to say that "The Kipper And The Corpse" is my favourite episode, with "Basil The Rat" and "The Germans" coming in at a close second.

[Reply #10 on:]

I honestly dont know if I could pick a favourite, they are all so so funny. It was the first DVD I bought when I got my first DVD player at the beginning of 2002. I watched the episodes constantly!

Heres a quick listing of the Episodes for reference, with a short synopsis by me:
Se 1
1. A touch of Class- Basil crawls all over 'Lord Melbury' even agreeing to cash a cheque for £200, a lot of money in the early 70s of course it all goes horribly wrong!
2. The Builders- Building work is required for the Hotel, Basil goes for the cheapest quote, from a wily Irish builder...
3. The Wedding Party- Basil is outradged by an apparent outbreak of promiscuity at the Hotel, British comedy at its best!
4. The Hotel Inspectors- speaks for itself really
5. Gourmet Night- Basil attempts to go upmarket, with a Gourmet night for upper crust guests, with the usual disasterous results!
6. The Germans- Basil suffers concussion and makes some rather politically incorrect coments to german guests, classic comedy from a time when racism could still be seen as funny (within reason)

Se 2
1. Communication Problems- A deaf and very snooty female customers raises hell and seriously gets Basils back up
2. The Psychiatrist- A psychiatrist is a guest at the hotel, Basil takes considerable exception to this, and acts even madder than usual! 'How many times do you manage it then?'
3. Waldorf salad- An american guests demands for a whaldorf salad cause chaos
4. The Kipper & The corpse- A death in the hotel coincides with the discovery that a rotten kipper was served, Basil is stressed to the max!
5. The Anniversary- Basil has forgotten his wifes wedding anniversary...
6. Basil The rat- Basils pet rodent causes chaos in the hotel with health inspectors on the loose!

[Reply #11 on:]

another for the fawlty fan list, s'all about communication problem, watching Basil get so frustrated in such a funny way reminds me of my dad 


(hi, i'm new by the way, nice to meet you all)

[Reply #12 on:]

My favorite character is Polly because she always thinks up some kind of excuse to help Basil out.

[Reply #13 on:]

Communication Problems is definitely one which I can quote verbatim, and certainly has Basils best exchanges with a guest, and for once you actually think they deserve it, as Mrs Richards is pretty awful to all the staff.

[Reply #14 on:]

What is the episode were Basil took a fit and trash his car? That scene is funny. And I also like his German walk

[Reply #15 on:]

Communication Problems is great. "Is this a piece of your brain?" And of course "You *can* see the sea. It's over there between the land and the sky!" with appropriate hand movements.

Juliet, that's Gourmet Night.

[Reply #16 on:]

Basil: There's your view, yes there it is...

Mrs Richards: You call that a view?

Basil: That is Torquay, madam.

Mrs Richards: Well, it's not good enough.

Basil: Well, may I ask what you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel window?  Sydney Opera House, perhaps?  The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon?  Heards of wildebeast sweeping majestically....

Mrs Richards: ....Don't be ridiculous.  I expect to be able to see the sea.

Basil: You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky!

Mrs Richards: I'd need a telescope to see that!

Basil: Well, may I suggest you move to a hotel closer to the sea?  *mutters* Or preferably IN IT!

[Reply #17 on:]

Absolutely awesome  Mel, one of my favourite bits too. I also like the scene later were Manuel is trying to deal with her...

I think it goes like this..roughly....

Manuel: Si?

Mrs richards: What?

Manuel: Si Qué?

Mrs Richards: I want to speak to the manager?

Manuel: Si Qué?

Mrs Richards: What?

Manuel: Si Qué....What?

Mrs richards: The Managers name is C K Watt?

Manuel :No it is Fawlty

Mrs Richards: No its not faulty, I want to speak to the manager!

[Reply #18 on:]

Juliet@ Your thinking of "The Gourmet Night".

[Reply #19 on:]

Gassy, it's the gist of that bit, but I'm wracking my brain for the exact bit. 

More from Communication Problems, I think possibly the best for Basil's exchanges with the other characters:

Sybil: If I find out the money on that horse was yours, you know what I'll do, Basil?

Basil: You'll have to sew 'em back on first!

[Reply #20 on:]

Sybil: Take my arm.
Mrs Richards: I don't need your arm, thank you. I can get down the stairs perfectly alright by myself.
Basil: Down the stairs? Well, don't stop when you get to the basement. Keep straight on. Give my regards to the earth's core. And if you give us any more trouble, I shall visit you in the small hours and put a bat up your nightdress.

[Reply #21 on:]

Major: He's a lovely little fella, what breed is he?

Guest: He's a little Shituzu.

Major: O dear dear me.

[Reply #22 on:]

(Episode "Kipper And The Corpse" )

Basil and Manuel bump into major carrying a dead body.

Major:Oh whats up with this fella, I mean he doesn't look quet the ticket?

Basil:Well hes dead.

Major:Ahh, shot was he?

Basil:No no died in his sleep.

Major:Well your of your guard you see.

[Reply #23 on:]

LoL, I love that part one of my favourite gags.

[Reply #24 on:]

But my favourite episode is between "The Gourmet Night" or "The Germans."

[Reply #25 on:]

Another one from "Kipper..."

Dr Price: You mean to tell me you didn't realise this man was dead?!

Basil: Well people don't talk that much in the morning. Look I'm just delivering a tray right. If the guest isn't singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" I don't immediately think "Oh there's another snuffed it in the night. Another name in the Fawlty Towers Book of Remembrance" I mean this is a hotel, not a Burma railway!

[Reply #26 on:]

Major: Fawlty! I thought you ought to know: There's a psychiatrist in the hotel!

Basil: Yes, I know.

Major: You know?

Basil: Yes.

Major: Oh! Well, apparently, he's dressed up as a guest!

Basil: Well he is a guest, Major.

Major: Oh, well, your guess is as good as mine.

Basil: Perhaps he has come to get you.

[Reply #27 on:]

LOL that is a funny part in Fawlty Towers

[Reply #28 on:]

The full CK Watt scene:

Mrs. Richards: I've booked a room with a bath and a sea view for three nights. I specifically asked for a sea view in my written confirmation, so please make sure I have it.
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs. Richards: What?
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs. Richards: K?
Manuel: Sí.
Mrs. Richards: KC? KC? What are you trying to say?
Manuel: No, no no no. Qué, "what."
Mrs. Richards: K. Watt?
Manuel: Sí: qué, "what."
Mrs. Richards: C.K. Watt?
Manuel: Yes.
Mrs. Richards: Who is this C.K. Watt?
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs. Richards: Is he the manager?
Manuel: Oh, Manajer.
Mrs. Richards: He is.
Manuel: Ah, Mr. Fawlty.
Mrs. Richards: Oh, what are you talking about, you silly little man?
[to Polly]
Mrs. Richards: Girl, I start to ask this man about my room, and he tells me the manager is a Mr. Watt, aged forty.
Manuel: No, no no. "Fawwl-ty."
Mrs. Richards: Faulty? What's wrong with him?

[Reply #29 on:]

LOL, classic moment.

[Reply #30 on:]

One from the first series, A Touch Of Class:

Sybil: You could have had them both done by now if you hadn't spent the whole morning skulking in there listening to that racket.

Basil: Racket?! That's Brahms! BRAHMS' THIRD RACKET!

------

Another (The Wedding Party):

Basil: Always reminds me of someone machine-gunning a seal...

Major Gowen: The heat?

Basil: No, no, my wife's laugh.

[Reply #31 on:]

Great! I love it! (Lulz)

[Reply #32 on:]

 

The full CK Watt scene:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=srhVX_VwTng

[Reply #33 on:]

Basil: Hello, Fawlty Titties.

[Reply #34 on:]

Since when did Basil say that?

[Reply #35 on:]

It's in the episode where he finds Polly's sketchbook at reception and castigates her for it being filth...

...then the phone rings while he's looking through it.

[Reply #36 on:]

excellent..hehe 

[Reply #37 on:]

Moving on...has anybody actually seen all of the 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers?Cause if you haven't then you've got some bad attidude Mr!

[Reply #38 on:]

What? Are people lined up and shot where you come from if they haven't seen a television programme?   

[Reply #39 on:]

Who has'nt seen all the episodes...BTW thanks for bumping the thread.