The acting is so natural, nothing is forced, and the chemistry between all the characters, particularly basil and Sybil is spot on, the way he says “ Dear” like he has known her and been married to her for yrs, all the other characters are perfect, that’s why it’s so iconic, it’s easily one of the best Sitcoms, of all time. They certainly found lightning in a bottle here, and the fact they only made 12 episodes is testament to that, the spark didn’t last long.
The phrase "two(too) small and dry?" often pops into my head...genius comedy. Every actor was perfect and the writing by Connie Booth and John Cleese was stellar.
@@Vpmatt That's the BEST comment I've ever read! OMG, I'm sitting outside having a mug of tea and I had just taken a sip when I read it, and I burst out laughing 🤣 Thank you for making my day complete! Those lines from Fawlty Towers are priceless. Love from Amanda Jones in Melbourne, Australia ❤️ P.S Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and yours. Fa, la, la, la, la and all that jazz
Every scene in Faulty Towers is a best moment. One of the only truly flawless comedies. I'm actually glad they stopped at two series, because this way its legacy isn't tarnished by sub-par episodes
I hate to break this to you but John Cleese is bringing it back without prunella scales as his wife and obviously Andrew Sachs won't be playing Manuel, from what I've read basil's daughter is helping to run the hotel ♠️ can't believe they are doing it surely they don't need the money, should leave well alone 😂
When Basil finally loses it at Sybil and puts her in her place (last scene), it was such a satisfying moment in the series. It was almost as if Sybil finally backed down and respected him for growing a spine after years of abuse. And then of course it all blows up in Basil's face and he loses even more respect 😂
My favourite episode is probably "The Waldorf Salad". Bruce Boa is so good as the exasperated and demanding Mr Hamilton. "Took five hours from London. Couldn't find the freeway, had to take a little back street called the M5!" "Well, I'm sorry if it wasn't wide enough for you. A lot of the English cars have steering wheels" 😆
Basil - "Manuel there is too much butter on those trays." Takes one piece of butter off each of three trays. Manuel - "No no no, it is not 'on those trays'. No no. Uno, dos, treis."
There are so many of episodes that are great, but for me the most enjoyable one is with Mr. O'Reilly. Polly! What have you done with my hotel?!! POLLY!!!!!
Same with me. 1st time I watched it (any of them) I thought I was gonna have a heart attack I laughed so much! And now over 30 years later and practically knowing them word for word, It STILL cracks me up! 🤣😅🤣😅👍
@@MrJames19676 fawlty towers is a timeless serie like many other series . may andrew sachs rest in peace , and sad to hear aboute prunella scales playing sibyl fawlty have gained alzheimers and lost her memory to the worst .
Wonderful lines and delivery when JC says 'This is an historic moment...' to the Headmasters' Conference in Clockwise and 'This is typical...' in the FT episode with the American couple...
I agree. Clockwise is a wonderful film. The building tension. The dwindling but present hope as long as there's still an outside chance. Love it. None of my friends have ever even heard of it.
I agree with an other lot of people, who would have voted for the episode "The Germans, don't mention the war." But maybe those people like me, are from the mainland. After many decades I learned a much more about England, so I do understand a little bit more. But still, I still cry my eyes out laughing, when Basil does not want to talk about the war to the Germans... but he was so much occupied not talking about the war... that he could not help him self, doing it all the time (and even initially thought he got away with it). OMG, it was so brilliant when the German told Basil to stop talking about the war! And Basil answered: but you started it! The German said; no we did not. And Basil answered; yes you did, when you invaded Poland. Such a brilliant mix up from two perspectives.
Probably the best timing ever. Friends, Big Bang Theory, is all good, but this...will there ever be anything this brilliant again? I don't think so. Fawlty tower is pure genius.
Absolutely spot on Morten. I particularly know every episode word for word and it STILL makes me laugh out loud. Those other shows that you mentioned are very good, but nothing comes close to "Frasier". Trust me it's on a different level to anything I've ever seen, except obviously Fawlty! Once you've seen one or two episodes...you're hooked!!!
I find it funny that Basil Fawlty was based on a real life hotelier in Torquay. John Cleese got the idea when he stayed at his hotel there. Also, Cleese had twelve gripes against hotels and each of the twelve episodes made represented one particular gripe. My favourite episode is the one with the deaf woman, played by Joan Sanderson from the comedy "Please Sir "
Yes mine too, it had me laughing so hard I couldn't get off the floor. That dialogue in her room when she's not happy about everything....absolutely brilliant.
I loved the scene in the bedroom when she is complaining about the view. I still laugh when Basil asks her what she expects to see out of a Torquay Hotel bedroom window, even though I know what's coming.
you missed my 2 favourite scenes in this top 10... the one where Basil is reaching for the light switch and grabs the woman's breast just as Mrs Fawlty walks in... and the one where he is on a ladder trying to see into Mr Johnson's room and looks into the older couple's room by mistake and then the ladder falls backwards !
Many years ago when the first series was time was being aired for the first time, my mate Ted had his in laws round for the evening. The mother was German, Ted said they had to watch this great British comedy, you've guessed it, it was the German one. It was watched through a stony silence, later viewing without the in laws proved much funnier. When Ted told us the story it made the episode even funnier each time we saw it!!!
@@Vpmatt Uncle Ted, was he the fat bloke in a Monty python film? I read a funny thing about that scene, one of the actors involved in that film said it made people feel sick when they saw the film, it actually made people. Actors etc on the set were sick as it was filmed in a hot environment with the ever increasingly rancid stuff being collected up for another take!!!!
Absolute gold this show. John cleese admitted that when he and connie booth (polly) wrote this they based it on what their marriage was like in real life
The very last scene of the last episode - Basil to the health inspector after they all see the rat in the biscuit box: "Would you.. would you care for a rat? Just the biscuits then please, Polly.. " and moments later Manuel is dragging Basil out of the room by his feet...
The first scene is just so amazing… When reality hits and basil fumbling defensively for some way to blame it on someone else 😂 ”You cant blame me for this!”
Fawlty Towers, The Goodies, The Young Ones, and The Kenny Everett Show all four would be shown on TV in that order back in the 80's on the ABC Australia. My housemates and I would have a few bucket bongs before the start of Fawlty Towers, Oh how I really miss the 80s, I am now 60 years old. No one does humour like the Poms
TV Guide ranked the 100 most memorable TV episodes in the whole history of television. The "Don't Mention the War" episode was number 12, and the only non-American show to get in the top 100.
Classic high quality tv entertainment. Compared to the crap the bbc is presenting for ages you can only praise the Lord he made this possible and Monty Python of course.
I'm a bit surprised that dialogue 'You started it! You've invaded Poland!' wasn't featured in the top 5 but I must say, the scene involving Manuel who knows 'naa...thing!' about the horse was 😂 hilarious.
At 1:50 Ahh right. NOW it all makes sense. John Cleese did an advert for SpecSavers in Australia some years ago and used this scene as the skit. Wasnt sure of the significance of it, but now I understand... i havent seen every FT episode. Most (but not all).
Obv' wished they'd done more or located some old unreleased ones/Pilot epsiodes' etc, but maybe that'd spoil the uniqueness of 12 episodes have watched for Decades that NEVER TIRE. (Top listS)
For useless info; Dennis Compton was a very well known English Cricketer Even more useless information is that the first international sporting fixture was between the USA and Canada in New York. The sport was cricket.
The acting is so natural, nothing is forced, and the chemistry between all the characters, particularly basil and Sybil is spot on, the way he says “ Dear” like he has known her and been married to her for yrs, all the other characters are perfect, that’s why it’s so iconic, it’s easily one of the best Sitcoms, of all time. They certainly found lightning in a bottle here, and the fact they only made 12 episodes is testament to that, the spark didn’t last long.
"Mother Johnson, Mother Johnson come out, come out wherever you are..how do you do, are you enjoying your stay?" - genius comic timing lol
"Please try to understand before one of us dies" is one my favourite lines 😂 I tend to (almost) say it on a regular basis lmao.
Fawlty Towers was a truly "Best of British Comedy" . They don't make them like that anymore. I never get tired of watching their vids.
I think u hav 2b british to get it haha
How John Cleese didn't really give himself a heart-attack when playing such a wound up volatile character is a marvel.
Best ever of British comedy. Unforgettable!! 😅👌
Brilliant acting by Prunella Scales through all 12 episodes. Her timing, delivery and facial expressions in particular are a standout.
This can never be surpassed .. absolutely brilliant ..
Totally agree about the finale of “The Psychiatrist” being #1 - truly hilarious 😂
The phrase "two(too) small and dry?" often pops into my head...genius comedy. Every actor was perfect and the writing by Connie Booth and John Cleese was stellar.
So many lines seem perfect for every day situations eg: “Him? He’s hopeless. You may as well ask the cat.” And “It’d be quicker to train a monkey.”
@@Vpmatt That's the BEST comment I've ever read! OMG, I'm sitting outside having a mug of tea and I had just taken a sip when I read it, and I burst out laughing 🤣 Thank you for making my day complete! Those lines from Fawlty Towers are priceless. Love from Amanda Jones in Melbourne, Australia ❤️ P.S Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and yours. Fa, la, la, la, la and all that jazz
Every scene in Faulty Towers is a best moment. One of the only truly flawless comedies. I'm actually glad they stopped at two series, because this way its legacy isn't tarnished by sub-par episodes
I hate to break this to you but John Cleese is bringing it back without prunella scales as his wife and obviously Andrew Sachs won't be playing Manuel, from what I've read basil's daughter is helping to run the hotel ♠️ can't believe they are doing it surely they don't need the money, should leave well alone 😂
Fake news😮
@@rikspring i really do hope so 😜 i used to love John Cleese but over the last few years I've started to realise he's a bit of a cock lol ♠️
2:28 the tirade against his car, brilliant, inimitable, what a unique humour😂😂
Fawlty is the best! Only 13 in the series and I can still laugh over them. The whole cast is brilliant.
12
TWELVE !!!
12
TEN!
basil calling polly " a cloth-eared bint "......
has stayed with me all these years
lol Me too.
When Basil finally loses it at Sybil and puts her in her place (last scene), it was such a satisfying moment in the series. It was almost as if Sybil finally backed down and respected him for growing a spine after years of abuse. And then of course it all blows up in Basil's face and he loses even more respect 😂
“Mother Johnson! Mother Johnson! Come out come out wherever you are! Are you enjoying your stay….” 😂
The way he talks to the nurse in the germans after his concussion:
"Dont touch me... *I dont know where you've been"* or even "my god you're ugly!" :)
Cleese a great actor , and his fawlty towers , timeless .
John Cleese could push a scene to the edge and then go some more. Brilliant.
He really was the best. Nobody else IMO could play Basil. Everyone cast perfectly.
This is a masterpiece... 100 years from now, people will still laugh.
Absolutely love Faulty Towers. Always have since I was a kid & still do. Still laugh watching it & some mothers do have them
You gave Fawlty Towers a faulty title 🤣😂🤣
My favourite episode is probably "The Waldorf Salad". Bruce Boa is so good as the exasperated and demanding Mr Hamilton.
"Took five hours from London. Couldn't find the freeway, had to take a little back street called the M5!"
"Well, I'm sorry if it wasn't wide enough for you. A lot of the English cars have steering wheels"
😆
🤣
Basil - "Manuel there is too much butter on those trays." Takes one piece of butter off each of three trays.
Manuel - "No no no, it is not 'on those trays'. No no. Uno, dos, treis."
He thought he was counting in in spanish, uno, dos, tres, which sounded like that when he said on those(dos) trays(tres).
There are so many of episodes that are great, but for me the most enjoyable one is with Mr. O'Reilly. Polly! What have you done with my hotel?!! POLLY!!!!!
This show was priceless lol.
Still hilarious after all these years. I remember seeing it when it first aired and none of us had ever laughed so hard!
you dang right , this serie is like many other series , timeless , jhon did a superb job with this show .
Same with me. 1st time I watched it (any of them) I thought I was gonna have a heart attack I laughed so much!
And now over 30 years later and practically knowing them word for word, It STILL cracks me up! 🤣😅🤣😅👍
@@MrJames19676 fawlty towers is a timeless serie like many other series . may andrew sachs rest in peace , and sad to hear aboute prunella scales playing sibyl fawlty have gained alzheimers and lost her memory to the worst .
That whole scene where the deaf woman is complaining about her room, the radio, the bathtub, the view - it should be top 5 easy
The king of the meltdowns,John Cleese.Absolutely brilliant comedian.His movie Clockwise is an underrated masterpiece.
So is monty python
Wonderful lines and delivery when JC says 'This is an historic moment...' to the Headmasters' Conference in Clockwise and 'This is typical...' in the FT episode with the American couple...
@@johnharmar-smith2262 “Speech!” “My office, 9:20!” 🤣😎
I agree. Clockwise is a wonderful film. The building tension. The dwindling but present hope as long as there's still an outside chance. Love it. None of my friends have ever even heard of it.
I think Cleese would admit that at the time both the character of the manic Basil the Torguey hotlier, and himself were very closely linked.
Many thanks taking the time to upload these clips. All comedy is subjective but these excerpts are brilliant.
You left out the absolute, hands down funniest scene in TV history - when Basil reaches around for the light switch in the Australian girl's room.
Hilarious ! If you're going to grope a girl at least have the courtesy to be in the same room !
Such a great show, timeless really!
“I’m So Sorry I Made A Mistake “ the way he spoke and acted is just genius.
It sure is
Loved 'the psychiatrists' one/the 'health inspector' episode also. Wish we coulda had a few more series episodes done👏
I agree with an other lot of people, who would have voted for the episode "The Germans, don't mention the war."
But maybe those people like me, are from the mainland.
After many decades I learned a much more about England, so I do understand a little bit more. But still, I still cry my eyes out laughing, when Basil does not want to talk about the war to the Germans... but he was so much occupied not talking about the war... that he could not help him self, doing it all the time (and even initially thought he got away with it).
OMG, it was so brilliant when the German told Basil to stop talking about the war!
And Basil answered: but you started it!
The German said; no we did not.
And Basil answered; yes you did, when you invaded Poland.
Such a brilliant mix up from two perspectives.
That is my favorite episode. It’s a joke in my family. We always say , “just don’t mention the war.”
@@carolbell8797 The same here!
Probably the best timing ever. Friends, Big Bang Theory, is all good, but this...will there ever be anything this brilliant again? I don't think so. Fawlty tower is pure genius.
I can’t believe they didn’t make more.
Yes it was Morten don`t know iff you know MASH that was great also
@@erikgatti1860 I've seen many episodes, they were reruns when I was young. Maybe a little too young to get the real humour though.
@Adam Jensen My fault. Two different styles. No one's better than the other.
Absolutely spot on Morten. I particularly know every episode word for word and it STILL makes me laugh out loud. Those other shows that you mentioned are very good, but nothing comes close to "Frasier". Trust me it's on a different level to anything I've ever seen, except obviously Fawlty!
Once you've seen one or two episodes...you're hooked!!!
Greatest comedy there ever was !!
Nice outing for the expression 'Cloth-eared Bint' there.😂😂😂
That golfing puffadder. 😂 Also, the scene with Manuel, when he is asked where the Generalissimo is. 😂
I find it funny that Basil Fawlty was based on a real life hotelier in Torquay. John Cleese got the idea when he stayed at his hotel there. Also, Cleese had twelve gripes against hotels and each of the twelve episodes made represented one particular gripe. My favourite episode is the one with the deaf woman, played by Joan Sanderson from the comedy "Please Sir "
Yes mine too, it had me laughing so hard I couldn't get off the floor. That dialogue in her room when she's not happy about everything....absolutely brilliant.
Mrs. Richards! Your glasses are there!
I loved the scene in the bedroom when she is complaining about the view. I still laugh when Basil asks her what she expects to see out of a Torquay Hotel bedroom window, even though I know what's coming.
Great prammer
@@kimbostitch7034 "No, the radio works- you don't" lives in my head rent free.
Brilliant stuff. Classic line for me was "This bit of crumpet's your old mummy is she?"
It has to be the rat in the biscuit tin. I still howl when I see that clip.
Brilliant,comic genius .
Totally love this
Fawlty...truly a great TV show!
I can see why Cleese had to stop doing the show. It drained him. You can only do manic for so long.
But he was bloody brilliant while he was doing it.
Yes. Any longer and he would have exploded.
The old british comedies were great.
Absolute genius British comedy 🎭🇬🇧
you missed my 2 favourite scenes in this top 10... the one where Basil is reaching for the light switch and grabs the woman's breast just as Mrs Fawlty walks in... and the one where he is on a ladder trying to see into Mr Johnson's room and looks into the older couple's room by mistake and then the ladder falls backwards !
I’ll be sure to consider you next time 😉
The builders is probably one of my favourite episodes which shows the fury of a provoked Sybil beautifully.
Love fawlty towers.
Only 12 episodes too.
But such good scripts it feels like more!
Quality comedy
Happy Days ✌🇬🇧
Many years ago when the first series was time was being aired for the first time, my mate Ted had his in laws round for the evening. The mother was German, Ted said they had to watch this great British comedy, you've guessed it, it was the German one. It was watched through a stony silence, later viewing without the in laws proved much funnier. When Ted told us the story it made the episode even funnier each time we saw it!!!
Was that Uncle Ted with his crate of brown ale?
@@Vpmatt Uncle Ted, was he the fat bloke in a Monty python film? I read a funny thing about that scene, one of the actors involved in that film said it made people feel sick when they saw the film, it actually made people. Actors etc on the set were sick as it was filmed in a hot environment with the ever increasingly rancid stuff being collected up for another take!!!!
My fav part is when the major thinks the moose head is talking
Time when we had decent TV
These are ALL good! I don't think it matters which fragment you take, but these are fine snippets!! Thanks
These 3 are definitely AI .!!! Just too perfect .!!!¡😂😂😂❤
Absolute gold this show. John cleese admitted that when he and connie booth (polly) wrote this they based it on what their marriage was like in real life
6. J
999
X..y.... to be a mmtkk uuu
😖😖😖😖😖
"My wife didn't see how you could manage it AT ALL..."
The very last scene of the last episode - Basil to the health inspector after they all see the rat in the biscuit box: "Would you.. would you care for a rat? Just the biscuits then please, Polly.. " and moments later Manuel is dragging Basil out of the room by his feet...
"I believe it's started to rain again."
I remember that still after decades.... super funny...
Love this show
please try to unstand before one of us dies
The first scene is just so amazing…
When reality hits and basil fumbling defensively for some way to blame it on someone else 😂
”You cant blame me for this!”
This is great.
They tried making "Yes, Fawlty" but when they showed it to the test audience too many died laughing.
What a wonderful actor ,, amazing :-)
Wonderful show.
That golfing puff adder!!
And then he starts throttling the Gnome, almost kills me every time.
What a riot! #2 and #1 are the best.
Fawlty Towers, The Goodies, The Young Ones, and The Kenny Everett Show all four would be shown on TV in that order back in the 80's on the ABC Australia. My housemates and I would have a few bucket bongs before the start of Fawlty Towers, Oh how I really miss the 80s, I am now 60 years old. No one does humour like the Poms
I loved the credits at the start of the show. The hotel was called Flowery Twats hilarious
That has stuck with me for 45 years!
How they ever got away with that back then nobody knows! Although I know plenty of people who don't understand it.
I know Eenglish. I learn it from a boook.
Englisch speaking is not USA language
He never gave that poor car a chance, he counted to three but didn't then turn the ignition ....
She’s was gonna stary
Must be about 45 years ago I saw it last time but it is still great
This is absolutely brilliant!!
In scene two, the most effective comic acting ever done by a car.
I'm so sorry I made a mistake
I'm so sorry I made a mistake
I'm so sorry I made a mistake
...
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but my wife has made a mistake.
"Dont mention the war" and "Enjoy your hering Goebels" is not Nr. One = the best scene Faulty Towers has to offer.
I think I mentioned it once, but I got away with it.
TV Guide ranked the 100 most memorable TV episodes in the whole history of television. The "Don't Mention the War" episode was number 12, and the only non-American show to get in the top 100.
That last scene jumping. Coat iver head. Crouching. Ha ha
Fabulously funny still to this day
never to be repeated comedy genius
Never again
Farty Towels will never be bettered.
We have Brexit now. Best s###show ever
I prefer Flowery Twats
So so good. It’l be interesting to see how the reboot ends up
There it is, the one i mentioned in part 1!
Number 3, likely my fav moment in the entire show! Complete insanity!
Only 10 !! Bruce Boa was brilliant , i cannot think of torquay without Wilderbeests coming into my head.
There is too much butter on that tray........on, those, trays....☺☺😊
Not on those traaaaays. Uno, dos, tres….
lol That was the greatest play on words in comedy history.
RIP Andrew Sachs
The fake rat in the biscuit tin has me nearly wetting myself every time I see it. It should have made this list.
Classic high quality tv entertainment. Compared to the crap the bbc is presenting for ages you can only praise the Lord he made this possible and Monty Python of course.
I'm a bit surprised that dialogue 'You started it! You've invaded Poland!' wasn't
featured in the top 5 but I must say, the scene involving Manuel who knows 'naa...thing!' about the horse was 😂 hilarious.
Classic John Cleese
one of best comedies of the years, what's happened to comedy of today?
Cleese - legend
At 1:50 Ahh right. NOW it all makes sense. John Cleese did an advert for SpecSavers in Australia some years ago and used this scene as the skit. Wasnt sure of the significance of it, but now I understand... i havent seen every FT episode. Most (but not all).
It's nearly fifty years old and yet it feels like it could have been made last week.
Obv' wished they'd done more or located some old unreleased ones/Pilot epsiodes' etc, but maybe that'd spoil the uniqueness of 12 episodes have watched for Decades that NEVER TIRE. (Top listS)
Crazy dog Fawlty !
Only 2 people can make me laugh like this: John Cleese and Dave Chappelle. I am really happy the are making another run!
It was so funny the one with the woman who was dead in the room was the best
Yes i agree,with Alan Partridge,Bye for now love Alan
The only time Basil is out englished, was when the major entered the seen
Or ‘the scene’
Bollard Berkley wasn't it?
Remember the episode where he referred to a certain cricket team as wogs?
Sometimes, I wanted to do the same thing to my car, but I love her.
“START, YOU VICIOUS BASTARD!!!”
I’d kill to have his car
For useless info; Dennis Compton was a very well known English Cricketer
Even more useless information is that the first international sporting fixture was between the USA and Canada in New York. The sport was cricket.
And what can I do for you three gentlemen.........aaargh!!