Fawlty Towers

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:07 pm

The local PBS station here in South Carolina is running a telethon and are showing continuous episodes of the English comedy TV series "Fawlty Towers".

My sides hurt from laughing. I've probably seen all 12 episodes at least 5 times but they are still classics. John Cleese stars.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:24 pm

I think that whole series is available on dvd, Harry.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:01 pm

Thanks Doug65oh, I'll have to look into that.

That was one hilarious series.

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:05 am

I have never seen that. And yet I love British comedy.
Our brother's friend was a fantastic mime and he used to do John Cleese in Fawlty Towers and then in Monty Python. It was like knowing John Cleese!
In my memory, he and *Bob* are one!

I don't have a DVD player!
How about video?

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:16 am

A quick search on Ebay turned up many different ways to buy the series. Both on DVD and video.

Some of the DVD's seemed to include the entire series and were a bit spendy @ $55-60

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:55 am

Harry...got a surprise for you. Check out http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/ ... RM=0&itm=1

That's the entire series. The price is not bad either.

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:36 am

I loved that show, I wonder why it was so short-lived?

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:04 am

The show is definitely a classic! I'm not sure why it ended. I know Cleese and Connie Booth (Polly, not Sybil) were married for a while. They co-wrote the show, so it may have had to do with the breakup. At least it ended on a high note: every episode a gem. We videotaped a marathon long before it came out as a set. Makes me think I should check their condition. . . .

--Lyddie

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:01 am

doug65oh @ Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:55 am wrote:Harry...got a surprise for you.

Thanks Doug, I appreciate it. Saw quite a few on eBay as well.

I was looking at some web sites on the series last night and it appears that 6 of the 12 episodes were made in 1975 and the other 6 four years later in 1979. That's strange.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Jul 31, 2004 4:21 pm

Not to resurrect this thread again but I ran across this book for sale (at least it was in 1998) where it says that Connie Booth (Polly on Fawlty Towers) dressed up as Lizzie Borden for a photo in this book:

"DOUBLE TAKES: PHOTO FANTASIES OF THE FAMOUS, by Anthony Grant

(forty-three British personalities play dress ups; including John Cleese as Lady Jane Grey, Cleese's ex-wife Connie Booth as Lizzie Borden, Jeremy Irons as Van Gogh, Joanna Lumley as Henry VIII, and Spike Milligan as Ronald Reagan; foreword by the Duchess of York; Cleese's picture also appears on the cover)

*Robson Books, 1987 (U.K.) ISBN 0-86051-455-2 (hardcover)"

lydiapinkham · Post by **lydiapinkham** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:54 am

Intriguing! Actually, I can see Connie Booth assuming a nice gothic pose. Did they put Joanna Lumley in a fat suit to do Henry the VIII, do you suppose?

--Lyddie