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The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975] [DVD]
 
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The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975] [DVD]

DVD ~ John Cleese
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
RRP: £29.99
Price: £13.88 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

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The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975] [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Bernard Cribbins
  • Directors: Bob Spiers, John Howard-Davies
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English, French, German
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: 2 Entertain Video
  • DVD Release Date: 3 Oct 2005
  • Run Time: 360 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000ASALV0
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 168 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  DVD > Television > TV Series > Fawlty Towers
    #18 in  DVD > DVD Bargains > By Price > Up to 60% off Box Sets > Up to 60% off DVD Box Sets
    #20 in  DVD > Television > Comedy

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Reviews

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 farces, 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


Product Description

John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Bernard Cribbins Directors: Bob Spiers, John Howard-Davies
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Customer Reviews

61 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (61 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
161 of 165 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, but in such a small quantity, 11 Dec 2005
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
Perhaps the most striking thing about "Fawlty Towers" is that, with so few episodes, it remains irrepressibly funny. No matter how often you watch, even should you become word perfect in the scripts, the action remains hilarious, not to mention outrageous. John Cleese and Connie Booth produced a masterpiece of comedy. Packaged here in three discs, the two series are accompanied by some less than memorable extras - a couple of interviews and a commentary - but, frankly, you don't buy a package like this for the extras, you buy it for the hours and hours of rib-breaking laughter.

"Fawlty Towers" does more than expose the incompetent, amateurish pomposity and rigid morality which seemed to characterise so many English hotels in the 1970's … particularly those of the seaside variety - 'Kiss Me Quick' hats and saucy postcards, but be back in your room by ten, no hanky panky, and breakfast is at eight!

Basil Fawlty runs his hotel the way some people run a private prison. The patrons are there to do as they are told … unless they can prove a certain social cachet. Cleese satirises the 'Englishness' of the seaside hotelier - racism in his treatment of Manuel and middle class consciousness in his treatment of the Irish labourers, the xenophobia and dreams of imperial glory in his attitude to the Germans, the prim outlook on sex, the cloying efforts to move up the ranks and mix with the upper classes while patronising American money, the horror of illness and death, the sheer terror in the face of psychiatry or even bureaucracy.

The ensemble cast are outrageously funny - incisive wit parallels slapstick comedy and farce in the finest traditions of the English stage. "Fawlty Towers", although a television programme, has that sense of live performance, that aura of being performed on stage for your delectation and delight. Perhaps that's what makes it watchable again and again - even in the latest technology of DVD it still appears as a live stage act. The humour remains somehow spontaneous.

But the humour isn't passive, it actively infects your consciousness. You can't pass a leylandii without wanting to uproot it and thrash a small car. You can't open a tin of biscuits without wondering if there will be a rat within. Every time I see a Waldorf salad on a menu, I snigger. Every time I reach round a corner to switch a light on … well, I live in hope.

You'll find all twelve episodes here - "A Touch of Class", "The Builders", "The Wedding Party", "The Hotel Inspectors", "Gourmet Night", "The Germans", "Communication Problems", "The Psychiatrist", "Waldorf Salad", "The Kipper and the Corpse", "The Anniversary", "Basil the Rat". The very titles are cue for laughter. Sound and picture quality are excellent. The quality of the writing and performance is timeless. The only thing wrong with both series appearing in one package is that you are emphatically reminded how few episodes there were. This really is a case of leave 'em wanting more!

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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best British Sitcom ever, bar none, 1 Feb 2008
By Nostromo (Halifax, England) - See all my reviews
Simply brilliant. Only 12 episodes but like diamonds, those things which are most precious are rare but incredibly valuable. Each episode is at least brilliant (Wedding Party, Waldorf Salad, The Builders, The Anniversary) whilst others (especially The Germans, The Psychiatrist, Communication problems and Gourmet Night) are simply legendary. The word genius is used with far too much regularity but in the case of John Cleese and co-writer Connie Booth, and for the performances too, it can't be used enough. The characterisations are great and capture perfectly the mentality and social situation of 70s Britain, they are an artefact of the period neatly timecapsuled for us to enjoy. It has aged very well, look beyond the cardboard scenery, the 70s hairstyles and fashions and each episode is a joy to watch. Despite the fact that they have been shown on TV so much and the fact that just about everyone you meet knows each episode so well, they are still and remain side splittingly funny and now, neatly packaged as a complete set with a natty little extras disc all for under twenty quid, its a steal!
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74 of 80 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic British Comedy, 3 May 2006
By Ian Phillips (Bolton, Lancashire, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Fawlty Towers is now rightly regarded as a comic masterpiece and after watching just one of these episodes you will understand why.

Considering the fact that both seasons (Season 1 - 1975 Season 2- 1979) were made well over 25 years ago, Fawlty Towers still stands very well with its fast, furious, razor sharp witty dialogue and nothing but excellent comic playing. Its an absolute gem!

John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth wrote all 12 episodes in the two series' that were made in 1975 and 1979. The quality never falters through any of these episodes. John Cleese and Andrew Sachs provide most of the laughs with Cleese playing the permantley harassed and fairly raving mad, Basil Fawlty, the incompentent owner of the appropiatley named Fawlty Towers and Sachs as the Spanish cook who has many hilarious moments with his delightfully fractured English, prompting Basil to continually justify to his baffled guests "Oh don't worry, he's from Barcelona". Classic stuff! Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty and Connie Booth as the poor put upon maid have their fair share of laughs too.

Its impossible to select a favourite episode so i'll let you judge for yourselves. A CLASSIC! HILARIOUS! An important contribution to British comedy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fawlty Towers Complete Dvd Box Set
I'm delighted to get my hands on one of the all time classics to add to my Blackadder and Yes Minister/Prime Minister box sets. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Jim Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Bargain stocking filler
Its Fawlty Towers so 5 stars a must - and it was a complete bargain when I got it. Made a good stocking filler and added to a hard-to-buy-for person's DVD collection. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Karen S

5.0 out of 5 stars towers
gift for dad who loves the comedy and what can i say i agree it is hilarious :D
Published 1 month ago by Gem

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Fawlty Towers 1975
Absolute classic - already watched twice such a shame only 2 series thought there
were more
who needs to watch French telly (yes expat talkinghere) when you can enjoy... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Piglet

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good complete series.
I bought this as a present for my Uncle. He was very pleased with the gift and so was I. The product has the complete Faulty Towrs series on it and it is being sold at a very... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alex

5.0 out of 5 stars FAWLTY TOWERS BOXSET
THIS BOXSET IS A MUST FOR ANY FAN OF JOHN CLEESE FATTY OWLS FAWTY TOWERS ITS ALL THERE
BRILLIANT MAKES A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR ANYONE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. B. P. Rutter

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
FAWLTY TOWERS. The complete collection.

A brilliant comedy classic,the sketches are funny and the whole family thought it was great. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Anne

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Fawlty Towers
It doesn't matter how many times I watch the episodes, they still make me laugh. Clever script, outstanding cast, comedy at its best - outstanding!
Published 2 months ago by G. Archer

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Comedy
It's an excellent piece. It's the greatest British comedy I've seen.
I only wish Fawlty was sometimes successful with his plots!
Published 2 months ago by Dr. Puya Afshar

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
hadnt laughed so much in a long time. I can see how the times have changed, Manuels treatment even in comedy would lift an eyebrow or two now. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr Fife

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