Fawlty Towers - The Complete Collection (Remastered) [DVD] [1975]

There's little one can say about 'Fawlty Towers' that hasn't been said already - 30+ years later, it is still regarded as one of the finest comedies ever produced, the envy of so many writers and performers, and beloved by millions. The care and attention lavished on the writing of the series by John Cleese and Connie Booth, as well as their fantastic performances (aided and abetted by Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs) have helped the show achieve its iconic status. The shows are endlessly repeated on TV, and released on video and DVD. So, what makes this new DVD set worth your time and money?The original DVD release of 'Fawlty Towers' was several years ago, and whilst the overall package was good, the picture and sound quality of the episodes was not as good as it could have been, particularly when it came to the outdoor scenes shot on film. For this new release, the episodes have been given fresh transfers, with both the videotape and film elements sourced from superior materials, and restored where appropriate - all are now completely unedited, including a line (" Is it your legs?") mysteriously absent from earlier DVD releases. In short, this set is a definite improvement on earlier releases, and is probably about as good as the series will ever look on DVD.All the extras from the previous set are retained here - including cast interviews, commentaries from Series 1 director John Howard Davies and Series 2 director Bob Spiers, out-takes and other bits and pieces - but with the addition of some very exciting new material. Firstly, there are extended versions of the interviews conducted with the cast for the 2009 retrospective documentary 'Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened' (including Connie Booth, not featured in the earlier interviews). Secondly, and most exciting, is the addition of exclusive commentaries on every episode by John Cleese. These are, for me, the set's big selling point, and happily, they don't disappoint. Solo commentaries can be awkward and even dull at times without anyone else for the commentator to discuss things with, but Cleese is on fine form here - very well-prepared and insightful, he's full of interesting anecdotes and observations, and there's never a dull moment across the 12 episodes. Additionally, he draws attention to little details, jokes and background performances that one might easily have missed, and one's enjoyment of the series is greatly enhanced as a result. I don't think it would be overstating it to say these are some of the best commentaries I've ever heard on a DVD.Put simply, this is an essential purchase for fans of great British comedy - and even if you've already bought the series on DVD before, the improvements and additions to this set make upgrading to this remastered edition very worthwhile.

Fawlty Towers is the pinnacle of situation comedy. Others have been good but none have been quite as great as the action set at the Fawlty Towers hotel. John Cleese's Basil Fawlty is one of the greatest comedy creations ever conceived. The remastered box set provides a disc for each series plus a disc of bonus material. The quality of the production is excellent with sharp enough visuals and almost no blips.The remastered version does not do anything with the content - it leaves it in all its brilliance. That brilliance is held together by John Cleese as his Basil Fawlty is a character of such utter genious it is hard to believe there are so few episodes for Fawlty to shine in. The combination of biting commentary, outstanding physical comedy, and regular desperation makes for an utterly extraordinary viewing experience. Fawlty is a rare gem of a character that could easily be the bad guy but is very clearly the one the audience hopes will succeed. His putdowns are withering, his physical abuse especially of Manuel is riotously funny.It helps Cleese that he has such a large stature. Being 6'6" magnifies all the physical movements. Things carried over from Monty Python like the Silly Walk are clearly long-studied pieces of exhibition but his ability to contort into unexpected shapes and scuttle around is really quite remarkable.A lot of the physical comedy is performed alongside Andrew Sachs as Manuel. Sachs has an excellent gait and his character almost trots around. Being a foot shorter than Cleese helps their interaction but it is excellent writing that really makes the duo work. What we laugh at is Fawlty hitting Manuel with a frying pan. What is genious is the growth of Manuel's character in his reactions to Fawlty. Earlier gags set up later ones as Manuel attempts to learn from previous examples but uses the lessons inappropriately such as in Communication Problems.Manuel's accent only really makes sense with a little understanding of the times. Spain is not the country it was when Fawlty Towers was aired. Having not long emerged from Franco's dictatorship, Spain was quite backwards by Western European standards and being a waiter in a hotel abroad was much more common than is the case 30 years after Towers was broadcast. Manuel is a particularly endearing character because he is hapless but bent on self-improvement. His learning English from a book is a catchphrase all Brits should use.Basil and his wife Sybil are even deeper characters. Sybil begins her existence as a slightly stereotypical irritated wife while Basil's foibles are on show for everyone. However, the depth of her character is revealed over time mainly through Basil's eyes. His muttered aggression towards Sybil becomes rounder as Sybil's distinct lack of work ethic and her incessant and boring gossip conversations on the phone register brilliantly as the anger flares in Basil's features. Sybil really does love Basil with The Anniversary being a great explanation of the couple's love for one another even though positive words are never really said.Basil is of course the deepest character of the lot as it is his show. Scheming to do things the way he thinks they should be done, his incredibly prejudiced views on class & status, the frustration of a world that isn't as efficient as he is, and the failings of everyone around him including the guests make for the funniest show of anger television has ever produced.Of the main characters, the least interesting is Polly. Played by Connie Booth she is often Basil's only slightly willing accomplice and doesn't often display character of her own. Aside from her bursts into showtunes as a distraction method, she is not overly distinct from the plot. As a plot device she works well as she picks up Basil's plans instantly, often helping him when all seems doomed.The minor characters don't get a huge amount of screen time but the weekly victims of Basil's rage are often amusing in their own right. The Major probably deserved more air time as the only episode in which he has a substantial amount of lines is also the very best - The Germans. Probably the single funniest comedy episode every produced, what we remember about The Germans are the catchphrase, the Germans themselves, and Basil's Hitler impression. If it were just these things it would have been excellent, it is so much more. The Major plays a significant role and his interaction with Basil is magnificent as is the physical comedy including surrounding the moose head on the wall. In the same episode, Manuel catches fire. So much was crammed into this one piece of greatness that the total genious of it all should not be underestimated.The bonus features on the Remastered edition are only ok. The outtakes are very limited and most of the space is given to interviews which are good with Cleese and Sachs but Prunella Scales clearly hasn't got the same love for the show. The interview with Connie Booth is just awkward. Booth clearly has never gotten over splitting up with Cleese and she just looks like she's holding back tears the whole way through. Some of the other notables of British television who made cameos in Fawlty Towers give good comment especially Bernard Cribbins and Nicky Henson.Fawlty Towers is a thing of pure unadulterated genious. For such a risky show there are so few missed beats. It should be a compulsory part of British education and everyone should own it.

Loving the series. DVD box a must have, episodes can be watched over and over again. Hilarous. Good British tv comedy, a classic. Very happy with our purchase, this box just needs to be part of every home.

Great BAFTA winning sitcom from classic BBC, great to watch again fast delivery perfect item

BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN AND ACTED.ONE OF IF NOT THE BEST SERIES EVER MADE.A HEARTY LAUGH WITHOUT RESORTING TO VULGARITY OR FOUL LANGUAGE.SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES.RECOMMENDED.

Fawlty Towers is recognised as one of the greatest comedy sitcoms ever written. The episodes with the Germans, the rat, the 'unmarried' couple etc have all become part of comedy folklore, less dated than Monty Python, but funnier than much of what was written in the subsequent 30 years. We all remember how pathetic Basil could be with his lies and overbearing behaviour, but I had forgotten what a gorgon Sybil was - tremendous acting by Prunella Scales.The 'but', and there had to be a but, is that John Cleese's manic behaviour is wearing to the point that the most any sane person can view at one sitting is a couple of episodes. Some of the pauses as Basil realises what a ghastly mistake he has made are brilliant, but the self-flagellation that follows is overdone, and robs the scenes of their comic impact.However, the series is worth buying because the good bits far outweigh the bad bits, and the whole makes some of the comedy in the 80s and 90s look dismal.