Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth, Andrew Sachs

Director: John Howard-Davies

Summary: The complete first series of the classic TV comedy which is based in a hotel in Torbay. Features the episodes 'A Touch Of Class', 'The Builders', 'The Wedding Party', 'The Hotel Inspectors', 'Gourmet Night' and 'The Germans'.

The reigning champion as Most Popular BBC Sitcom is firmly in the grasp of FAWLTY TOWERS. Former Monty Python cast members John Cleese and Connie Booth created one of the most bizarre comedies of all time, wherein Basil Fawlty (Cleese) is in charge of running the Fawlty Towers hotel--into the ground. This collection includes the following episodes: "A Touch of Class," "The Builders," "The Wedding Party," "Hotel Inspectors," "Gourmet Night," and "The Germans."

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Often hailed as the greatest ever British sitcom, Fawlty Towersis 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 farce, however, Fawlty Towersdeals 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 Towersis 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

Series 1:
A Touch of Class
The Builders
The Wedding Party
The Hotel Inspectors
Gourmet Night
The Germans

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Exclusive Interview With John Cleese, Exclusive Interview With Prunella Scales, Commentary By Producer John Howard Davies, Scene Selection
Subtitles:	Dutch, English, French, German
Year:	1975
Release Date:	October 8, 2001
Runtime:	180 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 1064
Keywords:	Comedy, Two, General, Series, Fawlty, Towers, Tv, Complete, Discs, Vol
Genre:	Comedy