Fawlty Towers Remastered: Special Edition

TV's funniest series looks and sounds better than ever! Sharp-tongued, short tempered, sycophantic and sadistic, Basil Fawlty (John Cleese, Monty Python films) is a beleaguered hotel manager whose life is plagued by dead guests, hotel inspectors and other assorted riff-raff. He possesses equally little patience for his nagging wife Sybil, unflappable maid Polly and dim waiter Manuel. You'll enjoy all 12 episodes again and again. Featuring all new commentary from John Cleese, all-new cast interviews and much more.

Series 1
A Touch of Class - Basil Fawlty is in a campaign to improve the class of his clientele at Fawlty Towers. His efforts have spectacular results - in the short term.

The Builders - Sybil has picked a professional firm for the alterations to the hotel. But Basil makes an executive decision that his friend can do a better job.

The Wedding - Basil occupies himself in a losing battle against moral turpitude. His predicament is exacerbated by Manuel's birthday celebrations.

Hotel Inspectors - One of the dreaded events in a hotel manager's life is the inspector's visit. One calls, and Basil has to decide which of the guests he is.

Gourmet Night - It is Gourmet Night at Fawlty Towers, and it seems that Basil's long cherished dream will be realized. But the chef lies drunk on the floor.

The Germans - A moose head falls on Basil during a fire drill, giving him a concussion. But he must leave hospital to deal tactfully with a group of German tourists.

Series 2
Communications Problems - A nearly deaf and very difficult Mrs. Richards arrives at the hotel. When she loses a large sum of money, she demands that the police be called.

The Psychiatrist - Basil is certain one of the guests has smuggled a girl into his room and sets out to investigate. Unfortunately, he is caught in a compromising situation by Sybil.

Waldorf Salad - An American guest tips Basil to keep the kitchen open late, but chef has left for the day. Basil steps in, but he meets his Waterloo when the guest requests a Waldorf Salad.

The Kipper and the Corpse - What should a hotelier do when he serves a guest breakfast in bed and finds that guest dead? Whatever that something may be, Basil does not do it.

Anniversary - It is Basil and Sibyl's anniversary, and Basil has actually remembered. In true Basil fashion, however, he has not told Sybil he has remembered and she is hugely upset.

Basil the Rat - Manuel has been ordered to get rid of his pet rat before the health inspector pays a visit. But the pet breaks away, leading the Major to trying to shoot the rodent in the bar.

Written by Connie Booth, John Cleese
Directed by John Howard Davies, Bob Spiers
Produced by John Howard Davies, Douglas Argent
Original Music by Dennis Wilson
Film Editing by Susan Imrie, Bob Rymer
Costume Design by Mary Woods, Caroline Hutchings

BAFTA® Awards
1980 – Best Light Entertainment Performance -John Cleese
1976 – Best Situation Comedy

'Fawlty' Reasoning
John Cleese's four reasons to buy the new, remastered 'Fawlty Towers' DVD set:
1: Fresh Inside Scoop
The creator/star recorded new commentaries for all 12 episodes of his '70's cult classic."it was great fun," he says. "There are at least two I hadn't seen since I (did) Them."
2. A Documentary about Torquay
The collection boasts a guide to the British town where Towers is set. "I'm regarded with affection there,' Cleese reveals. "There was a move to put up a statue of me. Then I discovered I was supposed to fund the cost."
3. Cleese has bills to pay
The comedian recently split from his third wife, as "we hope DVD sales will help with the alimony situation," he laughs.
4. It'll annoy the rest of Monty Python
Cleese admits there has often been "a thriving rivalry" among members of the legendary comic troupe when it comes to solo projects. The exception? Michael Palin's "dreadfully boring travel shows. None of us would contemplate doing something as tedius as that."
-Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly

"12 pieces of absurd, slapsticky heaven." - Washington Post

"the best sitcom in history" - Wired

"John Cleese plays the world's worst-tempered innkeeper in his 70s masterpiece of snowballing insanity" - Newsday

"painfully funny" - Toronto Globe and Mail

“Had me retching with laughter.” -Observer

“Outrageously funny ... draws its humour both from the head and the bowels.”- Sunday Telegraph

“Great comedy.”- Evening Standard

“Not so much a repeat as a hallowed tradition.This most glorious of comedy series is always held up as being one of the finest ever made – if not the finest – but when one switches it on again one quickly finds that the attitude of homage and reverence doesn't last long. The show is simply too funny.”- Daily Telegraph, Australia

“More than 25 years after the first broadcast Fawlty Towers is still one of the best series worldwide.” -Expres, Belgium

If John Cleese's father hadn't changed his name when he joined the army in 1915, John Cleese would have been John Cheese.