The Complete Fawlty Towers [Paperback]

John Cleese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 1989

The complete and unexpurgated scripts of one of the most celebrated comedy series ever. Published in its entirety for the first time and illustrated with a host of hilarious photographs, The Complete Fawlty Towers will appeal to the millions of fans who have suffered through endless PBS fundraisers waiting for the next episode -- and anyone who has survived a package holiday tour.

Fawlty Towers is the hotel of every traveler's nightmare. Basil Fawlty -- ill-tempered, henpecked, and conniving -- tries in vain to be master of his house under the disapproving and ever-watchful eye of his wife, Sybil. The hotel offers service by Manuel, the incompetent Spanish waiter whose feeble grasp of English makes for hilarious misunderstandings, and Polly, the unflappable chambermaid who is Fawlty Towers' only sane employee. Meals are scorched in the kitchen while adulterers consort upstairs and chaos reigns all around. For countless fans, Fawlty Towers is the best-loved bad hotel in the world, and with publication of The Complete Fawlty Towers they will all have a chance to relive its outrageous awfulness.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Following in the footsteps of publications of the scripts of the Goon Show and Monty Python , the writers of the British TV comedy Fawlty Towers are publishing the complete scripts to all 12 episodes of the series. First shown in Britain in 1975 and 1976, the short-lived series about the slapstick mismanagement of a small British hotel has become a cult classic which has been rerun often on American television. With no additional commentary and only 15 illustrations, the scripts stand alone and will appeal to hard-core fans of the series.
- Marcia L. Perry, Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

For anyone who has ever been reduced to tears by the antics of Basil and Sybil Fawlty and their chaotic hotel, this is the perfect present. Here are the complete screenplays of every episode, from 'A Touch of Class', first aired in September 1975, to the last 'Basil the Rat', broadcast in October 1979. Classics include 'The Germans' and 'The Kipper and the Corpse', but each and every scene relentlessly exposes the superb quality of the writing and the humour riddling every script. If you loved that terrible hostelry in Torquay, or you know someone who did, then here's a brilliant way to return. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 333 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon (February 25, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679721274
• ISBN-13: 978-0679721277
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,858,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth its weight in pure gold!, May 31, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: The Complete Fawlty Towers (Paperback)

This book is almost better than watching the series, as it contains all the scripts--word-for-word. Now you can catch all those witty phrases Basil mumbled to his wife which were lost to those of us without a clear ear for British speech. Yes its all here, all the comedy, the frustration, the dead body, even the rat. If this goes out of print before you get one, you'll kick yourself for years.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Like Reliving the Shows on Paper, June 20, 2002

By 

Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Fawlty Towers (Paperback)

If you love the show "Fawlty Towers," than this book is for you. This book contains the complete scripts to every single episode that was out. I was very surprised that such a thing even exstisted, and I was very happy to purchase it since I love the show so much.

This is a great read for many reasons. If you love the show, then you will love reading the scripts. It is very much like reliving the show. I still found myself laughing while reading, although it is funnier seen on screen, so I do not suggest that you get this over the shows. This is only for fans of the show who have seen all of the episodes.

Another reason why I liked this so much was because the shows were so chaotic and rapid, it was hard to catch every single word. Basil would mouth off to his wife in a very low and quiet tone, so it would be hard to get every single word. The accents also make it hard to understand what they're saying sometimes.

My favorite episodes, both in here and the shows themselves, are: "Gourmet Night," "The Hotel Inspectors," "The Germans," "Communication Problems," "Waldorf Salad," "The Builders," and "Basil the Rat."

All in all, a very funny companion to the show. I really enjoyed reading this, and I am sure that I will read it over and over again. Every page is filled with nothing but some of the funniest lines you will ever read on paper. Just imagine John Cleese verbally and phsyically abusing Manuel, and you've got yourself a great time! Filled with witty humor, razor sharp comeback, the most outrageous situations, and the most memorable characters, "The Complete Fawlty Towers" is a fine companion to the show and is a must-have for all fans. If you love the show, get this book. I don't think you will regret it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At long, long last!, October 17, 2000

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Fawlty Towers (Paperback)

I'm a relatively new fan of Fawlty Towers, and I think it's the funniest comedy ever written! This book (in a relatively small tome) encompasses the relatively short series's episodes in script form.

This also solves the problem of lines that we couldn't hear. Sometimes, when watching Fawlty Towers, one can't hear the actor say the line, or the laugh track drowns it out (or, very occasionally, Manuel says something weird). This book allows you to check out the lines.

In addition to that, it's almost as funny on paper as it is on the screen! All it's missing is some way of accurately describing John Cleese's physical humor!