Product Details

• Actors: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Ballard Berkeley
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English, Spanish
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305076502
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,039 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nothing turns Basil Fawlty's rude behavior into panicked fawning and manic desperation like a confrontation with authority and the surprise arrival of the Health Inspector in "Basil the Rat" has him flip-flopping between penny-pinching opportunism and hysterical self-preservation. When Manuel's Siberian hamster, which turns out to be rat, escapes into the hotel, a poison-laced cut of veal set out to kill the creature becomes mixed up with the dinner cuts. When they fear the fatal flank has landed on the inspector's plate they launch into an impromptu game of dining-room switcheroo. Basil blithely pretends to have forgotten about "The Anniversary" as Sybil drops hint after hint to Basil's blank stares, but secretly he's plotted a surprise party. Unfortunately his act is too convincing and Sybil storms out before the event and Basil forces Polly to play the part of his wife, unexpectedly bedridden, for his puzzled guests. An even more puzzled Sybil returns to see the farce. "Communications Problems" finds Basil once again plotting behind his wife's back, this time for a little off-track betting. His horse comes in, but his effort to hide his winnings becomes complicated when a guest is robbed and Basil's sneaking and sudden handful of cash makes him the prime suspect. Complicating matters is dotty Major Gowan, the reality-impaired resident whose forgetfulness only lands Basil in worse trouble. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Gems, October 22, 1999

By 

Christoph B. Gondek "Host, www.theinvisibleha... (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fawlty Towers,Vol. 4 - Communication Problems/The Anniversary/Basil The Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When you think they only made 12 episodes, and that John Cleese and Connie Booth took months to write them, you begin to understand why Fawlty Towers is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. The new releases are very nice, and these three are keepers (If only they would have ditched The Anniversary and put The Germans on this tape, it would have been proof of a greater power)

All three are great episodes, but I must admit that I think "Basil The Rat" is the most perfectly conceived episode of television comedy EVER put to film, (Sorry, Chuckles the Clown, the Turkey Drop and The Contest) After watching this tape, you too will be glad that Franco did not have them all shot.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, August 26, 2000

By 

Bjorn Clasen (Rolléngergronn, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fawlty Towers,Vol. 4 - Communication Problems/The Anniversary/Basil The Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This tape contains the three episodes »Communication Problems«, »The Anniversary«, and »Basil The Rat«.

All three episodes are among the best in the two »Fawlty Towers« series! The interesting thing is that Basil Fawlty shows a softer (however in no way sentimental) side of himself, especially in the first two episodes. This does not make him less funny, in contrary, it gives his character something extra.

Really great. If you only want one »Fawlty Towers« tape, this is the one!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, August 26, 2000

By 

Bjorn Clasen (Rolléngergronn, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Europe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fawlty Towers: Communication Problems - The Anniversary - Basil The Rat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This tape contains the three episodes »Communication Problems«, »The Anniversary«, and »Basil The Rat«.

All three episodes are among the best in the two »Fawlty Towers« series! The interesting thing is that Basil Fawlty shows a softer (however in no way sentimental) side of himself, especially in the first two episodes. This does not make him less funny, in contrary, it gives his character something extra.

Really great. If you only want one »Fawlty Towers« tape, this is the one!