Whenever we German former students of English come together, just one needs to recite Basils famous sentence, which may have become a well known slogan in the British Isles, and we all begin to chuckle.
I still remember this early day at the university when an English teacher showed us the video of this episode of Fawlty Towers. My English being quite insufficient then, I could not fully comprehend what was this all about on screen. I was more amused about my rollicking mates.
But it did not take long to understand and love this TV series.
During my stays in GB in the nineties I noticed some obsession with "the war" - especially among older people. But even school kids answered my question, what they think about Germany or its people, with "the war" or naming the leader at that time. No need to mention that they themselves had no contact to or experience with a German before. Their teacher could hardly hide her slight embarrassement. But for me these reservations were only noticeable when forced out like this.
John Cleese's merit was to use this still existing feeling and exaggerate it beyond limits. The result is this hilarious episode.
I heard he was inspired to make this series of Fawlty Towers by a very rude hotel owner during the stay of their group "Monthy Pythons Flying Circus" when filming.
In this episode Basil has to cope alone, as Sybil is in hospital "having her ingrowing toe nail out". No surprise when Basil ends up in the hospital as well after being knocked out by a falling fire extinguisher during a fire drill that has backfired. The disaster really starts, when he escapes head bandaged from the hospital with his concussion.
Having returned to the hotel, it needs only Pollys remark, that German guests are about to arrive, for Basils obsession to spark into flames.
His mind is so occupied to avoid mentioning the war, that he cannot but doing exactly this - over and over again. With this obsession he sets the German guests to anger and the lady to tears, topping it all up by doing his "funny walk". I have never seen a parading soldier throwing his legs higher than Basil.
I will not speak about German humour, but THIS British Fawlty Towers makes me rolling on the floor laughing.
Sometimes I read, Germans may disapprove of this episode or even feel insulted. Well, not me. On the contrary, this is my favourite episode (next to "Communication Problems"). Besides, who makes a fool of himself? Certainly not the German hotel guests.
The episode ends with the German guests watching the dopey major talking to the moose's head. One of them can only shake his head in disbelief: "However did they win?"
I still remember this early day at the university when an English teacher showed us the video of this episode of Fawlty Towers. My English being quite insufficient then, I could not fully comprehend what was this all about on screen. I was more amused about my rollicking mates.
But it did not take long to understand and love this TV series.
During my stays in GB in the nineties I noticed some obsession with "the war" - especially among older people. But even school kids answered my question, what they think about Germany or its people, with "the war" or naming the leader at that time. No need to mention that they themselves had no contact to or experience with a German before. Their teacher could hardly hide her slight embarrassement. But for me these reservations were only noticeable when forced out like this.
John Cleese's merit was to use this still existing feeling and exaggerate it beyond limits. The result is this hilarious episode.
I heard he was inspired to make this series of Fawlty Towers by a very rude hotel owner during the stay of their group "Monthy Pythons Flying Circus" when filming.
In this episode Basil has to cope alone, as Sybil is in hospital "having her ingrowing toe nail out". No surprise when Basil ends up in the hospital as well after being knocked out by a falling fire extinguisher during a fire drill that has backfired. The disaster really starts, when he escapes head bandaged from the hospital with his concussion.
Having returned to the hotel, it needs only Pollys remark, that German guests are about to arrive, for Basils obsession to spark into flames.
His mind is so occupied to avoid mentioning the war, that he cannot but doing exactly this - over and over again. With this obsession he sets the German guests to anger and the lady to tears, topping it all up by doing his "funny walk". I have never seen a parading soldier throwing his legs higher than Basil.
I will not speak about German humour, but THIS British Fawlty Towers makes me rolling on the floor laughing.
Sometimes I read, Germans may disapprove of this episode or even feel insulted. Well, not me. On the contrary, this is my favourite episode (next to "Communication Problems"). Besides, who makes a fool of himself? Certainly not the German hotel guests.
The episode ends with the German guests watching the dopey major talking to the moose's head. One of them can only shake his head in disbelief: "However did they win?"