"Fawlty Towers"
Basil the Rat (1979)

Director:

Bob Spiers

Writers:

John Cleese (written by) and
Connie Booth (written by)

TV Series:

"Fawlty Towers" (1975)

Original Air Date:

25 October 1979 (Season 2, Episode 6)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Health Inspector | Rat | English | Waiter | Hotel

Cast

John Cleese	...	Basil Fawlty
Prunella Scales	...	Sybil Fawlty
Connie Booth	...	Polly Shearman
Andrew Sachs	...	Manuel
John Quarmby	...	Mr. Carnegie
Ballard Berkeley	...	Major Gowen
Brian Hall	...	Terry
Gilly Flower	...	Miss Abitha Tibbs
Renee Roberts	...	Miss Ursula Gatsby
David Neville	...	Ronald
Sabina Franklyn	...	Quentina
James Taylor	...	Mr. Taylor
Melody Lang	...	Mrs. Taylor
Stuart Sherwin	...	Guest

Certification:

Australia:PG

Goofs:

Continuity: When Basil and Sybil are talking to the public health inspector in the kitchen (on his second visit), Basil breaks two bottles of wine. When he removes the second bottle, there are two bottles remaining on the rack, but when the camera cuts away and then back when he breaks it, there is only one bottle left on the rack.

Quotes:

Basil Fawlty: This is *not* a hamster! Hamsters are cute and cuddly! Cuddle this, you'd never play the guitar again!

Movie Connections:

References "Mastermind" (1972)

Very well done!

There is a health visitor inspecting the premises and finds a few faults with how the kitchen is being operated. He therefore serves a warning.

Basil tries as hard as he can to get to get everything clean and tidied up and to be fair he does quite a good job, so what seems to be the problem?

Manuels pet rat is on the loose, can Basil capture him in time? This is a very funny episode and it really does keep you on the edge of your seat.

A perfect finale to a perfect sitcom.