"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:

Basil and the rest of the staff are in deep trouble when the health inspector turns up and delivers an enormous list of problems with the hotel. Things become even worse when Manuel's rat gets loose and runs riot around the hotel. |

Plot Keywords:

Rat | Health Inspector | 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

Directed by
Bob Spiers

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

Produced by
Douglas Argent	....	producer

Original Music by
Dennis Wilson

Film Editing by
Howard Dell		(video tape)
Susan Imrie

Production Design by
Nigel Curzon

Costume Design by
Caroline Hutchings		(as Caroline Maxwell)

Makeup Department
Pam Meager	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Bill Chesneau	....	sound
Mike Jones	....	studio sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Bristow	....	studio lighting
Paul Wheeler	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Bill Morton	....	vision mixer

Other crew
John Kilby	....	production team
Iain McLean	....	production team
Penny Thompson	....	production team

Makeup Department
Anne Rayment	....	makeup designer (uncredited)

Certification:

Australia:PG

Goofs:

Continuity: In several episodes, for example "Basil the Rat" and "The Anniversary", we see a sign saying "Wooburn Grange Country Club" above the front driveway to Fawlty Towers. Wooburn Grange Country Club was the building filmed for the exterior of Fawlty Towers, it would seem the director forgot to remove this giant sign before filming.

Quotes:

[Basil finds someone going through the food in the kitchen]
Basil Fawlty: Sybil, may I introduce the gentleman who's just opened the self-service department here. Mr...?
Mr. Carnegie: Carnegie.
Basil Fawlty: Mr. Carnegie, the scavenger gourmet from...?
Mr. Carnegie: The Public Health department.

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.