Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers (1975)

89 mistakes

(6 votes)

The Anniversary - S2-E5

Plot hole: Sybil leaves the hotel at 05:29 and returns with Audrey at 24:39. 19 minutes have elapsed in real time during which Basil has been 'entertaining' Sybil's friends. So Sybil had just enough time to visit Audrey, talk to her and return. There wasn't enough time to visit the homes of Alice, Kitty or Virginia. Sybil went straight to Audrey who must therefore be her closest friend. Also Audrey was free and knew nothing about the party. Would not Basil have invited Audrey to the party? Is not Audrey's presence just to allow Sybil to explain to the audience when it makes no sense she is not at the party? (00:05:30 - 00:24:40)

DVDpedant

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Suggested correction: In 'The Wedding Party' the Major comments about Basil not liking Audrey, so maybe he didn't invite her. Or maybe she was in the uncomfortable position of keeping the secret for Basil despite seeing how upset Sybil was.

The Germans - S1-E6

Character mistake: When the first German guest enters reception, he asks Polly, in German, if she would tell him what time lunch is served. She replies in German "at 9am, in five minutes." Which would be a strange time to be serving lunch! Actually her pronunciation of "9" sounds more like the German word for "no", so could be mistaken for "at no time. In 5 minutes."

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Suggested correction: He asks what time lunch is being served. Lunch would not be served at 9am, it would be served around midday. Polly's response is "In no time. In 5 minutes" is absolutely correct. She does say "nein", not "neun" but it is not a mistake.

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Suggested correction: This is way too vague to be accurate. The office (which has private on both doors) is visited by Basil on innumerable occasions throughout this episode and so needs to be more precise.

Communication Problems (a.k.a. Theft) - S2-E1

Mrs Richards: And another thing. I expect to be able to see the sea.
Basil: [whispering to Manuel.] Deaf, Mad and Blind. [To Mrs Richards.] Yes, this is the view as far as I can remember... Yes, yes it is.
Mrs Richards: When I pay for a view, I expect something more interesting than that.
Basil: But that is Torquay, madam.
Mrs Richards: Well it's not good enough.
Basil: Well may I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain...
Mrs Richards: [interrupting.] Don't be silly. I expect to be able to see the sea.
Basil: You CAN see the sea! It's over there between the land and the sky!
Mrs Richards: I'd need a telescope to see that.
Basil: Well might I suggest you move to a hotel closer to the sea. Or preferably in it.
Mrs Richards: Now listen to me. I'm not satisified but I've decided to stay. HOWEVER, I shall expect a deduction.
Basil: Why, because Krakatoa isn't erupting at the moment?
Mrs Richards: Because the room is cold, the bath is too small, the view is invisible and the radio doesn't work.
Basil: No, the radio works. You don't.

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The Anniversary - S2-E5

Trivia: Sybil's friend, Audrey, who Sybil is frequently seen talking to on the telephone, has only one on-screen appearence in 'The Anniversary'. She is seen at the very end, when Sybil has just walked out on Basil.

More trivia for Fawlty Towers

Answer: It's "Leisure Complex" by Dave Gold and Gordon Rees. Can be found on YouTube. The relevant clip is around 25 seconds in.

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