The brilliant Prunella Scales. I find it so interesting that Cleese says that when Scales auditioned for the part for him and Connie she did it in a different way than they wanted, but went with her interpretation, that's class.
@@nztv8589 I thought they had said that they imagined Basil and Sybil had got together because she was attracted to how posh he sounded, almost like she was a social class below his. That seemed to be the explanation for why on earth she would have been interested in him. I had the impression they meant that he had less choice in women than Sybil had in men, and that she was conventionally attractive enough for him to overlook her slightly lower class.
@@dronesclubhighjinks yes originally Cleese envisaged Sybil as posher than him, as it gave the social climbing Basil motivation to marry above him. However, Scales said this wouldn't have worked dramatically as she wouldn't have married someone lower than herself , so she played it slightly more "common ". This made more sense as Basil would need someone who knew how to run hotel well , and she would think she was social climbing .
Such absolute brilliance. I feel that Prunella, just like every other character staring in this magnificent comedy, was the perfect choice for the role. It doesn't matter how many times i have seen each episode, the laughs never diminish, even though i know what is coming next. To all the actors, living or dead, thanks for the laughter, time and time again.
So practical ,organised and composed.Exactly the opposite of Basil. Loved the way she immediately grasped the situation when Polly told them Lord Melbury was a conman....while Basil was still in denial😅Without a doubt she was easily the funniest female character to ever take part in a sitcom.
'Do you really imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a girl like this could possibly be interested in an aging, brilliantined stick insect like you!?'
Sybil had so many fantastic lines but I always loved the confidence trickster episode when she didn’t actually have lines as such but when Basil said “Sybil I forbid you...” ; such brilliant comic timing! I also loved the “Mother has more of a death force dialogue - “open spaces....... confined spaces” and “...its a little difficult, chef’s just opened the tin” 😀
Sybil acted her role so well , never looses her cool so believable . Made Basil look like an incompetent fool. One of the greatest comedies of all time.
@@MND139 Sybil: * talking about friends * They have all said at one point or another how on earth did the 2 of us ever get together? Black magic my mother says. Basil: * moment of silence * Well she would know wouldn't she?
Great, but missing one. The Gourmet Night dinner, while she's stalling the guests waiting for the meal to arrive, she's telling stories and laughing. Great character, so well played.
there’s a really quick one liner when basil wanting a some toast holds up a piece of bread as sybil walks by and says “breathe on this please dear” or words to that effect
I'm American and the crap that Hollyweird puts out today is beyond shameful. Ironically, I didn't care for this, or really get it, when I was a kid. But I love it now. The only problem with British TV is that when it is at its best, they starve you to death for it, lol. I mean..."Here's your 12 extraordinary episodes, strung out over several years...that's all you're going to get. Learn how to starve happily! And be glad we didn't only make ten or eleven." It makes me wonder seriously if there's a universe in the multiverse somewhere, where John Cleese made hundreds of these, and at the same quality level. And the same goes for Downton Abbey and Are You Being Served, and a few other brilliant British TV shows I'm starving for more of. And I'm sure there's more I don't know about yet.
@@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER Unfortunately the Woke BBC is now censoring a lot of these old classics like Dads Army, Steptoe and Son, Till death us do part and ruining them. Make sure you watch the old ones.
It is perfect. It’s a mutton dressed as lamb waddle in an outfit one or two sizes too small that she conveys. Prunella Scales was amazing. Saw her at the National in Alan Bennett’s spy plays. She was convincing as the graceful and elegant Coral Brown but when she entered as the Queen she was small and dumpy and just as convincing. Both parts a million miles away from Sybil but both thoroughly as convincing. Terriifc characterisations every time. Anybody older than me who remembers Marriage Lines?
A clip I found really funny was when Basil was behind reception listening to the radio. . Sybil storms in through the hotel entrance and says " What's that racket? " Basil says calmly " Thats Brahms dear. . Brahms 3rd racket"!
My two favourites are "Ageing brilliantine stick insect like you?" and when Mr O Reily smiles at her. Basil: "Oh for god sake, don't smile." Sybil: "Why are you smiling Mr O Reily?" Mr O Reily: "Well to be perfectly honest Mrs Fawlty I like a woman with spirit." S: "Oh do you, is that what you like?" Mr O: "I do, I do!" Where she proceeds to whack them both with the umbrella.
Basil KNEW what was coming for O'Reilly. And even though he hated him, and was also a very unsympathetic character, he was obviously feeling sorry for what O'Reilly was putting himself in for. 😂
Brilliant Scripts, Fantsastic acting, and very wobbly sets. I have all the episodes recorded and watch them all the time. We ALL know a Basil Fawlty don't we?
Probably. But if one doesn't know a Basil Fawlty, then that means that one is the Basil Fawlty. Come to think of it...I myself don't actually know a Basil Fawlty, lol.
I was 22 when they filmed this and I loved how she dressed Prunella Scales was a very sexy woman. You think at 22 #I would like Polly but Sybil to me was feminity PLUS
“Charming people.” “Hmm ....?” “The Abbot’s ... charming couple.” “Yes, all three of them.” 😂😂 “You’re only single once.” “Twice can be arranged.” 😂😂 “Oh hi dear ... i was just .. ehm ...” Wack. 😂😂 And that one sentence; yes, a knoow ..
Prunella Scales as Sybil was a wonderful actress, sadly not too well these days. Connie Booth was the woman of my dreams. Utterly desirable. Fory four years after release, the series has never been eclipsed.
She did both soy plays at the National. She stole the show. Such a pity they didn’t have the streaming and recording of present times. She had presence and then some.
It seems that was another of the BBC’s wiped programmes. It pops up from time to time on Radio 4 Extra in a radio version. The comedy is tame compared to nowadays, but she and Briers sparked off each other.
Prunella Scales is so gorgeous! And magnificent timing.
As a kid, she was the Dragon Lady.... As a middle aged man, wow, cute figure!
What a real name🎉
Happy 90th birthday to Prunella Scales! Thanks so so much for all the laughter! 💖💖
Ha ha ha ha 🦭🔫
"An ageing, brilliantined stick insect." Never fails to make me laugh out loud. Best putdown ever!
Cleeses was only in his 30s tho. I always felt that basil was meant to be about 10 years older then Cleese
I think she said "brilliantine" in reference to a gel used make hair look glossy... I'm not fluent in British lingo so I'm not completely sure
@@BarekHalfhandrilliantine is a thing, she said brilliantined - meaning "covered in brilliantine". Exactly as OP wrote.
@@nneeerrrd
Got it thanks...
At first I thought she was saying "brillianting" as perhaps a British expression for balding.
haha ha
The brilliant Prunella Scales. I find it so interesting that Cleese says that when Scales auditioned for the part for him and Connie she did it in a different way than they wanted, but went with her interpretation, that's class.
It makes me wonder how Cleese and Booth imagined Sybil as a character... less acidic and more sarcastic, perhaps?
@@mattjames7386 she was sarcastic.
@@mattjames7386 they imagined her posher and classier than him.
@@nztv8589 I thought they had said that they imagined Basil and Sybil had got together because she was attracted to how posh he sounded, almost like she was a social class below his. That seemed to be the explanation for why on earth she would have been interested in him. I had the impression they meant that he had less choice in women than Sybil had in men, and that she was conventionally attractive enough for him to overlook her slightly lower class.
@@dronesclubhighjinks yes originally Cleese envisaged Sybil as posher than him, as it gave the social climbing Basil motivation to marry above him. However, Scales said this wouldn't have worked dramatically as she wouldn't have married someone lower than herself , so she played it slightly more "common ". This made more sense as Basil would need someone who knew how to run hotel well , and she would think she was social climbing .
“Ooh I know” -you wouldn’t believe such a simple line could be so well delivered and so iconic
Such absolute brilliance. I feel that Prunella, just like every other character staring in this magnificent comedy, was the perfect choice for the role. It doesn't matter how many times i have seen each episode, the laughs never diminish, even though i know what is coming next. To all the actors, living or dead, thanks for the laughter, time and time again.
Sybil had a great figure!
These clips missed her arse in the golfing trousers.
So practical ,organised and composed.Exactly the opposite of Basil. Loved the way she immediately grasped the situation when Polly told them Lord Melbury was a conman....while Basil was still in denial😅Without a doubt she was easily the funniest female character to ever take part in a sitcom.
'Do you really imagine, even in your wildest dreams, that a girl like this could possibly be interested in an aging, brilliantined stick insect like you!?'
A girl like who dear?
and he called Polly a cloth eared bint,
Ave Christus Rex
"It's alright dear, just checking the door!"
"What's going on?!"
The rapport between Basil and Sybil is something to behold!!!
i do ha ha
Sybil had so many fantastic lines but I always loved the confidence trickster episode when she didn’t actually have lines as such but when Basil said “Sybil I forbid you...” ; such brilliant comic timing! I also loved the “Mother has more of a death force dialogue - “open spaces....... confined spaces” and “...its a little difficult, chef’s just opened the tin” 😀
I want a Waldorf salad 🥗🥗!!
Sybil acted her role so well , never looses her cool so believable . Made Basil look like an incompetent fool. One of the greatest comedies of all time.
The character of Basil WAS that of an incompetent fool. It's just that Basil didn't think so! Brilliant!
Bazil:Hello dear * kisses *
Sybil:What are you doing?
Bazil:kissing you dear.
Sybil:well dont
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@MND139 Sybil: * talking about friends * They have all said at one point or another how on earth did the 2 of us ever get together? Black magic my mother says.
Basil: * moment of silence * Well she would know wouldn't she?
Great, but missing one. The Gourmet Night dinner, while she's stalling the guests waiting for the meal to arrive, she's telling stories and laughing. Great character, so well played.
Brilliant character acting by Prunella Scales (also a Shakespearean theatre actress) And of course, genius scriptwriting from Cleese and Booth.
Imagine the joy of proceeding... and realizing more and more just how good it was going to be.
Prunella Scales was a wonderful comic actress. In Sybil, she created a character for all time.
Seeing Sybil put Basil in his place was endlessly entertaining.
Timeless comedy is timeless. Thank you for sharing.
"What are you doing? I'm kissing you dear. Well - don't." So well delivered.
"he put basil in the ratatouille?"
"I do apologize, he's from Barcelona"
Great.
He’s still looking for it
@@ZoKitchen I just can't imagine ever wanting to put basil (herb) in a ratatouille. The French would prefer the rat.
there’s a really quick one liner when basil wanting a some toast holds up a piece of bread as sybil
walks by and says “breathe on this please dear” or words to that effect
A time when the BBC made brilliant comedy. Puts the crap they make now to shame
I agree with you. Far too much crap on TV today.
Same as with American TV!
oh I know
I'm American and the crap that Hollyweird puts out today is beyond shameful.
Ironically, I didn't care for this, or really get it, when I was a kid. But I love it now.
The only problem with British TV is that when it is at its best, they starve you to death for it, lol. I mean..."Here's your 12 extraordinary episodes, strung out over several years...that's all you're going to get. Learn how to starve happily! And be glad we didn't only make ten or eleven."
It makes me wonder seriously if there's a universe in the multiverse somewhere, where John Cleese made hundreds of these, and at the same quality level.
And the same goes for Downton Abbey and Are You Being Served, and a few other brilliant British TV shows I'm starving for more of. And I'm sure there's more I don't know about yet.
@@DUCKDUCKGOISMUCHBETTER Unfortunately the Woke BBC is now censoring a lot of these old classics like Dads Army, Steptoe and Son, Till death us do part and ruining them. Make sure you watch the old ones.
Basil describing Sybil laughing as sounding like "somebody machine-gunning a seal"
Sybil’s walk in the ladder scene…LMAO!
It is perfect. It’s a mutton dressed as lamb waddle in an outfit one or two sizes too small that she conveys. Prunella Scales was amazing. Saw her at the National in Alan Bennett’s spy plays. She was convincing as the graceful and elegant Coral Brown but when she entered as the Queen she was small and dumpy and just as convincing. Both parts a million miles away from Sybil but both thoroughly as convincing. Terriifc characterisations every time. Anybody older than me who remembers Marriage Lines?
3:14 The way she snaps "Basil!" makes me laugh out loud each time
The O'Riley bit still makes me laugh
Veronica Campbell I knooooow !
Me too! She’s serous!
Best bit is when Basil looks around, sees she’s nowhere to be found, and slaps himself while saying “Basil” like she normally does
The greatest episodic comedy show of all time. But the bits in these clips work much better in context of course.
So hard to play the "straight woman" among such hilarity. Prunella Scales is amazing.
Her and Polly. Forever holding the fort/keeping that sinking ship afloat. Wonderful women.
Her and Polly, Connie Booth who co wrote it, can.
She had some excellent lines. I think Polly was the closest to a straight character.
The most accurate comedy sitcom of all the time.
Sybil’s morbid fears lines are so masterfully delivered.
You weren’t listening were you? Lol
agreed. perfection.
She is so wonderful
I watched this show on tv way back when and loved it.
A clip I found really funny was when Basil was behind reception listening to the radio. . Sybil storms in through the hotel entrance and says " What's that racket? " Basil says calmly " Thats Brahms dear. . Brahms 3rd racket"!
Prunella Scales, a national treasure.
My two favourites are "Ageing brilliantine stick insect like you?" and when Mr O Reily smiles at her.
Basil: "Oh for god sake, don't smile."
Sybil: "Why are you smiling Mr O Reily?"
Mr O Reily: "Well to be perfectly honest Mrs Fawlty I like a woman with spirit."
S: "Oh do you, is that what you like?"
Mr O: "I do, I do!"
Where she proceeds to whack them both with the umbrella.
...and I love Basil's description of Sybil as a "golfing puff adder"......
+
Yes, but she used 'brilliantine', a noun, as an adjective.
@@7x34hj Call the spelling police and they can go back 45 years or so in a time machine.
Basil KNEW what was coming for O'Reilly. And even though he hated him, and was also a very unsympathetic character, he was obviously feeling sorry for what O'Reilly was putting himself in for. 😂
Totally brilliant acting, love it.
Fawlty Towers...perfectly written...perfectly acted.
Am I the only man of a certain age who quietly fancies Sybil?
Oh , you old dog , you !
no, there's two of us
Feisty one she is!
You like a girl with spirit, don't you?
I think she had a real-life affair with that young guy with the yellow shirt that she was fawning over.
Great cast. Thanks for the memories
Always had a crush on "Sybil" since i was a kid.
outfits are fire everytime
my favorite character on this show!
Prunella Scales is still acting (as of 2021) in audio drama for The Wireless Theatre Company, and still great.
I'm sorry to tell you, but she's suffering from late stage Alzheimer's now.
Real talented actors...brilliant.
I like when Sybil scurries in high heels outside the hotel so she can slap Basil! LOL!!
Hello dear.
What are you doing?
I'm kissing you dear.
Well don't.
😂😂😂😂😂
definitely one of my favorite Fawlty Towers bits :P
She is perfect background for Basil. Marvelous acting.
Brilliant Scripts, Fantsastic acting, and very wobbly sets. I have all the episodes recorded and watch them all the time. We ALL know a Basil Fawlty don't we?
Probably. But if one doesn't know a Basil Fawlty, then that means that one is the Basil Fawlty.
Come to think of it...I myself don't actually know a Basil Fawlty, lol.
BRILLIANT ACTRESS !!!!!!!!!!!!! ,,,,,, absolutely outstanding. !!!!!!!!!!
I agree brilliant actress
The wonderful Prunella Scales
Sybil:Awww! Your only single once!
Basil:Twice can be arranged
How the hell did they not divorse half way through?!🤣
Such great acting from everyone.
I was 22 when they filmed this and I loved how she dressed Prunella Scales was a very sexy woman.
You think at 22 #I would like Polly but Sybil to me was feminity PLUS
John wrote this along with Connie and some of the best lines were given to Prunella.
Honestly, I think that slap in the last clip and Cleese's fall is one of the great comedy moments of all time.
im 44 now in 2024, and she was obvious much older than i but i alwas thought she was very sexy.. but in reality a brilliant actress
44 years? I've been waiting for my drink longer than that.
I feel that Sybil was in her own world completely.
I loved all of your outfits. Very classy.
Marriage is made
In heaven
But so is thunder and lightning 😆
"Sybil I Forbid You To Open That Safe"!😆👩⚖️🗄️
"How long have you been married, mrs. Fawlty?"
"Oh, since 1485" 😄😄
“Charming people.” “Hmm ....?” “The Abbot’s ... charming couple.” “Yes, all three of them.” 😂😂
“You’re only single once.” “Twice can be arranged.” 😂😂
“Oh hi dear ... i was just .. ehm ...” Wack. 😂😂
And that one sentence; yes, a knoow ..
absolutely brilliant comedy
I thought there might have been a few "ooh, I knoooooooow" -s in there but still a great compilation.
Guest: "Do you think we can cancel our fruit salads?"
Sybil: "It's a little tricky, chefs just opened the tin"
Genius!
Classic comedy , never to be repeated 🎭
I bloody love Sybil and Basil - brutally funny
I bought the complete series for my own enjoyment back a few years ago .
Yes. The some will remove these from public view.
She was gorgeous inside and out
I've watched these a thousand times, but only just noticed the blooper where Basil holds his arm after Sybil hits him with the umbrella.
??? How is that a blooper?
@@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat Cos she didn't hit his arm.
She was definitely a good looker in her prime.
@Charlie Miller Me too! We see her in the Uk, on the Canal boats, with her husband. Still got the timing.
Check her out in the film Hobson's Choice. She was twenty-one and just as sexy as she wanted to be.
Sorry I believe she was 19...
@Charlie Miller with all respect to her, she's 87... She hasn't aged badly and I'm sure she's a nice person, but she's hardly sexy anymore.
@@davidhoward2487 p
“Benzedrine puff adder” 🤣
Prunella Scales as Sybil was a wonderful actress, sadly not too well these days. Connie Booth was the woman of my dreams. Utterly desirable. Fory four years after release, the series has never been eclipsed.
The scene when Sybil's listing her mother's worries.. That's Cleese's mother.
She really made the show!
All those shows were great!!
The last scene is the best. I love her
"He's from Barcelona..."
A classic TV show from the UK.
She is perfect. 😂 And she was so good as the tragic Miss Bates in the TV series "Emma" 1996.
She is awesome!
Sybil was pretty fit to my 18 yo senses
That golfing puff adder! [proceeds to strangle gnome]
The very first one is my favorite, the "aging, Brilliantined stick insect" line. It's almost like they were ad-libbing the insults on the fly.
My favourite Sybil moment is when she throws coffee at Basil but most of it lands on the Major 😭
Sybil’s mother’s phobia are almost identical to Jon Cleese’s mother’s phobias as described in his autobiography
Haha. That's pretty great.
"all of them" you mean?
Maybe Basil should have called his little man in Fulham ;P
Basil needs to tame that shrew😂
07:50 Hello Dear.. I was just going to ehr SMACK!! HAAAAh
I seem to remember her playing the Queen, long before Helen mirren, in that Alan bennett TV play
She did both soy plays at the National. She stole the show. Such a pity they didn’t have the streaming and recording of present times. She had presence and then some.
It’s missing the parts where Sybil does her signature laugh.
MWUAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! *wheeeeeeez*
Also the bedtime phone conversation with Audrey:
'I know...I know...Oh, I know...'
Shes a National Treasure👍
8:00 love the walk of Sybil. So focused, so full of purpose with only one aim in mind:
To clobber Basil.
Yes!! To see that is to understand the meaning of "singularity of purpose". Hilarious.
She was already famous before FT, she was in a very popular sitom with Richard Briers in the 60s called Marriage Lines.
It seems that was another of the BBC’s wiped programmes. It pops up from time to time on Radio 4 Extra in a radio version. The comedy is tame compared to nowadays, but she and Briers sparked off each other.
She really was quite attractive
So entertaining 😂thank you 🙏
Sybil was a one off ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Amazing
I loved Sybil - always in control
"Villains whose motives are hard to find fault in and arguably better than the hero's." Elder God Tier Villain
Sybil was fine with an attitude. My type of woman
Really???
You like a woman with spirit?
@@sunnsight yes
Polly was exquisite
My favorite has to be when Sybil opens the safe.