‘THE WEDDING PARTY’
Please feel free to comment on my review.
In this episode, Basil becomes embarrassed by the sexual interaction of two young lovers who come to the hotel. Through a series of misunderstandings, Basil decides to have the two lovers and a couple more guests leave the hotel. This is before he discovers the truth all about them from Sybil. 😐
I admit, this isn’t really a standout favourite episode for me from ‘Fawlty Towers’, but it’s pretty good and interesting to watch. It does develop Basil’s character well in terms of how he behaves with regards to sexual interaction and how he disapproves of it when he sees love come to the hotel.
This episode’s guest stars are Trevor Adams as Alan and April Walker as his girlfriend Jean. It turns out Polly knows Alan and Jean when they come to the hotel. There’s also Yvonne Gilan as Mrs. Peignoir, who is attracted to Basil. And there’s Conrad Phillips and Diana King as Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd.
Basil also has to deal with Manuel on his birthday. I enjoyed those scenes where Manuel attempts to thank Basil for his ‘beautiful present’ of an umbrella and Basil dismisses him. It was also very funny when Manuel gets terribly drunk and has a hangover afterwards. Manuel ends up asleep in a basket.
I also enjoyed the scenes in Basil and Sybil’s bedroom, especially when Sybil has her funny laugh of a ‘seal and a machine gun’ as described by Basil. It was also very funny when Sybil’s on the phone to her friend Audrey and she goes, “Oh I know! I know! Oh I know”, which does get on Basil’s nerves. 😀
Basil gets the wrong end of the stick when he sees Jean in Mr. Lloyd’s arms and later Polly in Mr. Lloyd’s arms. When he tells Polly, Alan, Jean and the Lloyds to leave, Sybil tells him Jean is Mr. Lloyd’s stepdaughter and that Polly was at school with Jean. Basil’s silent reaction to it all is sublime.
It was funny when Basil thought Mrs. Peignoir (who’s French) was outside his bedroom door, but it was in fact his wife. When he realises it is Sybil, he opens the door and says “Oh what a terrible dream!” The episode ends with Basil banging Manuel on the head to be witnessed sitting on him. 😀
‘The Wedding Party’ is an interesting exploration into Basil’s character in how he reacts to sexual interaction and disapproves of it. It’s amusing when Basil gets the wrong end of the stick with Polly’s friends and their family. It’s also very amusing when Basil had to deal with Manuel after his birthday.
On Disc 1 of the ‘Fawlty Towers – The Complete Collection Remastered’ DVD, there are two audio commentaries on ‘The Wedding Party’. There’s an audio commentary with producer/director John Howard Davies and there’s an audio commentary with John Cleese.
‘The Wedding Party’ rating – 7/10
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