John-Cleese Movie Reviews

»The Wedding Party« as a story is maybe the funniest episode of »Fawlty Towers«. Just think of what situations Basil's 1920s view on sexuality, combined with his snobbish paranoia, can produce...

And »The Psychiatrist« is the episode of all »Fawlty Towers« episodes that produces the best laughs! In the beginning, it's a bit light - but the more Basil's hormones and personality in general burst out on the screen, beware! You might get a laughter stroke!

I have seen all the Fawlty Towers episodes on video, but I own only this volume. It was a while after I bought it (at a library book sale for $1.00!) that I began to watch it, but once I started to do so, I became unbearably hooked. These shows were not just something for John Cleese to do with his free time. These were brilliantly cleverly-constructed escalations of frustration, and perfect opportunities for Cleese to display his unequaled ability to fly off of the handle without being a ham.

The annoying wife, the poor help, the obnoxious guests, Basil Fawlty's "best laid plans": they all fit together to form a series every bit a good as Monty Python, and far beyond that show in many respects.

Do yourself a favor -- buy this (and all the other) Fawlty Towers videos.

"Builders" involves Basil ordering O'Reilly's builders to do something with a door-but when he returns to the hotel, he discovers that Polly fell asleep and Manuel was the one directing the builders. There's going to be a lot of weirdness involving a garden gnome, screaming, architectural hazards, and the memorable scene where Basil spanks himself.

In "Wedding Party" the promiscuities of the hotel guests are getting Basil down. A pair of newlyweds arrive, along with an older couple -- and Basil sees the older husband embracing both a young blonde and Polly. Meanwhile, a Frenchwoman is trying to seduce Basil, and Manuel's drunken behavior embarrasses Basil further.

"Psychiatrist" brings out the worst of Basil's idiosyncracies, when he is determined not to let a visiting psychiatrist pry into his love life and ends up making an idiot of himself. Meanwhile, a hotel guest is smuggling his girlfriend into the hotel, and Basil is determined to toss her out. Watch for the "headless frog" imitation.

This is less nutty than Monty Python, but still there are parts to fast-forward for the kiddies. Besides that, it's a ridiculous laughfest that twists and turns in a way Seinfeld never could. I wish I could award SIX stars!

»The Wedding Party« as a story is maybe the funniest episode of »Fawlty Towers«. Just think of what situations Basil's 1920s view on sexuality, combined with his snobbish paranoia, can produce...

And »The Psychiatrist« is the episode of all »Fawlty Towers« episodes that produces the best laughs! In the beginning, it's a bit light - but the more Basil's hormones and personality in general burst out on the screen, beware! You might get a laughter stroke!

I have seen all the Fawlty Towers episodes on video, but I own only this volume. It was a while after I bought it (at a library book sale for $1.00!) that I began to watch it, but once I started to do so, I became unbearably hooked. These shows were not just something for John Cleese to do with his free time. These were brilliantly cleverly-constructed escalations of frustration, and perfect opportunities for Cleese to display his unequaled ability to fly off of the handle without being a ham.

The annoying wife, the poor help, the obnoxious guests, Basil Fawlty's "best laid plans": they all fit together to form a series every bit a good as Monty Python, and far beyond that show in many respects.

Do yourself a favor -- buy this (and all the other) Fawlty Towers videos.

"Builders" involves Basil ordering O'Reilly's builders to do something with a door-but when he returns to the hotel, he discovers that Polly fell asleep and Manuel was the one directing the builders. There's going to be a lot of weirdness involving a garden gnome, screaming, architectural hazards, and the memorable scene where Basil spanks himself.

In "Wedding Party" the promiscuities of the hotel guests are getting Basil down. A pair of newlyweds arrive, along with an older couple -- and Basil sees the older husband embracing both a young blonde and Polly. Meanwhile, a Frenchwoman is trying to seduce Basil, and Manuel's drunken behavior embarrasses Basil further.

"Psychiatrist" brings out the worst of Basil's idiosyncracies, when he is determined not to let a visiting psychiatrist pry into his love life and ends up making an idiot of himself. Meanwhile, a hotel guest is smuggling his girlfriend into the hotel, and Basil is determined to toss her out. Watch for the "headless frog" imitation.

This is less nutty than Monty Python, but still there are parts to fast-forward for the kiddies. Besides that, it's a ridiculous laughfest that twists and turns in a way Seinfeld never could. I wish I could award SIX stars!

»The Wedding Party« as a story is maybe the funniest episode of »Fawlty Towers«. Just think of what situations Basil's 1920s view on sexuality, combined with his snobbish paranoia, can produce...

And »The Psychiatrist« is the episode of all »Fawlty Towers« episodes that produces the best laughs! In the beginning, it's a bit light - but the more Basil's hormones and personality in general burst out on the screen, beware! You might get a laughter stroke!

I have seen all the Fawlty Towers episodes on video, but I own only this volume. It was a while after I bought it (at a library book sale for $1.00!) that I began to watch it, but once I started to do so, I became unbearably hooked. These shows were not just something for John Cleese to do with his free time. These were brilliantly cleverly-constructed escalations of frustration, and perfect opportunities for Cleese to display his unequaled ability to fly off of the handle without being a ham.

The annoying wife, the poor help, the obnoxious guests, Basil Fawlty's "best laid plans": they all fit together to form a series every bit a good as Monty Python, and far beyond that show in many respects.

Do yourself a favor -- buy this (and all the other) Fawlty Towers videos.

"Builders" involves Basil ordering O'Reilly's builders to do something with a door-but when he returns to the hotel, he discovers that Polly fell asleep and Manuel was the one directing the builders. There's going to be a lot of weirdness involving a garden gnome, screaming, architectural hazards, and the memorable scene where Basil spanks himself.

In "Wedding Party" the promiscuities of the hotel guests are getting Basil down. A pair of newlyweds arrive, along with an older couple -- and Basil sees the older husband embracing both a young blonde and Polly. Meanwhile, a Frenchwoman is trying to seduce Basil, and Manuel's drunken behavior embarrasses Basil further.

"Psychiatrist" brings out the worst of Basil's idiosyncracies, when he is determined not to let a visiting psychiatrist pry into his love life and ends up making an idiot of himself. Meanwhile, a hotel guest is smuggling his girlfriend into the hotel, and Basil is determined to toss her out. Watch for the "headless frog" imitation.

This is less nutty than Monty Python, but still there are parts to fast-forward for the kiddies. Besides that, it's a ridiculous laughfest that twists and turns in a way Seinfeld never could. I wish I could award SIX stars!

Highlights on this tape are »The Funniest Joke In The World« and »The Mouse Problem«.

Own it!

The basic plot is simple and allows for much imagination and fantasy. Bored, artistic housewife Shirley MacLaine is married to workaholic bra manufacturer Richard Attenborough and takes an oddball lover, James Booth, who takes up residence in the attic. In addition to sex, each character has their own obsessions. For MacLaine, it is art and fashion; for Booth it is learning how to do just about everything through "how to" books. Attenborough gets two obsessions: conducting music and a lifelong quest to create the ultimate bra, which explains his neglect of the fetching and seductive MacLaine. Throw into the mix the campest of camp police inspectors, an equally over the top shrink, and a parade of eccentric bit parts and you get a collection of characters who are totally unreal, but leave you wishing that there really were people like that.

Plot and subplot are episodic with frequent detours into fantasy, all of which makes about as much sense as the music of the day. But it is the humour and the performances that make this such a wonderfully quirky film. MacLaine has seldom been better and this is easily the best of her Sixties weirdo films that included misfires like Woman Times Seven and What A Way To Go. Richard Attenborough is surprisingly good considering what a limited actor he seemed to be in other films. But James Booth is the best of the three leads. He seems to have grasped the mood of the piece better than anyone else. Why stardom eluded Booth is a minor mystery. Perhaps he just never got the right vehicle.

The rest of the cast is filled with people who were, or were about to be, popular British television comedy stars. Such as John Cleese (in a bit part as a postal clerk), Clive Dunn (an eccentric inventor - is there another kind?), Willie Rushton (a long suffering policeman), Bob Monkhouse (the shrink), Patricia Routledge (Attenborough's secretary) etc. But stealing scene after scene from everybody is Freddie Jones in one of his first roles. His performance as a police inspector raised (or lowered)camp to an art form of its own. Most of his lines are not funny in themselves. But the way he says them...

Some viewers may not like the very Sixties-esque camera work or the overblown music, but the film would suffer without them. It is a film of excess made in an era that thrived on excess. A museum piece it may appear now, but an extremely funny one. But the film is more than funny - it is that rarest of things these days - charming.

All is well and good till Hubby starts loosing his grip on the business then it gets really funny. If you love 60's camp sex farce fun then you will love this movie. Watching the Bliss of Mrs. Blossom is like taking the most potent mind altering drugs without having done a thing illegal. The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom plainly stated is one of the most totally wild weird insanely wacked out stone cold freaky mind trips you will ever go on and be sober as a demented judge. Best of all its funny too, without being in your face vulgar or nasty at any time like todays show it all, say anything gross movies.

Best bit part players are the fabulously gay cheif inspector and his mild mannered sidekick who come to make inquiries of Mrs Blossom regarding the, "Missing sewing machine repair man". Of course we know the good inspector is missing Mr. Tuttle but Mrs Blossom sure ain't!. Also Binky the dog was just plain cute. As the movie ends you realize both men loved the housewife and maybe always will. How does a movie about a husband and wife become a movie about wild sexual fantasy sharing, lovers in the attic, puppy dogs, policemen, stocks bonds and Universal Bra's for the world that conform to every womans sexual whim. Well looks like for that answer you will just have to buy the movie and Amazon.com has it.

After this movie do not be suprised if you want to go check your attic just a little more often.

Richard Attenborough (Mr. Bliss) portrays a Britsh bra manufacturer...Shirley is the lonely housewife (Mrs. Blossom) who adopts a love interest who moves into the Blossom's attic!

A great comedy you are sure to enjoy.

Highlights on this tape: »Agatha Christie Sketch«, »'Spectrum' - Talking Abouth Things« and »Ken Shabby«.

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Episode Five is one of the best episodes ever. The highlights of Episode Six include »The Dull Life Of A City Stockbroker«.

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"I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition!"
"NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!!"

Highlights on this tape are the two absolute classics »The Ministry Of Silly Walks« and »The Spanish Inquisition«. Fortunately, they left out the generally below-level Episode 13 on this tape.

Own it!