Basil Fawlty: "Do you remember when we were first manacled together? We used to laugh quite a lot."
Sybil Fawlty: "Yes, but not at the same time, Basil."
'The fête itself, dear one,' said Elizabeth, 'is what I must speak about. I cannot possibly permit it to take place in my garden. The rag-tag and bob-tail of Tilling passing through my hall and my sweet little sitting-room and spending the afternoon in my garden! All my carpets soiled and my flower-beds trampled on! And how do I know that they will not steal upstairs and filch what they can find?'
'As long as I am tenant here,' said Lucia, 'I shall ask here whom I please, and when I please, and--and how I please. Or do you wish me to send you a list of the friends I ask to dinner for your sanction?'
RIP, Prunella Scales (22nd June 1932 - 27th October 2025). One of Britain's most wonderful and beloved actresses. We adored her.
Not unexpected but a massive loss none the less.
ReplyDeleteShe was extraordinary. She could turn an ordinary line into a sparkling gem with one infection in her voice.
There will and could never be another.
All hail and all rejoice in her talent and the joy that she has given the world of theatre, film and of course television.
Basil !
Quotes
The joy of being an actor is to deliver good writing to people.
The agony of doing Shakespeare is that you can't ask him what he meant.
All hail, indeed. She was a true talent. Jx
DeleteADORED HER! I have the whole series of Fawlty Towers on DVD. Of course, no mention of her passing on the news here, so I'm sorry to read this tonight. I was just watching a show they started airing here of 2018's, Hold The Sunset with John Cleese. Along with John Cleese and along with Alison Steadman, Rosie Cavaliero and the fabulous Anne Reid.
ReplyDeleteIt was sad news, especially since the extremely popular Great Canal Journeys with her beloved husband Timothy West gave such intimate insights into their loving relationship and her sad decline into dementia. Then he died before her, last year. Both immensely talented and genuine people.
DeleteAs for Hold The Sunset, I've never heard of it, which is a surprise given the cast. I just went onto the web, and it was rather slagged-off by reviewers and audiences alike, so I'm rather glad I didn't. Just like another promising show with a brilliant cast, Vicious, which I did start watching and wished I hadn't because it was terrible. Jx
That saw-edged "Baaazil!"
ReplyDelete"Yes, my little nest of vipers?" Jx
Deletenot another one....Sybil Fawlty: 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?
ReplyDeleteSybil: "I can't abide cruelty to living creatures."
DeleteBasil: "I'm a creature and you can abide it to me."
Sybil: "You're not living."
Priceless.
Jx
National treasure, indeed.
ReplyDeleteEverybody adored her. Jx
Delete