What sheer quality. Love how she asked John Cleese “Why did they get married?” And him saying “I was afraid you’d ask that!” It shows attentiveness to detail from both of them - it was important to Prunella that Sybil was real and had a backstory. No wonder the series is such a sublime hit - look at the callibre of the actors and creators.
Why did she stay with Basil or indeed Basil with Sybil? They appeared a couple with little in common. There must have been some attraction between the two of them initially because they re married presumably for many years, although it is never explored in the scripts or the characters allowed to pursue their back story save for a few cutting remarks eg when Basil talks about them enjoying good times laughing and joking and Sybil says "But not at the same time". And then Sybil is all over one of the young male guests with an open shirt, hairy chest and a medallion who Basil thinks resembles an ape which he then does his famous ape impression. Maybe their relationship has reached the stage of many marriages that become stale, devoid of romance.
And her real accent reminds me of the way George Martin spoke, the fifth Beatle. I don't know if it's just me or they came from the same region or social class.
Which actually isn't an accent. If you speak like the Queen (or now the King) you have no accent as that's the original and proper way English is spoken.
@@teveve31runella Scales came from Surrey and went to a private school. Her mother was also an actress so I guess she has spoken like that since childhood. George Martin on the other hand, was from slightly more humble beginnings in Holloway, North London and only learned to talk posh when he was in the Fleet Air Arm.
What a wonderful lovely lady Prunella is. She played the battle axe Sybil to total perfection. With all the problems that Basil created, there were times when I just wanted to hug her and tell her it was all going to be ok. So sorry to hear that she has Alzheimer's disease. A truly talented lady.
Why did she stay with Basil or indeed Basil with Sybil? They appeared a couple with little in common. There must have been some attraction although it is never explored in the scripts. Maybe their relationship has reached the stage of many marriages that become stale, devoid of romance.
It very much was a classic, and is a classic. I watched the shows when they were brand new, and they haven't lost any of their entertainment value to this day.
The test of a great comedy to me is if you find yourself laughing out loud when you're watching it by yourself. Fawlty qualifies in spades. Prunella was great. One of my favorite moments is episode 1 when she orders Basil to turn off that racket. "Brahms Third Racket!" My best to her and her great actor husband, Timothy West.
Prunella is a wonderful actress that has graced stage, film and television for many years giving magnificent performances. I wish her and her family well. Thank you Prunella.
Unfortunately she has now reached that stage of Alzheimer's where she apparently now has essentially no short-term memory retention (although, the most recent interview I read with Samuel West indicated that she can at least still recognise her sons and their children). She was a brilliant woman and has a very devoted husband. It must be terribly hard for them all, but at least we have her wonderful performances (especially Sybil and Mapp) to remember her by.
" Mr O'Reilly I have seen more intelligent creatures than you lying on their backs at the bottom of ponds." Best put down from any woman on screen ever. Period.
O’Reilly: “Oh I love a woman with spunk!” Sybil: “Oh you DO DO YOU??” Basil: “Oh God…” When she wails him with that umbrella before her classic insult, it stood up to any Basil/Manuel interaction.
I was 14 when this first came to screen. In spite of the ballistic, addictive comedy, I always had a soft spot for the two old birds. Prunella, clearly loved them. xx
The episode, The Germans in the restaurant. They were sitting at a back table oblivious to the chaos and that's kind of conspicuous because you're wondering these older women are having seemingly a normal conversation when such bizarre idiocy is occurring in the restaurant. I didn't know they were regulars but I have to go through all of the 12 episodes now. It was my Christmas present to myself to watch these episodes late at night on December 25th 2022. Good present to give myself, love those people.
I remember waching Fawlty Towers when the series was first broadcast. I'd never laughed so much in my life. Only laughed as loud years later when I went to see 'Life of Brian' at the Odeon in Leicester Square.
Yes I remember it being the funniest show of all time on its first broadcast and it's still the same now. Even when you know all the lines, it never gets old.
Enough about how Prunella got the job as Sybil...how did the interviewer got his job ?!? That story must be something....and then Prunella, she’s looking amazing for her age
I guess she should have been interviewed by someone older, bit more 'cred'...this guy seemed to be overwhelmed by Prunella.........and so it should be...
I was always caught between wanting to support her character or John’s. I was never sure whether I wanted Basil to get away with what he was doing or for her to put a stop to his nonsense. They defied the typical hero and villain roles and it made the show so much fun by amplifying the comedy. Loved the show.
i can well understand what connie booth has to offer,but for me, prunella did it for me. i was 9 when this was out , but i'm pretty sure i only watched it on 1st repeat. prunella is 1sexy lady, and i ain't y 9y old no more. ...LOVE U PRU....
In Ireland RTE 2 Came Into Being in November 1978 That's When I First Saw Fawlty Towers I was 11 at The TIme. Glad To Know John And Andrew were Such Pals offscreen Right Up To Andrew's Death in 2016.
this is clearly a spliced video. The person asking the questions was not anywhere near Ms. Scales when she was answering the questions. It feels like an interview done and then redubbed with a separate interviewer.
@@CamcorderSteve I know this is old, and I agree with what you're saying, but to be fair to the interviewer, one reason for the splicing and cutting back to him is that dear Prunella was suffering from neurological issues that made interviewing difficult for her, and they were at pains to have something to cut back to so that it wouldn't be obvious when she had difficulty completing a thought.
Sybil was so brilliantly portrayed. No one could have done it better. I’m thrilled to know that Prunella is nothing like her; it just shows what a consummate actress she is.
I've never seen Prunella being interviewed before, so I don't know her real personality. She seems like a lovely, humble person, but the interview is rather awkward and she seems very uncomfortable. I don't know the interviewer either. A good interviewer will often have follow up questions to an answer, and sometimes a lively dialogue will ensue from just one question. However he just asks a question, gets the answer, and moves straight on to the next question. It's so stilted. Having said all that, Fawlty Towers was pure genius, and Sybil is an absolute legend. There wasn't an ounce of camera time wasted in any episode.
Only thing that held me. my wife & my kids together in those days of PBS. The The Towers pace really moved the air just as Prunella had stated. ''Now there are artists who'll wrest us up & will place us into themselves & into their works. These are the one's who'll continue to wrest us up... far & beyond their appointed rests in peace. Seek after these ones who'll continue... but seek even more for the very Author of them all.'' ~William Gilpin 3522
I’ve come back to it after a long break and dug the dvds out. Actually I had to buy series one again as I couldn’t find it. The whole thing is superb, although I have a slight preference for Series One. That is absolutely out of this world.
Hotel management. It's sooo accurate. I have this 'homestay'. Often don't know who I'm talking to. Just go with John. My wife accusing me. I just laugh.
Why does this interview keep changing from colour to B & W? Just curious, not complaining - she gives a very good interview and her contribution to the show was immense.
