Fawlty Towers (TV Series) The Anniversary (1979) User Reviews

Gloriously funny, you always get found out when you lie.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 28 January 2019]

Basil gets what he deserves as he attempts to throw Sybil a surprise Anniversary Party, but neglects to tell her, she of course gets the hump. This episode has some hugely funny moments, and some wonderfully sarcastic dialogue. A wonderful cast, with some hugely memorable performances, who can forget Roger and Alice, gloriously played by Ken Campbell and Una Stubbs, or Pat Keen's Virginia. It's funny all the way through, but the best moment must be where Basil and his Anniversary guests troop in to see a Polly disguised and Sybil, only to end up with all manner of injuries.

The sequences of Terry and Manuel fighting, and the moment where Basil is caught out for lying has me in stitches. It really is a joy. 9/10

"Great fun!"

[ShadeGrenade · 9/10 · 1 February 2010]

There is no such thing as a bad episode of 'Fawlty Towers', but I rate 'The Anniversary' as my least favourite. I do not quite know why. Possibly because there's not much of Prunella Scales in it, or that Manuel spends half the episode rowing with Terry the chef ( Brian Hall ). Maybe it is just that the others are better.

It is Basil and Sybil's fifteenth wedding anniversary. He pretends to have forgotten it, which makes her mad. In fact he is planning a surprise party. But, before the guests can arrive, Sybil storms out and heads for town. First to arrive is Roger ( the late Ken Campbell ) and his wife Alice ( winsome Una Stubbs ). Basil pretends Sybil is ill ( "Syb ill?" ) and in bed. As the others arrive, his lies escalate. Eventually, it reaches the point where he has to ask Polly to dress as Sybil and lie in a dark bedroom. She does not want to do this, but blackmails Basil into promising to help her secure a loan with which to buy a car. The deception works ( just ). Then Sybil returns...

Quite a few sitcoms have down the years done plots about people forgetting birthdays or anniversaries or whatever, and it is a little disappointing to find one here. Why oh why does not Basil simply tell his guests that Sybil has gone to town and will be back later, instead of going into the whole ridiculous charade seen here? Worse, Manuel's argument with Terry over who is to cook Paella that evening is like something out of 'Robin's Nest'. If Manuel is going to fight with anyone, it should be Basil.

Brilliant performance by Ken Campbell as the wonderfully sarcastic Roger. He even manages to upstage Cleese at times. Campbell was later the garrulous neighbour 'Fred Johnson' in 'In Sickness & In Health'. Una Stubbs' character 'Alice' is a contrast to her sparky 'Rita' from 'Till Death Us Do Part'.

Funniest moment - the guests gathered on the landing, Basil tries to buy Polly time to get ready by passing round dishes of nuts and crisps. He drops the nuts, dashes off to fetch what Roger calls a 'Basil Brush', and, on returning, steps in the crisps, and falls over. Cue for a wonderful comment from Roger: "What time is the main feature?".

Fancy Footwork

[oceanave · 7/10 · 10 May 2006]

For the first time (except maybe in "Gourmet Night"), Basil really makes an effort to do something nice for someone - and it of course goes totally sour. "The Anniversary" takes the meaning of 'fancy footwork' to a whole new level. The storyline itself is definitely not the best or most entertaining of the series, but it's still fairly fun. Basil and Sybil have had a fight over Basil forgetting their 15th wedding anniversary - but Basil didn't really forget - he's throwing a surprise party. Meanwhile, Manuel and Terry the chef fight over who will cook the Spanish Paella for The Fawlty's anniversary dinner. The performances are good (namely Ken Campbell as Roger, the wise party guest who isn't fooled by Basil's lies as to why Sybil isn't at the party). Una Stubbs is also a very good addition to the cast, playing the ultra-sweet friend Alice (wife of Roger), with a high-register soprano vocal inflection. There are a few good short bits between Basil and Manuel, particularly the one where Basil sneaks away from the madness for a quick drink of booze, only to be interrupted once again by Manuel, who only exacerbates things once again.

Basil didn't forget his wedding anniversary, and I didn't forget this episode

[MarkLynnIreland1294 · 9/10 · 29 August 2022]

This was one episode of Britain's classic sitcom I'm very much familiar of yet can't say for sure it's my current favourite episode.

I could be wrong that this is seemingly the only Fawlty Towers episode without hotel guests or service even though Major appears briefly.

This is bit the opposite to Keeping Up Appearances episode "Hyacinth is Alarmed" with husband Richard - Basil pretends to forget his wedding anniversary to Sybil as he's planned friends to have drinks later on their arrival.

Unfortunately, Sybil has taken off, definitely angry thinking Basil has genuinely forgotten.

I really don't think I like how Basil lying about Sybil is actually very sick concocting idea even with Polly posing as Sybil in bed.

Rest in peace to several characters including Ken Campbell as guy Roger - one who made the Basil Brush reference with "Broom, broom!".

Another rather weak episode.

[BA_Harrison · 9 December 2017]

Basil is planning a surprise party for his 15th wedding anniversary, having invited Sybil's friends over to help celebrate; unfortunately, Sybil believes that Basil has forgotten and leaves. To avoid embarrassment, Basil concocts a story about his wife having fallen ill, but this only causes more problems, with Polly having to pretend to be the sickly Sybil.

I thought that the story in the previous episode felt very forced, and the same thing applies here: why would Basil lie to his friends about Sybil having left the building? They would probably find the whole situation rather amusing and would be able to corroborate Basil's story should she arrive, but then that wouldn't allow for the craziness that ensues, would it?. Once again, the humour doesn't flow naturally.

With only one more episode to go, I can almost certainly say that the first series is far superior overall.

Excruitiating

[mrnickheath · 10/10 · 11 April 2023]

If you think The Office (UK) is hard to watch, this episode of Fawlty Towers had the Gold Standard for uncomfortable viewing.

The premise is that Basil pretends to forget its his wedding anniversary and Sybil believes the lie and storms off.

In the classic tradition of the British terror of social awkwardness (which all of Fawlty Tower is borne out of), he says shes sick rather than say to their oldest friends, that they had a row. And then we're off to the races.

It used to be my least favourite episode, but that was simply because its so hard to watch. The Germans and The Psychiatrist always get all the glory but really and truly, this episode, is pure genius.

Paper

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 9 April 2020]

I like the bit where he pretends to forget but she gets really angry

Probably The Weakest Episode

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 14 July 2013]

Basil and Sybil have a falling out on their fifteenth anniversary . Sybil walks out and Bail is left on his own . This leads to a problem because their friends are coming round but Basil has a clever plan

There's something about television production that means not every episode can be a classic . Indeed if you spend so much time watching television as I do then you often ask yourself why so few things ever reach classic status or why they were produced at all . FAWLTY TOWERS is different but I have to say so many episodes that border on masterpiece and genius this is probably the weakest episode of the entire series

The premise is decidedly one note . Basil is embarrassed by Sybil's absence so arranges Polly to disguise herself as his wife and come up with a plan so she can't speak . The premise doesn't really lend itself to a lot of scope . That said we get to see the type of friends the Fawlty's have and they're just the type of bores you'd expect them to be so at least there's a type of internal logic and continuity to this

Decent episode with Basil's pretence spiralling out of control

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 3 November 2020]

Basil pretends to forget his wedding anniversary in order to surprise Cybil with a nice meal and a party.

This episode is all about Basil losing control of a situation and trying to rectify it by telling some outrageous lies. In true Fawlty style his pretence keeps spiralling out of control until it becomes and utter farce. The more the plot unfolds the less control he has and the more trouble he is likely to be in with Cybil.

There is only really one joke to it but it is a funny situation and John Cleese is as manic as ever playing Basil on the verge of disaster, whilst delivering his funny one-liners and making both Polly's and Manuel's lives extremely difficult.

Episode 205

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 10 May 2023]

The Anniversary gave us a time old tradition of husbands and wives bickering over their wedding anniversary, but it was not the typical cliche because Basil did not forget, even if Sybil thought he did.

A lot of it played out the same way we expect the show to, but that is not a bad thing. Fawlty Towers has a very distinct pace and style to it that works and made this show a legendary program. But it felt a little bit off here as Basil was a little too "in on the joke" or so it seemed with the gift.

This show always guarantees you a lot of laughs each week and this one was not any different there.