My question concerns two expressions used by John Cleese, when annoyed by some guest. There, that really narrows it down, doesn’t it?
Any way, at one point he mutters “Clever” to himself at some
remark by Mr. Hutchinson, the spoon salesman with a punch.
Another time he says “Buddha” to himself.
I can look at my FT book when I have a chance and try to give more context, but is there anyone who can say what these expressions mean? In American, ‘clever’ is not an expression of annoyance and ‘Buddha’ means only Guatama.
Its not exactly sarcasm AWB, its a bit like ‘smart ass’ but more resentfull. You gave us the ‘buddha’ quote out of context, but I dont think he ever says this in the series. I have a feeling though, that you mis heard him : sure he wasnt saying ‘bugger’? English expression - same as ‘damn’ basically. Actually im pretty sure that that is what he was saying as he does say it alot during the series
U.K. Python fan checking in! No, I don’t think you are missing anything: “clever” would only have been sarcasm, and I can only think that “Buddha” was a lame-ish joke about people saying “Christ” when annoyed. I seem to recall that the spoon man was a pompous type who might very well have lectured Basil (at great length) about inappropriate manners/blasphemy.
>> “I speak English very well! I learned it from a boook!”
The guy who plays Manuel “you have to excuse him, he’s from Barcelona” is a brilliant actor. Probably second only to John Cleese although I like the Major too (Good evening major)
I’d tend to go with the misheard theory for Buddha (“bugger” is something I’m pretty sure Cleese uses in the series). As for “clever” I think it needs context. Was he saying it after Sybil took him down a notch or two, I’d guess he’d use it when she outfoxed or belittled him ??
BTW, I still think Cleese climbing out of the broken down mini, walking off camera and then coming back to whack the hell out of the car with some foilage is the funniest thing I’ve ever, ever seen.
Anybody mind if I have a little nervous breakdown cause I wont see any Faulty Towers till next July?
Why oh why am I caught in Aushitria
sigh
… I found a Black Adder book lately… but it cost 25 pounds.
What the hell?! They dont even have that series over here! With a lil luck nobody is gonna buy it until they reduce it to 5 pounds… I ll just have to wait… like… 2 years?
No, no, he says “Buddha”. I have the whole series on tape. I think I know every episode by heart. Yes, I am a lonely, misguided woman.
What Basil actually says is, “Oh, Buddha”, in exactly the same manner one might say, “Oh, Good God” or some such thing.
And I believe that when Basil says, “clever” about the spoon salesman, he says it because he thinks the salesman is trying to pull one over on him. More like clever as in ‘tricky’. He says it real sing-songy with a definate pause between the sylables.
Oh sad BornDodgy! I don’t think you will see any “Fawlty Towers” next July either, unless the B.B.C. has the sense to run repeats again.
Oh, and can I just brag that my university (back in 19mumble) had John Cleese as Rector? So, when after a tedious, confusing morning of being new and lost, and filling in forms etc., we little first years had to go (slightly reluctantly) to watch an instructive welcoming film, it was great to find that the film in question starred John Cleese.
At least that’s what my copy of The Complete Fawlty Towers, which contains all the scripts, says. I’ll check it out tonight and try to give you the context tomorrow.
It’s spelt giro.
There used to be a Girobank, which was run by the Post Office. They paid many of the state benefits (e.g. unemployment pay), so that’s probably how the slang arose. (Just going down the bank to get my giro…) Dunno if the bank’s still going.
Gyro implies a self balancing spinning whatsit.
BornDodgy, write the word British 100 times please
Re the OP…I have all the episodes on tape, and have seen them multiple times. I don’t recall the “Buddha” comment at all (though I’m sure it did happen).
I guess everyone has noticed how the Fawlty Towers sign sometimes reads something other than Fawlty Towers. I remember two of them… Farty Towels and Flowery Twats. Any others you can remember?
