In Cleese's commentary on the new, remastered disc set (excellent commentary, BTW; worth getting the new set, even if you already have one of the older versions), he says that his reaction to turning around and seeing the doctor was a nod to W.C. Fields in 'The Bank Dick.' In that movie, Fields is waiting in line at a bank counter, turns around to find a black man behind him, and gives a little jump of surprise.
Thanks for sharing that bit of trivia there drunkbear. I'm aware of W.C. Fields although to be honest I've never watched any of his films. It's true however that there's sometimes homage's to movies or TV series that go over some people's heads. This one certainly did go over mine.
As a sidenote, I listened to the commentary Cleese did for
A Fish Called Wanda and so through that experience I wouldn't be surprised if his one's for
Fawlty Towers were superb. I found it insightful and really put more depth and context to why certain parts of the film were changed and understanding certain things about the characters. One that stands out for example is in the scene where Archie Leach as played by Cleese, and Wanda (Jamie Leigh Cleese) have their first rendezvous in the empty apartment building. He ends up laughing when she quotes something stupid that her pseudo-brother Otto (Kevin Kline) had said, and she responds with
"I love the way you life and in the script in brackets Cleese had put:
(She's not lying)
Nice but of insight because it's the one time in the movie up until that point where she actually tells the truth and hints early on at her potentially growing to like him. I know we're supposed to be discussing
Fawlty Towers but I just thought it was still worth mentioning.
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