MovieChat Forums > The Love Bug (1969) Discussion > Thorndyke = Basil Fawlty

Thorndyke = Basil Fawlty

posted 16 years ago by hankaaron
2 replies | jump to latest

While watching the orginal"Love Bug" (after many, many years), I could not help but notice that Thomlinson's portrayal of Thorndyke was a lot like Basil Fawlty from "Fawlty Towers". I wonder if John Cleese based any of his performance on Thomlinsons'performance in "The Love Bug".

[–] mike_cable 16 years ago

I agree there are some things that are similar. A bit of a British upperclass twit, hehe.

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

I think that he is a cross between Basil Fawlty and Terry-Thomas. Terry Thomas was a moustachioed cad, very much in the Thorndyke mode.