In Episode 6 of Fawlty Towers, “The Germans” a clearly discombobulated Basil Fawlty goes around his staff imploring them not to mention the war to his German visitors but because he is brain addled after being beaned on the head with a frying pan, he struggles to heed his own advice.
So he goosesteps over to his German guests to take their dinner order.
When Fawlty takes their order as “two egg mayonnaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Hermann Goering and four Colditz salads”, one of the furious guests asks: “Will you stop mentioning the War?” “You started it,” replies Fawlty. “We did not start it,” the man responds.
“Yes you did, you invaded Poland.”
The line by Basil: “Don’t mention the war!” has become one of those phrases from great British comedies that has become common usage.
Nowadays, John Cleese is making amends with the Germans and is playing his part in combating xenophobia and bigotry in the World Cup. His fellow countrymen are notrorious for typecasting the Germans as the “evil Krauts” who are to be blamed for all of England’s misfortunes. That the Germans have dominated the English in soccer has not made it easy for them to be forgiven after their World War excesses.
Cleese has commisioned with the German Embassy, an essay writing competition for English kids on the topic, “Don’t mention the war.” He has also contributed to a matching World Cup anthem of the same name and starred in “The Art of Football,” (Ocule Films) a light hearted documentary along with celebrities like Nelson Mandela, Franz Beckenbauer, Gunter Grass, Bono, Rudi Voller, Dennis Hopper, and Ronaldo. The film incorporates sketches from the world of art, politics, and soccer and is meant for the German viewer.
Cleese said: “I’m delighted to help with trying to break down the ridiculous anti-German prejudices of the tabloids and clowns like Basil Fawlty, who are pathetically stuck in a world view that’s more than half a century out of date.”
Don’t Mention The War
Don’t mention the war
That’s what football is for!
In 1966 we were the winning team
We’d rather not discuss what happened in-between
Don’t mention the war
Just get out there and score
At the glorious moment
When the lions roar
Don’t mention the war
Don’t mention the war
That’s what football is for!
They might have bombed our chipshop 60 years ago
But a billion pints of lager later, here we go (come on then!)
Don’t call them rude names
It’s such a beautiful game
At the glorious moment
When the lions roar
Don’t mention the war
Don’t mention the war
Bend that ball round the wall Instead of saving
Poland we are scoring goals
After 40 years of extra time and bacon rolls (bacon rolls!)
The Art of Football trailer (Ocule Films)