Wow! Such a good movie.
... View MoreIf the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
... View MoreHow wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.
... View Morean ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.
... View MoreAn excellent comedy series from 1969 - 1973 starring Reg varney as the clippie chasing Stan and his conductor, Jack.Inspector Blake is the jobs-worthy inspector who excels at any chance to report, ban and sack his bus crews for immoral behaviour, being a 'puppy' or usually just sex-mad and depraved.On the buses won an award for best show of 1971 and it is clear to see why.Together with a great cast including Micael Robbins, Bob Grant and Stephen lewis - On the buses is a legend among sitcoms! The DVD box-set is well worth a buy, containing extras and archive footage of the team opening housing estates in Braintree, opening a tailors, and a car park. There is also segments from the other Reg Varney and the first episode of the spin-off with Blakey - don't drink the water.Another treat in the DVD is the play, the best pair of legs in the business, with Reg Varney.And like, if me you are an avid fan - the on the buses forum is at www.otbfanforum.4umer.net .
... View MoreThis is classic sitcom at it's finest. It follows the adventures of a London bus driver [Reg Varney] and his conductor [Bob Grant] on the No. 13 route to the Cemetery Gates. Inspector "Blakey" brought fame to Stephen Lewis who later became a famous face as Smiler in Last of the Summer Wine, but here he is in his most famous role ["Get that bus out"].Three feature films [On the Buses, Mutiny on the Buses, Holiday on the Buses] did the TV series no favours I recently read of Grant's death from suicide [aged 71]. It came as a great shock, as he always appeared to be such a happy person on the programme.
... View MoreOn The Buses was the creation of the writing duo Ronald Wolfe & Ronald Chesney. It was rejected by the BBC, but it's extraordinary success on ITV makes the former's decision rather foolish. Indeed some found it vulgar in that Reg Varney's Stan Butler was chasing after young clippie's young enough to be his daughters, and it was cheeply made but this didn't deter audiences from loving it. It ran for four years from 1969 to 1973. A testament to the enormous populartity of the series is that three big-screen spin-offs were produced by Hammer. They were On The Buses (1971), Mutiny On The Buses (1972)and Holiday On The Buses (1973). They all retained the regular TV cast and the first of the films became the most popular British film of 1971. Made for only £97,000, it's takings even outgrossed the James Bond film of that year, Diamonds Are Forever.The situation comedy revolved around the home life of bus driver Stan Butler (Reg Varney)who lived with is overly devoted mother (played by Cicely Courtneige in the first series, but replaced by Doris Hare at the start of the second series and remained thereafter), his none-to-bright sister Olive (Anna Karen) and his idle brother-in-law Arthur (Michael Robbins). The situation comedy also focused on his friendship with his lechurous conductor Jack (Bob Grant) and their uneasy relationship with their petty and miserable Inspector Blake (Stephen Lewis), known to them as Blakey. Then there was the womanising antics of both Stan and Jack, quite often it would go all wrong for Stan because his family never approved of the girls he brought home.Michael Robbins left the series just prior to the last series, the writers came up with the scenario that Arthur finally walked out on Olive, and that they were looking to divorce. Reg Varney would soon leave with the hope of becoming a star of films in specials, but this turned out to be unsuccessful and little was heard of him after that. In the story Stan went to work in a bus factory in the Midlands, and Inspector Blakey became the main attraction as he moved in to the Butler household as a lodger. Towards the end, Ronald Wolfe & Ronald Chesney gave up their position as the series' house writers, and later scripts were supplied by cast members Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis as well as people like George Layton.On The Buses is my favourite sitcom because it's one of the very few which have made me laugh. I also like the way it portrayed the working class background and the characters, especially Arthur (Michael Robbins) were marvelous, I will never forget them!
... View MoreThis is some of the most watched old school British comedy shows that was ever screened. If you like in any way the likes of Love Thy Neighbour and similar shows then this is a must! Great show that sadly ended far too soon.
... View More