On the Buses (film): Difference between revisions
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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The film was the second most popular movie at the British box office in 1971.<ref>Peter Waymark. "Richard Burton top draw in British cinemas." Times [London, England] 30 Dec. 1971: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.</ref> |
The film was the second most popular movie at the British box office in 1971.<ref>Peter Waymark. "Richard Burton top draw in British cinemas." Times [London, England] 30 Dec. 1971: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.</ref> It earned ₤1,500,000 in the UK and ₤1,000,000 overseas, making a profit to Hammer of ₤532,000.<ref name="film">Tom Johnson and Deborah Del Vecchio, ''Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography'', McFarland, 1996 p343</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 00:25, 26 November 2012
| On the Buses | |
|---|---|
 1971 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Harry Booth |
| Written by | Ronald Chesney Ronald Wolfe |
| Produced by | Ronald Chesney Ronald Wolfe |
| Starring | Reg Varney Doris Hare Anna Karen Bob Grant Stephen Lewis Michael Robbins |
| Cinematography | Mark McDonald |
| Edited by | Archie Ludski |
| Music by | Max Harris |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | MGM-EMI |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 mins. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £90,000[1] |
| Box office | ₤2,500,000[2] |
On the Buses is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the first spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses and was followed by two further films Mutiny on the Buses (1972) and Holiday on the Buses (1973). The film was produced by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe for Hammer Films,[3] and enjoyed major success in Britain, outdoing Diamonds are Forever to become the highest performing film of 1971.[4]
Synopsis
Bus driver Stan (Reg Varney) cannot afford the payments on a new washing machine or other expensive items his Mum and sister have bought on hire purchase. His overtime earnings have been cut because the bus company have decided to revoke a long-standing rule and employ women bus drivers. Worried at the thought of no overtime, and therefore less wages, he joins forces with his longtime work colleague Jack (Bob Grant) to sabotage the new female employees. Meanwhile, just as his sister Olive (Anna Karen) starts working in the canteen, she discovers that she's expecting a baby. A sub plot explores Olives journey to hospital while in labour in a motorcycle side car and the domestic disturbance the baby brings. Another sub plot explores Stan and Jack's amorous adventures. Stan flees a jealous husband in his bus and demolishes a telephone kiosk and bus shelter in the process. As a result he is forced to undertake a driving test on a bus skid pan.
Stan and Jack join forces to sabotage the new female employees and get back their overtime. They put diuretic in the female bus drivers tea causing them make frequent loo stops. They terrify them by putting spiders on their buses. Eventually the women resign but Blakey (Stephen Lewis) the bus inspector finally rehires them as assistant inspectors.
Cast
- Reg Varney - Stan Butler
- Doris Hare - Mum
- Michael Robbins - Arthur Rudge
- Anna Karen - Olive Rudge
- Stephen Lewis - Inspector 'Blakey' Blake
- Bob Grant - Jack Harper
- Brian Oulton - Manager
- Andrea Lawrence - Betty
- Pat Ashton - Sally
- Pamela Cundell - Ruby
- Pat Coombs - Vera
- Wendy Richard - Housewife
- Peter Madden - Mr. Brooks
- David Lodge - Fred the Busman
- Brenda Grogan - Bridget
- Caroline Dowdeswell - Sandra
- Nosher Powell - Betty's Husband
- Terry Duggan - Nobby
- Norman Mitchell - London Transport Official
Production
The film was made on location at Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK and at Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK.[5] Stage 5 at Elstree was used for the exteriors of the bus station both in this film and in the later sequels.[6]
The film includes shots of a London Routemaster RM200 (VLT 200) undergoing the skid tests at the Chiswick Works "skid pan". [7]
The buses used in road shots were Eastern National Bristol KSW5Gs numbered 2359 (VNO857), 2367 (VNO862), 2371 (VNO866) and 2376 (WNO476) . [7]
Reception
The film was the second most popular movie at the British box office in 1971.[8] It earned ₤1,500,000 in the UK and ₤1,000,000 overseas, making a profit to Hammer of ₤532,000.[9]
References
- ^ Alexander Walker, National Heroes: British Cinema in the Seventies and Eighties, Harrap, 1985 p 114
- ^ Marcus Hearn & Alan Barnes, The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films, Titan Books, 2007 p 149
- ^ On the Buses at IMDb
- ^ http://www.onthebusesfanclub.com/id48.html
- ^ On The Buses Location at IMDB. Retrieved Dec 2011
- ^ On the Busses fan club, locations Retrieved dec 2011
- ^ a b Buses on screen On the Buses (1972, Reg Varney)
- ^ Peter Waymark. "Richard Burton top draw in British cinemas." Times [London, England] 30 Dec. 1971: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
- ^ Tom Johnson and Deborah Del Vecchio, Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography, McFarland, 1996 p343
External links
- On The Buses Fan Club Retrieved December 2011