On the Buses (film)
Encyclopedia
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
.
) cannot afford the payments on a new washing machine. 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.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Harry Booth
Harry Booth
Harry Booth, born in London, England is a film director, film producer, screenwriter and editor. He began his film career in 1941.-Director:*Ben Hall TV episode *Going Dutch aka Op de Hollandse toer...
and starring Reg Varney
Reg Varney
Reginald Alfred "Reg" Varney was an English actor, most notable for his role as Stan Butler in 1970s TV sitcom On the Buses.-Early life:...
and Doris Hare
Doris Hare
Doris Hare MBE was a Welsh actress, best known for her appearances as "Mum" in the popular sitcom On the Buses alongside Reg Varney and Stephen Lewis....
. The film is the first spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses
On The Buses
On the Buses was a British situation comedy created by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney which was broadcast in the UK from 1969 to 1973. The writers' previous successes with The Rag Trade and Meet the Wife were for the BBC, but the Corporation rejected On the Buses, not seeing much comedy potential...
and was followed by two further films Mutiny on the Buses
Mutiny on the Buses
Mutiny on the Buses is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the second spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses and succeeded On the Buses . It was followed by a third film Holiday on the Buses...
(1972) and Holiday on the Buses
Holiday on the Buses
Holiday on the Buses is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Bryan Izzard and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the third spin-off film from the ITV sitcom On the Buses and succeeded the films On the Buses and Mutiny on the Buses...
(1973). The film was produced by Ronald Chesney
Chesney and Wolfe
Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe are British TV comedy screenwriters, best known for their popular 1960s / 1970s sitcoms The Rag Trade and On The Buses.-Early years:...
and Ronald Wolfe
Chesney and Wolfe
Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe are British TV comedy screenwriters, best known for their popular 1960s / 1970s sitcoms The Rag Trade and On The Buses.-Early years:...
for Hammer Films
Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and comedies and in later...
.
Synopsis
Bus driver Stan (Reg VarneyReg Varney
Reginald Alfred "Reg" Varney was an English actor, most notable for his role as Stan Butler in 1970s TV sitcom On the Buses.-Early life:...
) cannot afford the payments on a new washing machine. 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
Bob Grant (actor)
Robert St Clair Grant , usually known as Bob Grant, was an English actor, best known for playing Jack Harper in On the Buses....
) to sabotage the new female employees. Meanwhile, just as his sister Olive (Anna Karen
Anna Karen
Anna Karen is a South African-born British film, television and theatre actress.-Career:Early in her career, Karen worked as a striptease dancer at London's Panama Club. During her acting career she has starred in many films and television programmes, including the BBC sitcom Wild, Wild Women,...
) starts working in the canteen, she discovers that she's expecting.
Cast
- Reg VarneyReg VarneyReginald Alfred "Reg" Varney was an English actor, most notable for his role as Stan Butler in 1970s TV sitcom On the Buses.-Early life:...
- Stan Butler - Doris HareDoris HareDoris Hare MBE was a Welsh actress, best known for her appearances as "Mum" in the popular sitcom On the Buses alongside Reg Varney and Stephen Lewis....
- Mum - Michael RobbinsMichael RobbinsMichael Anthony Robbins was a British actor known for his television work...
- Arthur Rudge - Anna KarenAnna KarenAnna Karen is a South African-born British film, television and theatre actress.-Career:Early in her career, Karen worked as a striptease dancer at London's Panama Club. During her acting career she has starred in many films and television programmes, including the BBC sitcom Wild, Wild Women,...
- Olive Rudge - Stephen LewisStephen Lewis (actor)Stephen Lewis is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake in the LWT Sitcom On the Buses, Clem "Smiler" Hemmingway in the longest running sitcom Last of the Summer Wine and Harry Lambert in BBC Television's Oh, Doctor Beeching!.-Career:Lewis began his...
- Inspector 'Blakey' Blake - Bob GrantBob Grant (actor)Robert St Clair Grant , usually known as Bob Grant, was an English actor, best known for playing Jack Harper in On the Buses....
- Jack Harper - Brian OultonBrian OultonBrian Oulton was an English character actor.Born in Liverpool, he made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor...
- Manager - Andrea Lawrence - Betty
- Pat Ashton - Sally
- Pamela CundellPamela CundellPamela I. Cundell is a British character actress. Her best known role was Mrs Fox in the long-running TV comedy Dad's Army....
- Ruby - Pat CoombsPat CoombsPat Coombs was an English actress. Coombs was considered one of Britain's great character actresses, specialising in the portrayal of the eternal downtrodden female — comically under the thumb of stronger personalities. She was known for many roles on radio, film and television sitcoms...
- Vera - Wendy RichardWendy RichardWendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
- Housewife - Peter MaddenPeter Madden (actor)Peter Madden was a British actor who was born in Kuala Lumpur in Malaya.Madden was a character actor who made several notable appearances in Hammer films...
- Mr. Brooks - David LodgeDavid Lodge (actor)David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown...
- Busman - Brenda Grogan - Bridget
- Caroline DowdeswellCaroline DowdeswellCaroline Dowdeswell is a former English television actress.She attended theatre school from age 12 and joined the Bromley Rep at 17. Her television career includes appearances in Crossroads, Softly, Softly, Z-Cars, Dad's Army in the recurring role of Janet King, On The Buses and Man About The House...
- Sandra - Nosher PowellNosher PowellNosher Powell is known both as an actor and as a boxer.-Life and career:Powell was born in Camberwell, London, England...
- Betty's Husband - Terry DugganTerry DugganTerry Duggan was a comedian and actor who had a successful career in cabaret and variety and played numerous character roles on television. He was married to the actress Anna Karen, best-known for playing the part of Olive in the ITV sitcom On the Buses, in which Duggan frequently appeared.Duggan...
- Nobby - Norman MitchellNorman MitchellNorman Mitchell was an English television, stage and film actor.Born in Sheffield, his father was a mining engineer and his mother a concert singer. He attended Carterknowle Grammar School and the University of Sheffield, before appearing in repertory theatre and with the Royal Shakespeare Company...
- London Transport Official