On the Buses (1969)
Actors:
Olive Rudge
Jack Harper
Inspector Cyril 'Blakey' Blake
Stan Butler
Mum
Arthur Rudge
Chalkie
Joyce
Manager
Genre:Comedy
Production company:
Writers:
by, creator, series created by, series created and devised by, written by (74 episodes from 1969 to 1973)
by, creator, series created by, series created and devised by, written by (74 episodes from 1969 to 1973)
by, written by (12 episodes from 1971 to 1973)
by, written by (12 episodes from 1971 to 1973)
by, written by (6 episodes from 1972 to 1973)
by, written by (6 episodes from 1972 to 1973)
written by (1 episode in 1973)
written by (1 episode in 1973)
written by (1 episode in 1973)
Keywords:laugh track, british comedy, british, sitcom comedy, bus driver as protagonist, 20th century, 1970s, 1960s, driver as protagonist, bus driver
Trivias:
uncategorized: Although the character Stan Butler was supposed to be in his mid-30s, Reg Varney was already 52 when the series began. He wore heavy make-up so that he would appear younger. Bob Grant (Jack Harper) was only 36 but also appeared older.
uncategorized: In 1990 plans were announced for a new series called "Back on the Buses" to be made by Scottish Television (STV) and produced by Bryan Izzard (who had produced several episodes of the original series and directed the feature film "Holiday on the Buses".) All the original main cast appeared on the BBC's Wogan chat show to promote it, although by this time, Reg Varney was 74 and Doris Hare, 85. However, due largely to financial problems, the series was never made.
uncategorized: Bob Grant, playing bus conductor Jack, had actually worked in real life as a bus driver in order to pay his way through RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), although he was sacked, for crashing his bus(!)
uncategorized: Although the character Stan Butler was supposed to be in his mid-30s, Reg Varney was already 52 when the series began. He wore heavy make-up so that he would appear younger. Bob Grant (Jack Harper) was only 36 but also appeared older.
uncategorized: In 1990 plans were announced for a new series called "Back on the Buses" to be made by Scottish Television (STV) and produced by Bryan Izzard (who had produced several episodes of the original series and directed the feature film "Holiday on the Buses".) All the original main cast appeared on the BBC's Wogan chat show to promote it, although by this time, Reg Varney was 74 and Doris Hare, 85. However, due largely to financial problems, the series was never made.
uncategorized: Bob Grant, playing bus conductor Jack, had actually worked in real life as a bus driver in order to pay his way through RADA (the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), although he was sacked, for crashing his bus(!)
Plots:
Jack-the-lad bus driver and conductor Stan and Jack enjoy the female employees more than their work and Inspector Blake is relentless in his attempts to make their lives a misery.
A British sitcom which focuses on working-class life. The bus driver Stanley "Stan" Butler is a somewhat frustrated bachelor, forced to share a house with his overly conservative and financially needy mother Mabel, his overweight sister Olive, and his stuck-up brother-in-law Arthur Rudge. So he tries to have some fun while working by flirting with attractive women, messing with the people which he dislikes, and scheming for extra money. His best friend is the conductor and shop steward Jack Harper, though he is not above seducing Stan's girlfriends or backstabbing Stan for personal gain. Their main foe is the bus depot's inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake, a frustrated bureaucrat who keeps trying to have the men either disciplined by their superiors or outright fired. Since Blakey is overzealous in trying to enforce the rules, and he is not particularly trusted by anyone else, his efforts are doomed to failure.
The trials and tribulations of bus driver Stan and his conductor Jack unfold in this weekly comedy. The bain of their working life is Inspector Blake who'll do anything to make their lives a misery... and does. Stan and Jack are a couple of "jack-the-lads" who are not averse to clocking a bit of crumpet here and there, but "Blakey" is constantly dampening their ardor.
A British sitcom which focuses on working-class life. The bus driver Stanley "Stan" Butler is a somewhat frustrated bachelor, forced to share a house with his overly conservative and financially needy mother Mabel, his overweight sister Olive, and his stuck-up brother-in-law Arthur Rudge. So he tries to have some fun while working by flirting with attractive women, messing with the people which he dislikes, and scheming for extra money. His best friend is the conductor and shop steward Jack Harper, though he is not above seducing Stan's girlfriends or backstabbing Stan for personal gain. Their main foe is the bus depot's inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake, a frustrated bureaucrat who keeps trying to have the men either disciplined by their superiors or outright fired. Since Blakey is overzealous in trying to enforce the rules, and he is not particularly trusted by anyone else, his efforts are doomed to failure.
The trials and tribulations of bus driver Stan and his conductor Jack unfold in this weekly comedy. The bain of their working life is Inspector Blake who'll do anything to make their lives a misery... and does. Stan and Jack are a couple of "jack-the-lads" who are not averse to clocking a bit of crumpet here and there, but "Blakey" is constantly dampening their ardor.
Related movies:
Featured in: All Star Comedy Carnival (A yuletide edition is featured.) , Episode #10.28 (Clips are shown and discussed with the cast.) , 40 Years of Laughter: The Sitcoms
Followed by: Don't Drink the Water
Featured in: All Star Comedy Carnival (A yuletide edition is featured.) , Episode #10.28 (Clips are shown and discussed with the cast.) , 40 Years of Laughter: The Sitcoms
Followed by: Don't Drink the Water
Official websites:
epguides.com - Titles & Air Dates,
IMCDb.org,
MUBI,
SoundtrackCollector,
Wikipedia
In colour! - ON THE BUSES - BUS DRIVER'S STOMACH, 1969
In Colour! - ON THE BUSES - THE ANNIVERSARY, 1971
In Colour! - ON THE BUSES - BON VOYAGE, 1969
In colour! - ON THE BUSES SERIES 2 - FAMILY FLU, 1969
In Colour! - ON THE BUSES - COVER UP, 1971