On the Buses (film)

Hammer Films

Industry	Film production
Headquarters	Borehamwood , United Kingdom
Products	Films, including On the Buses (1971)

On the Buses is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth, featuring performances by Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Michael Robbins, Anna Karen, Stephen Lewis, and Bob Grant. Serving as the inaugural film adaptation of the TV sitcom On the Buses, it was succeeded by two follow-up movies: Mutiny on the Buses (1972) and Holiday on the Buses (1973). Produced under the guidance of Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe for Hammer Films, this motion picture capitalized on the television series' success to broaden its audience appeal.

The storyline presents a slight variation from the original series, with characters Stan and Jack working for Town & District bus company rather than Luxton & District. The trilogy loosely connects through a narrative arc, notably chronicling Arthur and Olive’s transition into parenthood, which enriches character depth.

Plot

Stan Butler works as a bus driver at Town & District and grows anxious about the potential loss of overtime hours, which his family relies on to afford luxury purchases, once the company resolves its staffing shortage. His worries intensify when female bus drivers are allowed into the workforce, much to Stan and his colleague Jack’s dismay. With overtime pay diminishing, Stan convinces his sister Olive to take a job in the company canteen. However, after an initial adjustment period, Olive is dismissed due to her pregnancy, forcing the family to relinquish their costly acquisitions.

When attempting to retrieve an item for Jack, Stan inadvertently damages company property and faces disciplinary action. Inspector Blakey mandates that Stan pass a skid pan driving test, which he successfully completes. Concerned that employing women drivers will disrupt their relaxed work habits, reduce earnings, and hinder Jack’s romantic pursuits in the office, they plot to undermine the female drivers by placing spiders in their vehicles and later adding a diuretic to their tea, causing frequent bathroom breaks and delays.

As Olive approaches her delivery date, Arthur requests Stan’s assistance in repairing his motorcycle sidecar for the hospital journey. At the depot, Stan and Jack notice official diversion signs installed by management and respond by creating counterfeit signs to mislead the women drivers, resulting in further chaos—including one driver being diverted onto a motorway with Blakey aboard, leading to police complications.

Olive gives birth to a son amid ongoing household difficulties. Subsequently, the company declares it will cease employing female drivers; however, Blakey reassigns them as inspectors with separate routes. Although displeased with these changes, Stan finds some consolation when paired with Sandra, an attractive new conductor. The film concludes with Stan and Sandra playfully causing trouble by knocking down a sign onto Blakey and other inspectors as they set off on their rounds.

Cast

• Reg Varney as Stan Butler
• Doris Hare as Mum
• Michael Robbins as Arthur Rudge
• Anna Karen as Olive Rudge
• Stephen Lewis as Inspector Cyril 'Blakey' Blake
• Bob Grant as Jack Harper
• Brian Oulton as Manager
• Andria Lawrence as Betty
• Pat Ashton as Sally
• Jeanne Varney (Reg Varney’s daughter) as Mavis
• Pamela Cundell as Ruby
• Pat Coombs as Vera
• Eunice Black as Ada
• Wendy Richard as Housewife
• Peter Madden as Mr. Brooks
• David Lodge as Fred the Busman
• Brenda Gogan as Bridget
• Caroline Dowdeswell as Sandra
• Nosher Powell as Betty's Husband
• Terry Duggan as Nobby
• Norman Mitchell as London Transport Official
• Claire Davenport as Peggy
• Maggie Rennie as Gladys
• Tex Fuller as Harry
• Anna Michaels as Eileen
• Ivor Salter as First Policeman
• George Roderick as Second Policeman
• Gavin Campbell as Motorcycle Cop
• David Rowlands as Parson
• Hilda Barry as Old Woman
• Moira Foot as Katy
• Reginald Peters as Medical Orderly
• Caroline Munro as Poster Girl (uncredited)

Production

Hammer entered into an agreement with EMI Films to create a series of movies, focusing mainly on horror but also including the comedy On the Buses, an idea developed by Hammer executive Brian Lawrence. This marked Hammer's return to comedy after a ten-year hiatus.

The production was carried out both on location and at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. Specifically, Stage 5 at Elstree served as the setting for the bus station exterior scenes in this film and its subsequent sequels.

The movie includes footage of a London AEC Routemaster RM200 (VLT 200) performing skid tests at the Chiswick Works skidpad. Actor Stephen Lewis personally executed part of the stunt by hanging from the rear platform during a high-speed skid, secured discreetly by a rope inside the bus; only the external falling action was performed by a stunt double.

For road sequences, several Eastern National Bristol KSW5Gs were utilized, identified by numbers 2359 (VNO857), 2367 (VNO862), 2371 (VNO866), and 2376 (WNO476).

Music

The theme song for "On The Buses," created by Geoff Unwin and Roger Ferris, featured lyrics penned by Ferris, who also oversaw the recording process at Abbey Road Studios. The vocal rendition by Quinceharmon was released in 1971 under EMI's Columbia label.

Release

The film debuted on 1 August 1971 at the ABC Ardwick and Studio 2 cinemas located in Manchester.

Box office

In 1971, the film was the second highest-grossing movie at British cinemas and had produced a profit of £106,000 for EMI by June 1972. Overall, it amassed £1.5 million domestically and £1 million internationally, resulting in Hammer earning £532,000 in profit. The box office revenue was almost 28 times greater than its production budget. Bryan Forbes noted in 1994 that the film had generated profits exceeding £1 million.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin criticized the movie for its substandard production quality, poor color processing, and an unpleasant script filled with anti-feminist sentiments and recycled humor, drawing unfavorable comparisons to the Carry On... films.

Christopher Hudson of The Spectator labeled it "a dullish adaptation of the ITV series." The Radio Times Guide to Films awarded it just 1 out of 5 stars, highlighting its misogynistic portrayal of female drivers clashing with male characters. Film critic Leslie Halliwell described it as a "grotesque, ham-handed farce" that lacked the charm of the original television show and was instead merely vulgar.