The quality of the scripts? They were never brilliant in the first place seems like a case of "I'm too good for this now". Although it is and was a funny 30 minutes the whole concept of the series was
1) Make fun of blakey
2) Stan and Jack get their leg over.
3) Olive and Arthur argue and have no sex life.
4) A bus has to catch fire, breakdown or get damaged.
Hardly top notch script writing needed.
While On the Buses was similar to most ITV sitcoms of the time in being working class easy laughs that hardly qualify for a BAFTA , any fan of the show can easily see the drop in quality just by watching the dvd's.
If Varney felt he was too good for the show he would more likely not have agreed to appear in any of the last series.
Option 4 of your list would indicate you've not really seen much of the series
While the scripts were indeed awful OTB was a pretty good earner for second division actors Varney and Robbins, they didn't go on to do anything better did they ?
I didn't see Reg thesping in I Claudius or Pennies From Heaven.
While the scripts were indeed awful OTB was a pretty good earner for second division actors Varney and Robbins, they didn't go on to do anything better did they ?
I didn't see Reg thesping in I Claudius or Pennies From Heaven.
I think Varney went onto at least one more sitcom and Robbins returned to guest starring in other shows.
Just a reminder for anyone who has not visited this thread before that the film On The Buses is to be shown today – 18th June, 2011 – on ITV 1 and on ITV 1 HD from 1.45 pm to 3.25 pm (and on ITV 1 +1 from 2.45 pm to 4.25 pm the same day). It might be the first time it has been broadcast in HD on one of the most-watched UK HD channels - ITV 1 HD.
The film On The Buses was last shown on UK television on ITV 3 during Easter on St. George’s Day (23.4.2011).
On The Buses was the first of three films based on the hugely popular television series of the same name. It was made in 1971. The film Mutiny On The Buses followed in 1972 with Holiday On The Buses appearing in cinemas in 1973. (source of the dates quoted in this paragraph: Wikipedia).
Just watching the film now, funny thing is now that I'm older my sympathies are with Blakey. Trying to organise those workshy pervs must be a real pain!
I loved the bus being diverted onto to the motorway and finally reaching the depot the old dear saying
''Ive been on this bus for over 3 hrs and I only wanted to go to Tescos''
The lyrics to the song went
'Theres always gay life on the buses
Make sure you leave your bird at home''
The quality of the scripts? They were never brilliant in the first place seems like a case of "I'm too good for this now". Although it is and was a funny 30 minutes the whole concept of the series was
1) Make fun of blakey
2) Stan and Jack get their leg over.
3) Olive and Arthur argue and have no sex life.
4) A bus has to catch fire, breakdown or get damaged.
Hardly top notch script writing needed.
Do you have a link to your successful writing publications?
as evidently you know what you are talking about.
I loved the bus being diverted onto to the motorway and finally reaching the depot the old dear saying ''Ive been on this bus for over 3 hrs and I only wanted to go to Tescos''....
That has got to be one of the funniest lines ever in a comedy film :cool:. I recall the loud laughter at that line the first time I saw the film. Full marks to the person/people who wrote it and to the actress who spoke the words.
That actress, by the way, was Hilda Barry - a familiar face on screen during the Golden Age of British film and television (i.e. 1960s - 1970s). It is good that she is still making us laugh 32 years after she sadly left us at the age of 94.
I loved the bus being diverted onto to the motorway and finally reaching the depot the old dear saying
''Ive been on this bus for over 3 hrs and I only wanted to go to Tescos''
Well, they got her there in the end, she only need wait another 40 years - as the studio they filmed that scene in is now...
What ever happened to Pat Ashton? She appeared in so many On The Buses films and TV shows..always as the busty blonde.
Think she's still alive but not done anything since 1984, she was in The Gaffer, Benny Hill, Metal Mickey and loads more, there's a list of everything she's been in on the On The Buses Fanclub website: http://www.onthebusesfanclub.com/id71.html
I was led to believe that the external shots of buses coming out of the Luxton Bus Depot were actually filmed at London's Wood Green (in Haringey) Bus Depot.
Yes, you're right, but the location for filming and the 'setting' of the story aren't the same thing.
....Robbins was in one of the Pink Panther films...
Among the many productions The Late Michael Robbins appeared in after leaving On The Buses were an episode of the comedy George and Mildred (shown a few weeks ago on ITV 3) and the film Man About The House - based on the popular television comedy which led to the George and Mildred series made by Thames Television.
I think Michael Robbins suffered bad health after leaving OTB but I remember his voice was heard in an episode of One Foot In The Grave (episode one where Victor and Margaret return from Spain to find their house had burned down). Michael Robbins can be heard as an irate neighbour shouting from across the road. He then appeared again several years later in the same sitcom (looking very thin and drawn) as the leader of the allotments who asks Victor if he still wants his allotment after contaminating it with radiation. Victor says yes so Michael Robbins gives the command and a truck dumps the allotment on Victor's front garden.
Im glad he finished his career in such a great sitcom.
Among the many productions The Late Michael Robbins appeared in after leaving On The Buses were an episode of the comedy George and Mildred (shown a few weeks ago on ITV 3) and the film Man About The House - based on the popular television comedy which led to the George and Mildred series made by Thames Television.
He also played 17th Century actor turned highwayman Richard Mace in Doctor Who in 1982's 'The Visitation'.
It is a great shame Michael Robbins is no longer with us. He was perfect for the role of Olive's husband in On The Buses - full marks to the person/people who chose him for the part.
Michael was a very good actor - one very much a part of the Golden Age of British television and film.
.....Michael Robbins......I remember his voice was heard in an episode of One Foot In The Grave......I'm glad he finished his career in such a great sitcom.
One could never forget his voice.
I think Michael was born to play the role of Olive's husband in On The Buses. He was just so right for the part and Anna Karen was perfect as Olive.
Comments
While On the Buses was similar to most ITV sitcoms of the time in being working class easy laughs that hardly qualify for a BAFTA , any fan of the show can easily see the drop in quality just by watching the dvd's.
If Varney felt he was too good for the show he would more likely not have agreed to appear in any of the last series.
Option 4 of your list would indicate you've not really seen much of the series
I didn't see Reg thesping in I Claudius or Pennies From Heaven.
I think Varney went onto at least one more sitcom and Robbins returned to guest starring in other shows.
The film On The Buses was last shown on UK television on ITV 3 during Easter on St. George’s Day (23.4.2011).
On The Buses was the first of three films based on the hugely popular television series of the same name. It was made in 1971. The film Mutiny On The Buses followed in 1972 with Holiday On The Buses appearing in cinemas in 1973. (source of the dates quoted in this paragraph: Wikipedia).
Oh its a gay life on the buses..
(Hence Blakey's catchphrase ''I'll have you Butler'')
Nice to see Pat Coombs and Mrs Fox (from Dads Army as drivers)
Me too. It's almost over
The character Blakey (played by Stephen Lewis) has got to be one of the best ever and most memorable from any television programme or film.
Yes - both excellent actresses.
''Ive been on this bus for over 3 hrs and I only wanted to go to Tescos''
The lyrics to the song went
'Theres always gay life on the buses
Make sure you leave your bird at home''
Ooihh.errr
as evidently you know what you are talking about.
That has got to be one of the funniest lines ever in a comedy film :cool:. I recall the loud laughter at that line the first time I saw the film. Full marks to the person/people who wrote it and to the actress who spoke the words.
That actress, by the way, was Hilda Barry - a familiar face on screen during the Golden Age of British film and television (i.e. 1960s - 1970s). It is good that she is still making us laugh 32 years after she sadly left us at the age of 94.
Varney was in The Rag Trade, and Robbins was in one of the Pink Panther films, as a rather surprising butler.
ps. Did anyone else have aspect ratio problems at the start of the film, or was it only in HD/London?
Well, they got her there in the end, she only need wait another 40 years - as the studio they filmed that scene in is now...
..a Tescos.
Stan's House http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Malden+Road,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire&aq=4&sll=51.547429,0.027461&sspn=0.062876,0.14308&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Malden+Rd,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire+WD6,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.658048,-0.276675&spn=0.00784,0.017885&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=51.6581,-0.276517&panoid=331XzOarXERnJIxF7citXg&cbp=12,3.48,,0,10.04
Turnaround Betty's http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Whitehouse+Avenue,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire&aq=&sll=51.658101,-0.276514&sspn=0.007867,0.017885&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Whitehouse+Ave,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire+WD6,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.655945,-0.271504&spn=0.007867,0.017885&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=51.656364,-0.271925&panoid=5_ShS0K2Iwc_ixZwaNnfJA&cbp=12,174.03,,2,2.68
The Laundrette http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Manor+Way,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire&aq=&sll=51.656364,-0.271922&sspn=0.007867,0.017885&g=Whitehouse+Avenue,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Manor+Way,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire+WD6,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.651998,-0.260966&spn=0.000984,0.002236&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=51.652095,-0.260961&panoid=twf-vKuUUZfswqxzFUinXg&cbp=12,264.09,,0,5.18
Where the bus turns in opening credits http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Shenley+Road,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire&aq=&sll=51.652095,-0.260962&sspn=0.000984,0.002236&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Shenley+Rd,+Borehamwood,+Hertfordshire+WD6,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.65716,-0.272759&spn=0.003934,0.008942&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=51.657073,-0.272638&panoid=z3Zn_p0Q_mhzY_SYdXVJ_w&cbp=12,305.38,,0,7.13
Think she's still alive but not done anything since 1984, she was in The Gaffer, Benny Hill, Metal Mickey and loads more, there's a list of everything she's been in on the On The Buses Fanclub website:
http://www.onthebusesfanclub.com/id71.html
:eek::eek::eek:
Yes, you're right, but the location for filming and the 'setting' of the story aren't the same thing.
Among the many productions The Late Michael Robbins appeared in after leaving On The Buses were an episode of the comedy George and Mildred (shown a few weeks ago on ITV 3) and the film Man About The House - based on the popular television comedy which led to the George and Mildred series made by Thames Television.
Im glad he finished his career in such a great sitcom.
He also played 17th Century actor turned highwayman Richard Mace in Doctor Who in 1982's 'The Visitation'.
Michael was a very good actor - one very much a part of the Golden Age of British television and film.
One could never forget his voice.
I think Michael was born to play the role of Olive's husband in On The Buses. He was just so right for the part and Anna Karen was perfect as Olive.