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Amazon.co.uk Review
Seven series they made of the classic British situation comedy, On The Buses. And that means this collected boxset of the television adventures of Blakey, Butler and co runs to in excess of a staggering 1900 minutes. That’s a lot of buses, a lot of entertainment and a very healthy dose of laughs.
Most of the laughs, of course, are generated by the eclectic collection of characters. Top of the bill, and as endearingly funny as he always was, is the harassed Inspector Blake, aka Blakey, whose run-ins with bus driver Butler and his partner in mischief Jack form the magic triangle on which much of the show’s success led. But spare a though too for the equally endearing side characters, none more so that Stan’s long-suffering sister, Olive.
Now granted, across the many, many hours you get in this collection of On The Buses, there are a fair selection of duff episodes, and it’s unlikely to be the kind of programme you’d ever try to get through in one or two sittings. But there’s a real, definite charm, regular chuckles and plenty of underrated writing bubbling beneath the surface here, and the end product is hard to resist. Perhaps wisely, the three, lesser, big screen adventures were left out of this set, but completists can pick them up perfectly easily in a boxset of their own.
Yet this particular On The Buses box is all about the programmes themselves, and there’s plenty contained within both in numerical and qualitative measures. Even for the most casual fan of the show, or those with a healthy interest in classic British sitcoms, it’s a terrific buy. --Jon Foster
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Broadcast long before I was even born (1969-1973) here we have a seminal situation comedy, On the Buses.
Starring the likes of Reg Varney who plays the lovable rouge Stan, this follows Stan and his family, his friend the womanising Jack through the various mishaps of their many days, and Stan's failed attempts at getting a girl, or getting one up on Blakey.
Yes, On the Buses may be a comedy of its time - but there's not one weak episode across seven series of laughter, innuendo and sarcasam aplenty.
What makes on the buses so endearing to me - who never saw it on TV first time around (I was born in 1980) - is the characters. Stan, is as mentioned, the lovable rogue who loves nothing better than getting one over on the memorable Blakey, and tries desperately to successfully woo a woman.
Then, there is his equally memorable mother, played by Doris Hare. She's a stern woman, but cunning as well. She disapproves of Stan's attempts at wooing women, and won't have that sort of thing going on in her house. She's also cunning as well, feigning injury when Stan insists he has moved out for good in order to bring him back into the fold.
Just as captivating is the dynamic pairing of Michael Robbins and Anna Karen, playing Arthur and Olive respectively. Arthur is married to Mum's daughter, Olive - who is the butt of many jokes - most of them made by her uncaring, ever sarcastic husband. Much is made of Olive's appetite, short sightedness, and dowdy appearence - but Arthur sometimes gets as good as he gives, with Olive making repeated references to Arthur's "operation" and lack of prowess in the bedroom department.
Jack, Stan's companion is also lovable, as the womanising Jack who loves women and concocts various plans to upset Blakey.
With such memorable characters, this is what makes On the Buses such a masterpiece. The comedy very much centres on a somewhat sexist approach, but this is comedy of the sixties and seventies - and much material was around playing on similar aspects (Carry On - anyone) and I personally do not find it offensive in the slightest. What you do have here, is a gem of a comedy series that is far cleaner, funnier and wittier than many comedies of today. With the PC brigade going completely potty nowadays, a series like this probably wouldn't have been made today, so thank god the PC Brigade wasn't about then.
So come on, buy this boxset and climb aboard with Stan and co and buses which never run on time - but have they ever?
Starring the likes of Reg Varney who plays the lovable rouge Stan, this follows Stan and his family, his friend the womanising Jack through the various mishaps of their many days, and Stan's failed attempts at getting a girl, or getting one up on Blakey.
Yes, On the Buses may be a comedy of its time - but there's not one weak episode across seven series of laughter, innuendo and sarcasam aplenty.
What makes on the buses so endearing to me - who never saw it on TV first time around (I was born in 1980) - is the characters. Stan, is as mentioned, the lovable rogue who loves nothing better than getting one over on the memorable Blakey, and tries desperately to successfully woo a woman.
Then, there is his equally memorable mother, played by Doris Hare. She's a stern woman, but cunning as well. She disapproves of Stan's attempts at wooing women, and won't have that sort of thing going on in her house. She's also cunning as well, feigning injury when Stan insists he has moved out for good in order to bring him back into the fold.
Just as captivating is the dynamic pairing of Michael Robbins and Anna Karen, playing Arthur and Olive respectively. Arthur is married to Mum's daughter, Olive - who is the butt of many jokes - most of them made by her uncaring, ever sarcastic husband. Much is made of Olive's appetite, short sightedness, and dowdy appearence - but Arthur sometimes gets as good as he gives, with Olive making repeated references to Arthur's "operation" and lack of prowess in the bedroom department.
Jack, Stan's companion is also lovable, as the womanising Jack who loves women and concocts various plans to upset Blakey.
With such memorable characters, this is what makes On the Buses such a masterpiece. The comedy very much centres on a somewhat sexist approach, but this is comedy of the sixties and seventies - and much material was around playing on similar aspects (Carry On - anyone) and I personally do not find it offensive in the slightest. What you do have here, is a gem of a comedy series that is far cleaner, funnier and wittier than many comedies of today. With the PC brigade going completely potty nowadays, a series like this probably wouldn't have been made today, so thank god the PC Brigade wasn't about then.
So come on, buy this boxset and climb aboard with Stan and co and buses which never run on time - but have they ever?
55 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having lived through the 60's I can assure anyone watching On The Buses that it is all true. I remember the sexy clippy's uniforms that left nothing to the imagination, the banter that went on between the conductors the drivers and the passengers. The whole experience of catching a bus was totally brilliant you jumped on the back even when the bus was moving off, you could smoke upstairs, you didn't have to fiddle about with your money until you were comfortably seated, you felt very safe on a bus as the two man crew would look after you. Everything from the smell of the bus to the way the bus crew dressed was sexy.
This continued through the 70's with slight differences being made to save cost. Then suddenly some fool came up with the idea of bus drivers taking the fares and doing away with the conductors. This killed the pleasure of working as a psv driver and it destroyed the experience the passenger once enjoyed. Imagine On The Buses being made now, it would be as much as a flop as it is in reality.
Now we simply enjoy the new standard of buses but tolerate the new breed of pcv drivers who know little about customer services and of old fashioned values and as few can speak the mother tongue it is very rare to hear the type of cheeky and suggestive banter that once made your journey to work or home such a unique pleasure.
So historically speaking this DVD set is a true account of how it was back then in the good old days. You'd now have to go to London and get on a tourist bus to experience it and even these are getting rare.
It wasn't all good as Stan will show you, it was hard work driving an old bus, the money wasn't great and the shifts were awful. But you had the crack, the banter and it was very sexy and it actually used to be a very good laugh and a pleasure to be on a bus crew.
I could watch On The Buses all day every day as it captures something special that has been lost. It is the best program to have ever been made for TV. Anyone who doesn't like On The buses just doesn't understand what they are missing or what they have missed.
This continued through the 70's with slight differences being made to save cost. Then suddenly some fool came up with the idea of bus drivers taking the fares and doing away with the conductors. This killed the pleasure of working as a psv driver and it destroyed the experience the passenger once enjoyed. Imagine On The Buses being made now, it would be as much as a flop as it is in reality.
Now we simply enjoy the new standard of buses but tolerate the new breed of pcv drivers who know little about customer services and of old fashioned values and as few can speak the mother tongue it is very rare to hear the type of cheeky and suggestive banter that once made your journey to work or home such a unique pleasure.
So historically speaking this DVD set is a true account of how it was back then in the good old days. You'd now have to go to London and get on a tourist bus to experience it and even these are getting rare.
It wasn't all good as Stan will show you, it was hard work driving an old bus, the money wasn't great and the shifts were awful. But you had the crack, the banter and it was very sexy and it actually used to be a very good laugh and a pleasure to be on a bus crew.
I could watch On The Buses all day every day as it captures something special that has been lost. It is the best program to have ever been made for TV. Anyone who doesn't like On The buses just doesn't understand what they are missing or what they have missed.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was glad I got every episode of On the Buses, it took me back in time and I was not disappointed, I enjoyed it immensely. I didnt even realise that On the Buses made so many episodes, I never ever knew when it was finished and then I saw the last episode, it was compulsive viewing but only if you were a fan. It was also great value for money right now as I got a good deal buying it and also was able to get free postage yes it was a good all rounder for me.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
On the buses - the complete series.
Unbeatable! Its just a shame there isn't any newer programs on the tv these days. You won't regret buying this box set!
Published 9 days ago by Paul Powell 1986
Don't buy from North America
Love On the Buses from when I was a kid. Looked forward to watching the episodes again. However, region DVD restrictions prevent them being watched on DVD players in North America. Read more
Published 2 months ago by CanadaMan
Ain't it marvelous!
I purchased the complete On The Buses sight unseen based upon having seen Stephen Lewis in Oh Doctor Beeching! (brilliant!). Initially, I was a bit disappointed. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. A. cardoza
It made me a fan
It may have been made before my time but I've really enjoyed watching this boxset! It is one of the few comedy greats. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Retroman
fantastic value
i bought this for someone else as a gift and they are very pleased with it. this was less than half price to what it was on hmv- so an amazing saving and a fab buy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by paulhollis
pure tv gold
love it love it love it! what can you say a pure tv classic tv at its best a time gone by that can never be gotten back some of the episodes were even before i was born but i... Read more
Published 4 months ago by juliab
Satisfaction complete.
The box set was a perfect for a gift for Christmas for my mum. There are so many episodes from three series that it keeps you entertained for hours on end. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stakman
Real classic series brilliant set.
These CDs will keep me happy for a few hours, can always watch this series and relax don't get them like this anymore, well packed quick delivery 100% 5*****
as always on... Read more
as always on... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. T. Beachem
Great British situation comedy - On the Buses
Nice DVD set and fast delivery! I enjoy this DVD set so much!!! One of the best British situation comedies! I love it!!!
Published 6 months ago by Imaginetim
In Part, The Best Sitcom Has To Offer.
It seems a pretty true statement to say that it's widely considered that the BBC has been primarily the broadcaster who has produced the much greater share of sitcom classics. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jervis
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