Mutiny on the Buses * (1972, Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Anna Karen, Michael Robbins, Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis) – Classic Movie Review 6878

Director Harry Booth’s saucy slice-of-life 1972 British comedy is the middle film in the 1969 to 1973 ITV show film spinoff series, following 1971’s On the Buses.

It tries its best, and there are a few laughs to be found, but screen-writers Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney’s script largely fails to take the audience to laughterland, and Mutiny on the Buses continues the mostly pointless expansion of British TV’s fairly amusing small-screen show.

Reg Varney again stars as Stan Butler, who instructs his brother-in-law Arthur (Michael Robbins) in the subtle art of London bus driving and pops off for a day trip to Windsor Safari Park, where much fun is had at the expense of the innocent animals.

It again stars regulars Reg Varney, Stephen Lewis (as Inspector Cyril ‘Blakey’ Blake), Doris Hare (as Stan’s Mum, Mrs Mabel Butler), Michael Robbins (as Arthur Rudge), Anna Karen (as Olive Rudge) and Bob Grant (as Jack Harper).

The familiar crew was by now starting to outstay its welcome on cinema screens and the film series was already heading in the general direction of the breakers’ yard.

Also in the cast are Pat Ashton, Janet Mahoney, Caroline Dowdeswell, Kevin Brennan, Bob Todd, David Lodge, Tex Fuller, Jan Renison, Damaris Hayman, Juliet Duncan and Roger Avon.

Mutiny on the Buses is directed by Harry Booth, runs 89 minutes, is produced by Hammer Films and Anglo-EMI Films, is released by MGM-EMI, is written by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, is shot by Mark McDonald, is produced by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, and is scored by Ron Grainer.

Sequel: Holiday on the Buses (1973).

On the Buses, Mutiny on the Buses and Holiday on the Buses are available together on a Region 2 DVD.

Stephen Lewis (1926–2015).

Stephen Lewis is best remembered as Cyril ‘Blakey’ Blake, the bus inspector with a Hitler moustache, and for his catchphrase ‘I ‘ate you Butler!’ delivered every week on the hit sitcom On the Buses that ran on ITV for seven seasons from 1969 to 1973.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6878

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