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On The Buses - The Complete Seventh Series
RRP: £19.99
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driven to destruction .. .. by flogging a very dead horse.. !
Review date: 2008-08-23 Rating: 2 out of 10
There were some very good sitcoms in the 70's - 'Fawlty Towers', 'Steptoe and Son', 'Dads Army' to name just a few and 'On The Buses' should fit into this catagory as well and to be fair for the most part it does. There are some very funny moments throughout the first five series and also in the three feature films but by the sixth and seventh, I feel that everyone is just going through the motions and not really trying at all.. in fact, it all looks more like an amateur production in the local village hall rather than a popular tv series.
Tired unfunny scripts and poor acting (with the exception of Stephen Lewis who does at least look as if he's trying to hold it together but sadly having an uphill struggle all on his own) resulting in a very disappointing final run which should have been laid to rest at the end of season five.
Similar Products
- On The Buses - Series 6
- On The Buses - Series 5
- On The Buses - Series 4
- On The Buses - Series 3
- On The Buses - Series 2
Reviews
Final series of this Great British classic!
Review date: 2007-10-26 Rating: 10 out of 10
This was the last ever season of 'On The Buses'.
This set includes one of the funniest episodes penned by Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis called 'The Ticket Machine'. Michael Robbins having left the cast in the penultimate season (Arthur) and then Reg Varney was also to depart halfway through this final series. Other big names were brought in to compensate, including; Larry Martyn, Yootha Joyce, Bob Todd, Michael Sheard and Pat Nye. Despite this, the absence of Michael Robbins could be felt immensely early on, and of course when Reg left, the series was on the road to its end... Many episodes are clearly 'struggling', as even the character 'Olive' takes on a much bigger role when she goes to work as a 'clippie', but somehow none of it works... It was time to say goodbye to a great and successful sitcom...
This was the only other DVD to include bonus material; the first - Reg Varney stars in the terribly sad and heart-rending play; 'The Best Pair Of Legs In The Business' from 1968. This also stars a young Chris Chittel (of Emmerdale)
The second bonus treat is the the very first episode of the spin-off comedy series from 1974: 'Don't Drink The Water' with Stephen Lewis and Pat Coombs.
there is life after Stan Butler
Review date: 2007-04-09 Rating: 8 out of 10
In the 7th episode of this series Reg Varney leaves as Stan takes up a job in a car factory up north. I was afraid the departure of Reg Varney would cause this last series to go down hill, but thanks to the wonderful comedy performances of Stephen Lewis as Blakey, Bob Grant as Jack and Anna Karen as Olive it still manages to be a lot better than most of the modern day sitcoms. Blakey has to move out of his digs and as Stan's old room is going spare he moves in wiht Mrs Butler and Olive, Olive is now divorced from Arthur so is forced to take a job, she becomes a clippie at the bus depot. Also includes a single play starring Reg Varney and the first episode of the spin-off Don't Drink The Water where Blakey has retired to Spain with his sister played by Pat Coombs. A good dose of nostalgic comedy.
Hold Very Tight Please!
Review date: 2006-11-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
In the seventh and final season, the show starts off with the fact that there is no Arthur and worse still, Stan leaves after just seven episodes. So how does this reflect in the quality after such important characters leave? Suprisingly, pretty well with the remaining faces shoring up the final six episodes of the series. Network really do a good job in their releases and this is no exception with a couple of great bonus features. First, there is a black and white drama starring Reg varney called "The Best Pair Of Legs In The Business" from 1968 and even better, the first episode of a show called "Don't Drink The Water", which was a spin off of "On The Buses" starring Blakey when he moves to the Costa Brava with his sister. It's very strange to see people like Derek Griffiths again after all these years from "Play Away" and other stars make an appearance throughout the DVD such as Pat Coombs, Yootha Joyce and Larry Martyn.
So rare it's worth a few stars just for that!
Review date: 2006-11-17 Rating: 8 out of 10
As a big fan of On The Buses, I couldn't wait to get hold of this final series. Sure Stan leaves half way through, and Arthur doesn't feature at all but that doesn't mean it's complete rubbish.
I was too young to watch these when they were originally on, but love them. I don't think I had seen any of this last series until watching this DVD. Some of the episodes are rather poor, but no worse than series 5 & 6. The water tank episode from this series is a particular favourite of mine. Interesting to see the new start and end titles too.
All 13 episodes are included, as well as the first episode of "Don't Drink The Water" - an On The Buses spin-off starring Stephen Lewis reprising his role as Cyril Blake, and Pat Coombs as his sister. This time he's retired and they have moved to start a new life in Spain. I hadn't realised this was an extra until the DVD turned up. A fantastic addition. I now hope Network DVD release this as an entire series (it only lasted for one series).
The other extra on this disc was the 1968 play edition of Reg Varney's "The Best Leg's In The Business". This featured Reg Varney in the lead role, and was re-made in 1972 into a feature film. But this original play version (from Yorkshire TV) is another fantastic addition.
I think Network DVD have done themselves very proud with the release of this series. Sure some of the episodes throughout the seven series have been cut, but that was LWT's fault and not Network. All round a great series...
For one last time... "All Aboard" ding-ding!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Stephen Lewis
Reg Varney
Bob Grant
Creators:
Reg Varney (Primary Contributor)
Bob Grant (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Network
Manufacturer: Network
EAN: 5027626252045
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2006-11-13
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 325 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)