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The Big Bus (1976)

Larry Hagman , Walter Brooke  |  PG-13 |  DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Actors: Larry Hagman, Walter Brooke
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English, French
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Studio: Paramount
  • DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002
  • Run Time: 88 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005JLCC
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,530 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "The Big Bus" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For anyone who's wallowed in the inanities of 1970s disaster movies, The Big Bus is not only witty but downright endearing. Instead of an endangered airliner or a capsized cruise ship, this dippily deadpan parody features a block-long, atomic-powered, luxury super-Greyhound setting off on its first transcontinental run with a garish cross section of humankind programmed for redemption, retribution, or just sublime ridiculousness as they roll toward Doom--or Denver, whichever comes first. Writers Fred Freeman and Lawrence J. Cohen, who penned the daffy historical spoof Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), twist the sententious ironies of disaster-movie dialogue into pretzels (priceless scene: Richard B. Shull, as a "terminal traveler" with six months to live, and Bob Dishy, a discredited veterinarian who fitted a rabbit for an IUD, debating who knows more about bitterness). James Frawley's direction is drolly cliché-savvy, but his touch proved too delicate for 1976 audiences; it remained for Airplane! to grab the disaster-spoof brass ring four years later. Still, it's not too late to climb aboard. --Richard T. Jameson

From the Back Cover

A wonderful spoof of disaster films, The Big Bus is about the world's first nuclear-powered bus--a 75-ton monster on 32 enormous wheels--and its maiden journey from New York to Denver. Jockeying the world's greatest bus, of course, is the world's greatest bus driver. His co-pilot is given to sudden blackouts and has a penchant for driving on the shoulders of the road. A pair of evil-doers vow to destroy the bus at the outset, thus providing hilarious suspense.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Very funny spoof of the '70s disaster films. Barfight scene includes someone threatening our heroes, and our heroes defend themselves with a broken milk carton. "I hate to see a man down when he's kicked!"

All the standard disaster movie cliches are sent up. Dinner at the captain's table, the piano bar singer, engine trouble, estranged lovers rekindling a failed romance, hidden secrets, medical emergencies....all during a fateful cross-country trip on the world's first nuclear-powered bus on its maiden voyage. Joe Bologna (also seen in "My Favorite Year") and Stockard Channing headline a cast of '70s icons and Love Boat/Fantasy Island regulars. You just can't beat the drama of a life-threatening situation on an out-of-control BUS! This movie is funnier than you remember it, but if you didn't catch it on TV since the late 70's then do yourself a favor and buy this. Or buy me one. Either way, you'll be doing the right thing.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
A Spoof that Should Have Worked September 14, 2000
Format:VHS Tape
Like the "Airplane!" films that succeeded it, "The Big Bus" is hilarious parody of the oh-so-popular disaster flicks of the 1970's. It is really like a disaster film as seen through the eyes of Tex Avery, the master animator who threw everything into his 'toons, including the kitchen sink at the expense of some poor soul.

"Bus" features a superb cast of movie and television performers who mimic every big name actor featured in bigger budgeted extravaganzas like "The Poseidon Adventure," "The Towering Inferno," and "Earthquake."

In the words of Spike Lee, one must "get on this bus" for a fun-filled ride.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Really, Really BIG! April 8, 2004
Format:DVD
Hop on the BIG BUS! You're in for a rare treat. Joseph Balogna and Stockard Channing star in the best movie parody since "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein"! The big bus is a nuclear-powered monster of a thing, complete with bowling alley, swimming pool, and piano bar. It can change tires automatically, while still moving! It can wash itself! It can go 90mph around curves, with only minor internal chaos! The passenger list is a screwball dream-come-true! Ruth Gordon is the dirty old lady, quick on the draw with her perfectly rude remarks! Rene Auberjonois is the conflicted / doubting priest, who has a nasty streak as long as the bus! Lynn Redgrave is the celebrity on board, seducing any man she encounters. She's also got a secret score to settle! Sally Kellerman and Richard Mulligan are the battling couple, set to finalize their divorce, but unable to keep their hands off each other! Of course, let's not forget the washed-up veterinarian, the terminal guy with six months to live (which Lynn Redgrave helps him to overcome), and the narcoleptic co-driver who passes out at the wheel every few minutes! Did I mention Larry Hagman as the doctor who spends most of the movie in a parking lot, because his patient (Harold Gould) "can't be moved"? Or Ned Beatty and Howard Hesseman as technicians who must work together, but just don't get along? Oh yeah, I almost forgot, there's a bomb on board! Drop whatever you're doing and buy this right now...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Have you seen Airplane?
I didn't expect it to be great. I have a "nuclear movie collection" and I had to have this one. The Big Bus is a lot like Airplane. It's dumb humor. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Maxwell P Jones
DVD out of print???
Gee Paramount- thanks for taking the DVD out of print (along with lots of your other titles) but allowing us to still 'buy' it from Amazon VOD, which we can watch in lower-than-DVD... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jesse W. Skeen
one funny movie
I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out and I laughed so hard and so long that my ribs ached, tears streamed down my cheeks and I could barely breathe. Honestly. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Christine Dipompeo
Spoofy
I had seen this movie years ago, and decided to buy it when I discovered it on DVD. It is funny at spots, but not a laugh fest. Read more
Published on February 6, 2010 by Robin A. Johnson
Great fun!
I remember watching this on TV with my mom in the late 70's. It's one of a short list of films that made her laugh out loud.

I also agree it's better than Airplane. Read more
Published on June 4, 2009 by S.F. DVD watcher
Underhanded Swipe At The Disaster Film Craze
Shortly before the gross-out antics of ANIMAL HOUSE, and, of course, four years before AIRPLANE!, there was a film spoof of a different sort, namely THE BIG BUS. Read more
Published on May 3, 2009 by Erik North
The Big Bus CD
A real odd ball movie that I saw years ago when it was in theatrical release.
I could never find a copy in CD format until now. Read more
Published on March 31, 2009 by Keeper of the Bunny
The Big Bus VHS
This is a very funny movie if one likes goofy comedy as our family does.
However, I've never seen a good VHS copy and I've seen several. Read more
Published on October 29, 2007 by Joseph B. Stokes
all aboard! this bus be a leavin
I remember seeing this movie when i was 13 and laughing my tail off.Its in the same tradition of Silver Streak.The cast is in top notch form and the dialog funny and witty. Read more
Published on July 27, 2007 by David J. Carney
a blast from the past
this movie came out the same month "Rocky" (the first one) came out. I argued with Eddie S. in 4th grade that "The Big Bus" was the best movie ever made and that it was destined... Read more
Published on July 14, 2007 by Barbara Billingsley
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