The Big Bus (1976)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(1,735 ratings)

The Big Bus is set aboard a nonstop, nuclear-powered luxury bus commandeered by Joseph Bologna. Naturally, Bologna is a tortured hero with a deep dark secret (he keeps insisting he didn't eat all those passengers on his last disastrous drive). Stockard Channing and Harold Gould play the designers of… More The Big Bus is set aboard a nonstop, nuclear-powered luxury bus commandeered by Joseph Bologna. Naturally, Bologna is a tortured hero with a deep dark secret (he keeps insisting he didn't eat all those passengers on his last disastrous drive). Stockard Channing and Harold Gould play the designers of the big bus, and of course they have a few skeletons in their closet. In fact, there isn't a passenger on the all-star manifest that isn't hiding something. The supporting cast features contributions by René Auberjonois (parodying his M*A*S*H role), Ned Beatty, José Ferrer, Ruth Gordon (doing a devastating send-up of Airport's Helen Hayes), Sally Kellerman, Richard Mulligan, and many others; Murphy Dunne contributes a memorable bit as a smarmy cocktail pianist. Unfortunately, The Big Bus was dumped onto the summer 1976 release schedule without fanfare by Paramount, and it sank without a trace. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: James Frawley
Written By: Lawrence J. Cohen, Fred Freeman
Genres: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 23, 1976 Wide
On DVD: Jul 16, 2002

Critic Reviews

Richard T. Jameson, Parallax View
I'd like to pretend it's a better movie than it is... its failings aren't gross and its modest pleasures are so far superior to the general run this slummy summer season that I feel very kindly toward it.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Zany bus ride tries to be 'Mad World,' but hits pot hole
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The 'star-studded' cast of familiar faces is one of the conventions of disaster movies that writers Cohen and Fred Freeman have stuck to

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Very much a mixed bag with a lot of talented performers trapped in this scattershot mess. Tries to lampoon the disaster movie craze and scores occasionally but mostly of the jokes fall flat.

Cast

            Joseph Bologna as Dan Torrance

            Stockard Channing as Kitty Baxter

            John Beck as Shoulders O'Brien

            Rene Auberjonois as Father Kudos

            Ned Beatty as Shorty Scotty

            Bob Dishy as Dr. Kurtz

            José Ferrer as Ironman

            Ruth Gordon as Old Lady

            Harold Gould as Prof. Baxter

            Larry Hagman as Parking Lot Doctor

            Sally Kellerman as Sybil Crane

            Richard Mulligan as Claude Crane

            Lynn Redgrave as Camille Levy

            Richard B. Shull as Emery Bush

            Stuart Margolin as Alex

            Howard Hesseman as Scotty's Aide Jack

            Mary Charlotte Wilcox as Mary Jane Beth Sue

            Walter Brooke as Mr. Ames

            Vic Tayback as Goldie

            Murphy Dunne as Tommy Joyce

            Miriam Byrd-Nethery as Farmer's wife

            Dennis Kort as Farmer's son

            James Jeter as Bus Bartender

            Selma Archerd as Bus Passenger

            Dan Barrows as 2nd Cemetary Man

            Joe Brooks as Passenger

            Richard Crystal as Passenger

            David Essex as Passenger

            Raymond Guth as Pickup truck driver.

            Harry Holcombe as Priest

            Judy Motulsky as Passenger

            Vito Scotti as Barber

            Cynthia Szigeti as Passenger

            Morgan Upton as 1st Cemetary Man

            Ann Weldon as Passenger

            Bert Williams as Passenger

            Andrew Winner as Passenger

            Carol Worthington as Passenger

            Mickey Fox as Passenger

            Alex Brown as Passenger

            Nick Pellegrino as Passenger

            Harry Frazier as Passenger
See full cast