Film Dope

The Big Bus

1976

USA

Maiden voyage of the world's first nuclear powered bus is plagued by disasters, courtesy of sinister forces allied with the oil lobby.

Amusng parody of the 1970s disaster films has been upstaged by Airplane!, but deserves a look, as it is funny and has an excellent cast that mirrors the sort of washed up old movie star/TV stalwarts you see in the real disaster films. The Zuckers-Abraham team wasn't involved with this one, but it's pretty obvious Airplane! owes a debt to this film. Note the call letters of the TV station in the opening--WZAZ-- maybe they did after all!

Fun useless fact: Bologna's character has the same name as the kid from The Shining, which was published the next year. Did Stephen King see this?

You eat one lousy foot and they call you a cannibal. What a world!
-Dave W.


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	The Big Bus 23rd June 1976 Cinema 88 mins 2.35:1
	The Big Bus 16th July 2002 DVD 88 mins 2.35:1
	25th April 2023 Blu-Ray

	Joseph Bologna Dan Torrance
	Stockard Channing Kitty Baxter
	John Beck Shoulders O'Brien
	Rene Auberjonois Father Kudos
	Ned Beatty Shorty Scotty
	Bob Dishy Dr. Kurtz
	José Ferrer Ironman
	Ruth Gordon Old Lady
	Harold Gould Professor Baxter
	Larry Hagman Parking Lot Doctor
	Sally Kellerman Cybil Crane
	Richard Mulligan Claude Crane
	Lynn Redgrave Camille Levy
	Richard B. Shull Emery Bush
	Stuart Margolin Alex
	Howard Hesseman Jack, Scotty's Aide
	Mary Charlotte Wilcox Mary Jane Beth Sue *(as Mary Wilcox)*
	Walter Brooke Mr. Ames
	Vic Tayback Goldie Newcombe
	Murphy Dunne Tommy Joyce
	Raymond Guth Farmer
	Miriam Byrd-Nethery Emma Mae, Farmer's Wife
	Dennis Kort Dennis, Farmer's Son
	James Jeter Bus Bartender
	Vito Scotti Barber
	Harry Holcombe Priest
	Morgan Upton 1st Cemetery Man
	Beans Morocco 2nd Cemetery Man *(as Dan Barrows)*
	Della Thomas Stewardess
	Jess Nadelman TV Reporter
	Michael W. Schwartz Bus Station Greeter
	Selma Archerd Bus Passenger
	Chuck Bergansky Bus Passenger
	Joe Brooks Bus Passenger
	Alex Brown Bus Passenger *(as Alex A. Brown)*
	Bart Carpinelli Bus Passenger
	Richard Crystal Bus Passenger
	Jerry DeWilde Bus Passenger
	David Essex Bus Passenger
	Karalee Fenske Bus Passenger
	Mickey Fox Bus Passenger
	Harry Frazier Bus Passenger
	Laurie Hagen Bus Passenger
	An Tsan Hu Bus Passenger
	Gregory C. Johnson Bus Passenger
	Walter Lott Bus Passenger
	Vincent Milana Bus Passenger
	Judy Motulsky Bus Passenger
	Erin Kathleen O'Reilly Bus Passenger
	Nick Pellegrino Bus Passenger
	Eugenie Ross-Leming Bus Passenger
	Cynthia Szigeti Bus Passenger
	Ann Weldon Bus Passenger
	Bert Williams Bus Passenger
	Andrew Winner Bus Passenger
	Carol Worthington Bus Passenger
	Unknown 1655 Bus Passenger
	Unknown 1655 Bus Passenger
	Unknown 1655 Bus Passenger
	Unknown 1655 Bus Passenger

	Unknown 1655 Fake Nuclear Tech Planting Bomb
	Unknown 1655 Fake Nuclear Tech Planting Bomb
	Unknown 1655 Hot Dog Customer
	Gene LeBell Bus Stop Bar Bartender
	John Ashby Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Gregory J. Barnett Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Whitey Hughes Whitey, Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Greenie, Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Pinkie, Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar (Julius LeFlore?)
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Brownie, Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Driver in Bus Stop Bar
	Unknown 1655 Ironman's Girfriend
	Kenny Endoso Ironman's Houseboy
	John Ashby Stunts
	Gregory J. Barnett Stunts
	Steven Burnett Stunts
	Whitey Hughes Stunts
	Gene LeBell Stunts

History

Dave Wright: Screencaps & Notes
1/2

Dave Wright: 76 Caps

Page Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 4:31:25 AM

Film Dope

The Big Bus

History