8mm Forum: Reg Varney

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Posted by Robert Tucker (Member # 386) on November 19, 2008, 08:26 PM:

As we all know the sad news that Reg Varney passed away aged 90 this week. As a tribute i will be showing On The Buses on 35mm an original release print from 1971 in IB Technicolour this weekend.

I was wondering if there was any On The Buses films released on Super 8 which where made by EMI/Hammer Productions.

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on November 19, 2008, 11:30 PM:

I know that the ON THE BUSES films were released here in 16mm, I presume that super 8 copies did come out, I have just brought myself the 3 movie box set of the ON THE BUSES movies, the best for me being HOLIDAY ON THE BUSES that begining sequence in the film is just great!
The show appears on TV here from time to time on UKTV,When I was younger I always wanted to be a bus driver after watching that show with those hot clippies and "I HATE YOU BUTLER!"
RIP Reg you will be missed [Smile]

Pat

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on November 20, 2008, 12:53 AM:

"Holiday on The Buses"; is that the one where the toilet explodes whilst Arthur Mullard is sitting on it, and his wifes only comment is "what have you been eating"?

I loved that scene, it still makes me chuckle now when I think about it! [Big Grin]

Mike

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 20, 2008, 05:54 AM:

Reg was 92 when he passed away in Budleigh Salterton, Devon. He was over 50 when he started in "On The Buses"......playing a 35-year-old!

Arthur Mullard was in "Holiday On The Buses" although I can't confirm the toilet gag.

Posted by Paul Spinks (Member # 573) on November 20, 2008, 08:16 AM:

I heard that he passed his PSV driving test so that he was fully qualified to drive the buses on public roads and that he was the first person to use a Barclaycard Visa credit card ATM in Britain due to his involvement in the first advertising promotions for the company.

Paul.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 20, 2008, 10:03 AM:

Am I to understand that this "Reg Varney" was a british film star?

Honestly, I don't remember hearing of him. Could someone give some "bio" information?

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 20, 2008, 10:12 AM:

Reg was a British comedy actor born in London in 1916. He mainly appeared in television sit-coms but did make a few films.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on November 20, 2008, 10:29 AM:

I remembner seeing a quite sad film he was in, I think to do with entertainment but can,t quite remember. He was very good in it.
Best Mark.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 20, 2008, 10:38 AM:

This was probably "The Best Pair of Legs in the Business" made in 1972.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on November 20, 2008, 02:50 PM:

None of the 'On the Buses' were available to buy in any form on Super 8, so if copies exist anywhere, they would be rare library prints. In fact none of the Hammer comedy films appeared on Super 8, which seems surprising in view of the numerous 'Carry On' releases and the number of Hammer horror films on 8.

Incidentally, 'On the Buses' was the most successful British film of 1971 in terms of UK box office receipts. The title of the second film - 'Mutiny On the Buses' - was chosen by a member of the public in a competition. A fourth feature was planned at one point but never made.

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on November 24, 2008, 04:22 AM:

Reg was world famous on both screen and stage Osi.A tremendously energetic fellow,almost always a loser,and guaranteed never to get the bird! [Wink]

Trev

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on November 24, 2008, 04:40 AM:

Nobody's really pointed out that Reg came into acting, and comedy, very late in life... basically he was a very accomplished musician, particularly on both piano and piano accordian. His piano accordian was due to come up for auction down here in Devon a day or two after he died (unless it was withdrawn).
But most of all, he was a brilliant Jazz pianist.

Martin

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