The Big Bus

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 (Joseph Bologna, Cops and Robbers). His co-pilot (John Beck, Sleeper) is given to sudden blackouts and has a penchant for driving on the shoulders of the road. A pair of evil-doers (including José Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergerac) vow to destroy the bus at the outset, thus providing hilarious suspense. Guess who will die (laughing) among the all-star cast also featuring Stockard Channing, René Auberjonois, Ned Beatty, Ruth Gordon, Harold Gould, Larry Hagman, Sally Kellerman, Richard Mulligan, Lynn Redgrave, Bob Dishy, Stuart Margolin and Howard Hesseman. Wonderfully directed by James Frawley (Kid Blue, The Muppet Movie).