MovieChat Forums > On the Buses (1969) Discussion > Was Arthur Unemployed?

Was Arthur Unemployed?

posted 18 years ago by richard.fuller1
8 replies | jump to latest

In the Americanized version of "On The Buses", the character of Arthur is blatantly unemployed.

I have only seen 12 episodes of 'On The Buses' and the American show, "Lotsa Luck" with Dom Deluise, ran for only one season and I bought the complete set of that.

In the American show, Arthur is constantly referred to as being unemployed and mooching off of Stan and the family.

They have referred to his operation and he has to go to the clinic to get salve.

In the 12 eps of "On The Buses" I have, they refer to Arthur's operation a couple of times, but never is it stated that he is unemployed.

Arthur seems to be about the most overhauled character from the UK version to the USA version.

[–] paulgraygras72 18 years ago

I cant recall, I know in one of the films he got a job driving a bus. I think youll find a lot of British on the buses fans only know the show/characters from the 3 superb films, the series is RARELY repeated and wasnt a patch on the films. I think Arthur was..how can I put it..workshy, a choosy man waiting for the right job to come along.

[–] gcancello-1 18 years ago

In the TV show Arthur was long term unemployed and wasnt keen on getting work. Although in one of the films (cant remember which one) He gets a job as a bus driver in the same garage as Stan.

It doesnt last long as Olive gets jelous of Arthur working with a pretty little clippy. (conductor)

GARLIC BREAD?

[–] nicklove 18 years ago

On the buses is shown most week nights on Men And Motors

[–] jenniferles1000 18 years ago

In the british version Arthur works as a booking Clerk for British Rail

[–] richard.fuller1 18 years ago

jenniferles1000: "In the british version Arthur works as a booking Clerk for British Rail"
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Even by Andy Capp standards, ARthur didn't seem quite the same as being unemployed, and he certainly wasnt Only Fools and Horses unemployed. He seemed incredibly shrewd and outspoken, too far to be simply a lazy loaf-about, as Arthur is in the American version.

It was just of the 12 eps I have of On The Buses, there was no mention of Arthur having a job, so I wondered. It seemed too obvious that he must have had one.

For all I know from these eps, Mum could have had herself a job as well.

[–] buckaroobanzai50 18 years ago

richard.fuller1
"Even by Andy Capp standards, ARthur didn't seem quite the same as being unemployed, and he certainly wasnt Only Fools and Horses unemployed. He seemed incredibly shrewd and outspoken, too far to be simply a lazy loaf-about, as Arthur is in the American version."

He wasn't shrewd at all, just lazy and pompous. He was happy to let his wife Olive go out and work at the bus garage while he stayed indoors. As I recall, he did eventually find work.

The films are not as good as the eps IMO. And I've seen a fair few.

[–] caledoniancraig-1 18 years ago

I agree that the episodes were better.They were more dynamic with the double entendres and one-liners much more quick fire.

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[–] 18 years ago

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