The perfect fusion of bus spotting and film trivia.....
Buses on Screen - Films Mm-Mz
Mona Lisa (1986, Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine)
Shot in and around London and Brighton - no buses are part of the central action, but there are some guest apprearances in the background:
As George (Hoskins) drives through an underpass, a Leyland B20 Fleetline is seen briefly. In another scene a London Transport Routemaster RM on route 19 passes; and a scene in Park Lane has two RMLs as a backdrop.
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Unexpectedly a Duple-bodied Whippet of Fenstanton coach is seen parked - speculation: is this DAF A809REW?
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Also a Plaxton-bodied coach belonging to Excelsior of Bournemouth.
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Jon Price notes "Towards the end of the film when Hoskins and Tyson park outside a hotel in Brighton, a Southdown two door Bristol VRT/Eastern Coachworks in National Bus Company green with a Tesco wrapround (Unibus) advert comes across the front of the shot."
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Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953, Jacques Tati)
"A modern-looking (Chausson?) underfloor-engined dual entrance coach, with roof luggage rack, features in a scene which culminates in a child getting its head stuck in the steering wheel!
A 'hotel bus', seemingly a French pre-war 20-seat normal control vehicle, also with roof luggage rack, appears several times in this classic French comedy."
(thanks Bill Mellor)
Monsters vs Aliens (2009, Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Kiefer Sutherland)
Entertaining animation has an abandoned San Francisco cable car:
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Streetcar 2930 found on the back of a lowloader is converted to rocket power:
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The Moon and the Sledgehammer (1971, dir Philip Trevelyan)
Documentary looking at the life of a Sussex family includes footage of a derelict coach - but what is it? (thanks Paddy)
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The Moon Spinners (1964, Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, Joan Greenwood et al)
"Possibly pre-war single-decker (forward control) appears in the opening scenes of this film, set in Crete. A more modern blue & white coach appears very briefly towards the end. Neither identifiable." (thanks Colin Read)
Moscow on the Hudson (1984, Robin Williams)
Williams plays a Russian musician attempting to defect inside Bloomingdales department store in New York City James Kalin notes "The musicians arrive aboard a GMC 'Buffalo' or 'Humpback' operated by 'Liberty Lines'"
Morphine and Dolly Mixtures (1989, Patrick Bergin)
"Ex Cardiff Crossley DD42/7 / Alexander lowbridge appeared in a drama produced I think by BBC Wales entitled something like 'Arsenic and Jelly Babies'." (thanks Glyn Bowen) - this alternative suggested by Alan Sinclair - can anyone confirm?
Possibly the vehicle used is preserved EBO900, a Crossley DD42/7/Alexander formerly Cardiff 46 - can anyone confirm?
Mr Bean's Holiday (2007, Rowan Atkinson)
Rob Sissons watched and screencapped this; "having missed his train for reasons too convoluted to mention, Mr Bean boards a Mercedes inter-city coach operated by Cars Lieutaud of Avignon (a large family-owned French operator). He then loses his ticket and has to get off. The registration of the coach boarded by Mr Bean is never seen, but a similar vehicle is parked in front and the number plate - 4170XB84 - is seen through the windscreen of Bean's coach when he pays the driver:
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Stranded on a roadside in the middle of nowhere, Mr Bean misses a 1970s Berliet SC10 bus with "Var Mer" fleetnames, as he has managed to lock himself in a wooden shed:
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At the very end of the film, Mr Bean walks from the Cannes Film Festival to the beach, looking through the viewfinder of his camcorder and not concentrating on where he is going. He steps off a ledge and walks across several vehicles including a yellow bus:
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Mr Billion (1977, Terence Hill)
Filmed in Rome and San Francisco. "Has a PD-4104 (?) and a pan shot of 10 or more San Francisco trolley Twins parked in their barn!" (thanks Jerry Fretto)
Mr Holland's Opus (1995, Richard Dreyfuss)
One of Mr Holland's students leaves the state aboard a Prevost Prestige coach(thanks Adrian Badaraco).
Mrs Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968, Peter Noone, Stanley Holloway)
Odd musical featuring pop combo Herman's Hermits and a greyhound also has a green/grey Karrier or Commer minicoach RTB564 which later is painted in multicolours:
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also in the closing scenes (seen from behind) a London Transport RT or RTL following a red/cream Duple coach;
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Jon Price also notes "various establishing shots of London showing RTs and RMs at various landmarks."
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Mrs Doubtfire (1993, Robin Williams, Sally Field)
"Features the Willams character in drag boarding and riding on an unidentifiable San Francisco saloon where the driver gives him/her the come-on until he sees the character's hairy legs!" (thanks Chris Hough)
One scene has Mrs Doubtfire hanging off the side of San Francisco cable car 23.
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (1992, Angela Lansbury)
Features London Transport AEC Regent III RT1777 (KYY615).
Mrs Henderson Presents (2005, Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins)
Steve Bunce notes "The start of the film is set in 1937 and early on we see what appears to be an RT with white top deck livery. A little later is a piece of period newsreel which features a double decker of older vintage."
Mrs Miniver (1942, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon)
Colin Read notes: "In the opening scenes of 'Mrs Miniver' there is a view of Hollywood's idea of a London bus, a normal control creation (!) showing 'route 39' bound for Southfields Station. Interior view also."
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The body appears to have been built on a conventional American truck chassis; it may be the same vehicle seen years later in two 1958 movies, Merry Andrew and Darby's Rangers. Note that here it's in a reasonably convincing wartime London Transport livery, rather than mostly red. The interior footage includes a back projection of two genuine London Transport 'deckers, one appears to be an AEC NS:
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The rear of the bus appears to carry two separate registration/licence plates:
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The Miniver Story (1950, Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon)
(updated with screen captures)
In the opening street scene London Transport AEC STLs are seen, one of which is 1STL1 or 2STL1 type JJ43xx on service 6 to Kensal Rise.
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It is not, however, the bus Greer Garson is seen alighting from, although the scene is cut to suggest it.
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She enters a tea shop and sits in the window reading a letter. Outside more STLs and a Leyland Titan can be seen passing.
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More interesting is a provincial Bristol K/Eastern Coachworks, one of 190 used by London Transport from 1949. The LT roundel can be seen on the radiator. Since the scene is set on the day in 1945 that the end of the war with Germany was announced, this is a forgiveable anachronism! It's a back projection, so it's not particularly clear, and this is a horrible screen capture.
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Close to the end she is again seen getting off a bus, this time RT499 (HLX316) on service 11 to Liverpool Street is seen from behind.
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As she sits in the window of an office, numerous STLs, RTs and possibly a G-class Guy Arab pass the window (like the earlier shot a back projection).
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Mr Ten Per Cent (1966, Charlie Drake)
"Has a stunning shot at the foot of Hanover St/Mound with an Edinburgh Corporation Leyland Titan PD2/20/MCW Orion from the 700 batch roaring past camera in an establishing shot." (thanks Alan Sinclair)
The Mouse that Roared (1959, Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg et al)
The story of the tiny Grand Duchy of Grand Fenwick and its declaration of war on the USA. The bus service is provided by this Bedford OB - note the non-British registration plate:
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Muchacho (1970)
Argentine child musical features a Mercedes O120 coach. (thanks Carlos Wallberg)
The Mummy Returns (2001, Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz)
(updated)
The London Transport bus seen in the film is a fictional fleet number LT1097 with registration KLB713, supposedly a prewar bus.
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It was played by three separate postwar AEC Regent III RTs, RT1591 (genuinely registered KLB713, and deroofed for the film), RT 2553 (LYF278) and RT4628 (NXP881). London Transport's LT class were AEC Renowns rather than Regents; perhaps the most obvious difference was the two axles at the back of an LT as opposed to one on an RT!
Rachel Weisz refrains from spitting:
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....while Brendan Fraser avoids standing upstairs:
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The whole film shows an endearing disregard for historical accuracy. Filming was at Shepperton Studios. London Omnibus Engineering Services were responsible for the bus filming. Information is from British-Buses-Abroad-in-North-America discussion group, posted by Lionel Moss and Bob Martin et al. RT1591 previously appeared painted silver in the music video 'Go Let It Out' by Oasis.
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The capture below shows RT1591; the capture above left is definitely a different bus (look at the white stripe across the front, and the offside sidelight) - I can't be sure about the shot above right.
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Munich (2006, Eric Bana, Daniel Craig)
David Frazer came across a Hungarian website with photos of British cars and buses used for a London-set scene, actually filmed on location in Budapest.
"The film, whose historical accuracy is disputed, tells the story of an Israeli intelligence team sent to assassinate Palestinians held responsible for the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The photos show an RML, a Fleetline and an AEC Regent V. Reproduction advertisements have been added by the film's art department. There are also various seventies-vintage cars, some British and some not, including what must be the only Austin Maxi in Hungary. (It's left-hand drive, so I imagine that it was kept in the background.)
As you can see, the buses unfortunately don't look entirely correct for the 1970s setting, and one of them of course doesn't belong in London at all.
And here's an old Saviem bus used during 'Munich' filming in Paris. As with the London buses, the art department has put on reproduction advertisements.
A while ago I saw a photo of an old MAN (I think) bus painted in Paris colours for a scene set in Paris but filmed in Budapest, but I haven't been able to find it again."
The Regent V is ex East Kent MFN950F, the RML I believe is RML2476 (JJD476D), any suggestions on the third vehicle? Having seen the movie David adds:
"Along with plenty of classic cars there are several notable buses. It was filmed partly in Malta, and there are some classic Maltese buses popping up in scenes set in Israel and Cyprus (even though Israel drives on the right). A classic Paris bus -- a Saviem SC-10, I think -- appears a couple of times, along with an old Mercedes or MAN or something bus painted in Paris livery. (Most of the Paris scenes were filmed in Budapest, and the producers must have brought vehicles in from Germany. Because Hungary was part of the Soviet bloc, there probably aren't many western European cars from seventies there.)
We also see a GMC 'New Look' in Brooklyn and the flashbacks to the kidnapping in Munich involve a Mercedes coach used to take the hostages from the Olympic stadium to the airfield. And a Routemaster and a DMS show up in the background of a night scene set in London. There's plenty of rain, so they can't be seen clearly."

The GM New Look 'Fishbowl' seen in the later stages of the movie is this one, owned by a private collector:
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Alan Aron's photograph of it dates from 2002, when it was displayed at a Bus Show in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA.
Munster Go Home! (1966, Fred Gwynne, Yvonne de Carlo, Terry-Thomas et al)
Popular US sitcom in its first outing on the big screen has the monstrous family travelling to England when Herman (Gwynne) discovers he's the new Lord of Munster Hall. Actually, it's very obvious that shooting the movie never got beyond California! The finale does feature two red doubledeckers though, and true to Hollywood form neither is a London bus.
One appears to be a Leyland Titan PD1, the other is one of a pair of 1954 BMMO D7s that were sold to Universal Studios in the 1960s, Midland Red 4110 (in 1965) and 4111 (in 1964). 4111 (THA111) is immortalised on the cover of The Who's 1968 'Magic Bus' album. It's likely the bus seen here, also in the Columbo episode 'Dagger of the Mind', is 4110 (THA110):
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Murder by Numbers (2002, Sandra Bullock)
Brief glimpse of a pair of International school buses.
Murder in the First (1995, Kevin Bacon, Christian Slater, Gary Oldman)
Christian Slater's character is twice seen chasing San Francisco streetcar number 1.
Mutiny on the Buses (1972, Reg Varney)
Stan (Reg Varney) drives ex Eastern National Bristol KSW5G/Eastern Coachworks VNO857 throughout - it carries side adverts for Pontins, prefiguring the setting for the later 'Holiday on the Buses'. Also seen are similar VNO862 and WNO476. A shot of Stan's brother and wife on their motorcycle has an RT and SM of London Transport in the background. 'Town and District' have a Mini van, GJB253C, used as a traffic control vehicle - it is crushed between VNO857 and VNO862.
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Later in the movie, the bus company acquires a Metro-Cammell-bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1, NRN607, ex Ribble. Painted red with a Union Flag design it is used for a day tour to Windsor Safari Park. While in the garage, Stan climbs into the back of the bus through the downstairs emergency door. it's clear there is no back seat, and it soon becomes clear why, when the bus stops in the lion enclosure, it's to allow a lion to climb in by the same route!
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Also seen is a BMC minibus lettered as a 'Safari Bus'. (from observation by myself and Steven Oliver)
My Brother's Keeper (1949, Jack Warner, George Cole)
Warner travels on halfcab coach DUU715, apparently a Leyland Tiger. (+Colin Read)
My Favorite Blonde (1942, Bob Hope)
One scene "involves Hope stealing a bus from from a Teamsters' Outing. The other bus drivers give chase in their buses until the chase ends suddenly with Bob stopping his bus and them all running into the back. It's made in 1942 so there's some good vintage vehicles in there and good shots of them too." (thanks David Beilby) Chris Hough believes the stolen bus is an Overland, but notes that no fleetnames or radiator badges can be identified.
My Giant (1998, Billy Crystal, Max Zamphirescu)
Ill-conceived movie exploiting its extremely tall co-star about a Hollywood agent exploiting an extremely tall man by trying to get him into movies. Crystal and Zamphirescu travel from Chicago to Las Vegas on Greyhound 9001.
My Learned Friend (1943, Will Hay)
London LT-types and trams are seen on Westminster Bridge. (+Colin Read)
My Louisiana Sky (2001, Juliette Lewis)
An early scene features a Silversides in the livery of Southernways. Since the movie was shot in Ontario and California, it's not clear where the bus came from!
My One and Only (2009, Rene Zellweger, Kevin Bacon)
Kevin Mueller reports: "My 1947 GM coach (Baltimore Transit 1426), a TDH-4507, was filmed last summer in a movie starring Renee Zellweger. The film is called 'My One and Only' - it will come out in 2009."
Mystery Men (1999, Hank Azaria, William H Macy)
Has a scene with an unidentified red Bristol Lodekka/Eastern Coachworks passing under an underpass. Shot in California. Scot Fergie amplifies: "The Lodekka appears at 32m 16s, and is seen going under an underpass, where the camera tilts up to the diner where the 'Mystery Men' are discussing their dismal career prospects as superheroes. It is red, with white band (ala National Bus Company) the upper deck front windows are in situ, so probably not open-topped, although it could be behind the front windows. It has Cave-Brown-Cave heating ducts either side and a WHITE steering wheel; a one piece (offside) ultimate destinate aperture with the oh so predictable 'Carnaby Street' fake blind balanced by a three track number blind on the nearside, which is deeper than the ultimate destination. Another clue - the window/destination screen rubbers appear to be WHITE!"
My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117 (2003)
BAFTA award winning short film from satirist Chris Morris shows the hero being thrown off by an AEC Routemaster with registration VLT998.[Advisory - second screenshot contains offensive language on the rear destination blind]
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This is not RM998, which was scrapped by Scottish Bus Group in 1987 and had registration WLT998. can anyone identify?
Back to the top of this page - updated 8 April 2010