Herbie Rides Again (1974)

The living Volkswagen Beetle helps an old lady protect her home from a corrupt developer.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screenplay), Gordon Buford (story)

Stars:

Helen Hayes, Ken Berry, Stefanie Powers

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Hayes	...	Mrs. Steinmetz
Ken Berry	...	Willoughby Whitfield
Stefanie Powers	...	Nicole
John McIntire	...	Mr. Judson
Keenan Wynn	...	Alonzo Hawk
Huntz Hall	...	Judge
Ivor Barry	...	Chauffeur
Dan Tobin	...	Lawyer
Vito Scotti	...	Taxi Driver
Raymond Bailey	...	Lawyer
Liam Dunn	...	Doctor
Elaine Devry	...	Secretary
Chuck McCann	...	Loostgarten
Richard X. Slattery	...	Traffic Commissioner (as RichardX.Slattery, Richard X.Slattery: in closing credits)
Hank Jones	...	Sir Lancelot

Storyline

Alonzo Hawk is a mean-spirited property developer who has bought several blocks of land in the downtown district in order to build a gigantic shopping mall. There is one problem however; an elderly widow named Steinmetz won't sell the one remaining lot that Hawk needs to proceed with his scheme. So he resorts to all manner of chicanery, legal or otherwise, to get it. Fortunately, the widow Steinmetz has an ace up her sleeve in the form of Herbie, the miraculous Volkswagen.

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Plot Keywords:

surfer | automobile racing | beauty | telephone booth | driver car relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Loveable Bug's back doin' his thing!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

La pandilla de cupido motorizado

Filming Locations:

Castagnola's Restaurant - 286 Jefferson Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 84 min (DVD edition)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original choice for the lead character was Walter Brennan playing Grandpa Steinmetz. However, since he was seriously ill with emphysema the studio cast Helen Hayes as Grandma Steinmetz instead.

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Goofs

One of the Volkswagens in the Volkswagen fleet has a young couple kissing in the back seat. Whenever we see them, it's a still frame of them kissing with a superimposed background in the back window.

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Quotes

[Alonzo Hawk is lying on the couch in his office after having an angry fit over the phone with his nephew]
Lawyer: Don't worry, Mr. Hawk. I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning.
Alonzo Hawk: Ah, stop talking like an idiot. I feel better right now! Alonzo Hawk can be betrayed, but he is never defeated! Out of my way!
[Gets up and moves to his desk]
Alonzo Hawk: Since none of you pitful excuses for men have enough muscle to move a feeble little old lady off her property, I'll go and do it myself, like I have to everything ...
[...]

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Connections

Followed by The Love Bug (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Carnival of the Animals - The Swan"
(uncredited)
Written by Camille Saint-Saëns

User Reviews

Love Bug's second entry with pranks and car stunts that are great fun to see

Agreeable Disney's love bug Wolkswagen plenty of action , slapstick , laughs and fun . This comical Herbie story concerns about Alonzo Hawk (Keenan Wynn) who is an ambitious property developer who has bought lots of blocks of land in the Downstreet district in order to build a shopping mall and apartments . There is one obstacle however ; an old woman , firefighter's widow named Steinmetz ( Helen Hayes) who won't sell the one remaining lot that Hawk needs to carry out with his gigantic plot . So Hawk resorts to all manner of traps , legal or otherwise, to get it. Fortunately, the elderly widow Steinmetz has an ace under her sleeve in the form of Herbie , the fantastic car which she receives from her niece , as she takes a magical Wolkswagen Bug named Herbie with a mind of its own . Miraculous Herbie takes her for a ride and stumbles into Hawk's evil hoodlums who pursue through skyscrapers , bridges and buildings . As always, Herbie the love bug , is helping the young couple (Ken Barry , Stefanie Powers) find romance but encountering all sorts of hilarious obstacles along the way . Meanwhile Herbie with the number 53 dreams that intervenes in the biggest race cars located in Daytona to compete in the Grand Prize , a challenge among top competitors circle the world's most famous racing circuits and quickly slipping in the ranking.

This ordinary Disney slapdash film displays great loads of amusement , fun , giggles , race cars and is pretty entertaining . It's an enjoyable movie for kids and for those who like cars racing round and round and bounds and leaps by Herbie . The actors seem to enjoy immensely , as Ken Berry and Stephanie Powers play of sympathetic manner and the mean-spirited owner Keenan Wynn , as excessive villain , is top notch . Colorful cinematography and jolly soundtrack including the lively leitmotif , usual in the Herbie's series. This is a delightful film , the original film turns out to be : ¨The love bug¨ (1969) by Robert Stevenson , followed by ¨ Herbie rides again , Herbie goes to Montecarlo , Herbie goes bananas ¨ among others and a 1997-for-television-movie and a TV series , the most part filmed by Stevenson and Vincent McEveety and usually starred by Dean Jones . Furthermore recent version starred by Linsay Lohan , Justin Long and Matt Dillon , being directed by Angela Robinson. This " Herbie rides again ¨versi on is amusing and with lots of laughs but is a familiar film . The motion picture is correctly directed by Robert Stevenson .Worthwhile seeing , it's a great fun to watch and there are loads of entertainment in this one . It' one of the best and funniest of ¨Herbie¨ series .