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The Love Bug (1968)

G | | Comedy, Family, Sport | 13 March 1969 (USA)
The Love Bug Poster
A race car driver becomes a champion with a Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screenplay), Don DaGradi (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson | See full cast & crew »
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ON DISC
1 win & 2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Jones ... Jim
Michele Lee ... Carole
David Tomlinson ... Thorndyke
Buddy Hackett ... Tennessee Steinmetz
Joe Flynn ... Havershaw
Benson Fong ... Mr. Wu
Joe E. Ross ... Detective
Barry Kelley ... Police Sgt.
Iris Adrian ... Carhop
Andy Granatelli Andy Granatelli ... Association President
Ned Glass ... Toll Booth Attendant
Robert Foulk ... Bice
Gil Lamb ... Policeman at Park
Nicole Jaffe Nicole Jaffe ... Girl In Dune-buggy
Wally Boag Wally Boag ... Flabbergasted Driver
See full cast »
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Storyline

Meet Jim Douglas, a down-on-his-luck race car driver who lives in an old run-down fire house in San Francisco with his friend Tennessee Steinmetz, a occasional drunk mechanic. One day, Jim goes to a luxury car dealer and sees a strange Volkswagen Beetle with a unusual problem: it tends to drive on its own, as if it were sentient. The little Bug follows Jim home but Jim believes that the owner of the car dealership, Peter Thorndyke, is playing a trick on him. Jim decides to try out the car, and experiences its magical nature, fahrvergnügen, if you will, for himself. Jim repairs the little car and Tennessee names the him "Herbie". Behind the wheel of Herbie, Jim becomes more successful in racing. Thorndyke wants Herbie back, but Jim refuses and Thorndyke decides to race against him. Thorndyke sabotages Herbie before a big race known as the "El Dorado" - an obvious parody of the then-new "Baja 1000" race in Mexico. Jim and Tennessee along with Thorndyke's former assistant (and ... Written by Andy Crews

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

hippie | 1960s | vehicle driving by itself | attempted suicide | driver car relationship | See All (29) »

Taglines:

If You Haven't Caught The Bug... It's Going Around Again! See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sport

Certificate:

G | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

Disney's Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Cantonese | Spanish

Release Date:

13 March 1969 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Car-Boy-Girl See more »

Filming Locations:

Cuddy Valley, California, USA See more »
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$51,264,000, 31 December 1969
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The backdrop in the race scenes is of the Riverside International Raceway. See more »

Goofs

In the final scene Thorndyke and Havershaw are working for Wu and start spraying each other with lubricant, but the lubricant is black. No new lubricants are black - only used oils become black. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Jim Douglas: I'd like another shot at that prize money. Okay for next Sunday?
Bice: No, Jim, it ain't okay.
Jim Douglas: Now, look, Bice, I know...
Bice: No, *you* look. All my drivers are eighteen, nineteen... You're too old for these kid sports. You're liable to get hurt in there.
See more »

Crazy Credits

At the end of the end credits, the words "The End" turn into an animated bug which drives away from the screen. See more »

Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1986 when the film was re-rated with a 'U' certificate for home video. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Designing Women: Oh, What a Feeling (1990) See more »

Soundtracks

Die Fledermaus
(uncredited)
Written by Johann Strauss
See more »

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User Reviews

 
The Love Bug will drive it's way into your heart
19 July 2003 | by mrbluto – See all my reviews

The Love Bug is one of my favorite Disney movies. A movie about a car with a mind of it's own, a vw beetle with a heart, how could you not love a movie like that. Among all the great characters are the evil Peter Thorndyke, the beautiful Carole, the down on his luck driver Jim Douglas and the best one of the bunch Buddy Hackett as the wonderfully eccentric Tennessee Steinmetz, Tennessee has a Buddhist soul and does not discount the car as being alive. Love Bug is funny, sad and has scenes that will leave you to tears, you will laugh and shake your head. RIP Buddy wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
12 of 14 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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