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
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:

vehicle driving by itself | fisherman's wharf | reference to rudolph valentino | reference to sessue hayakawa | uncle nephew relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Greatest Love (Bug) Story Ever Told!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Love Bug Rides Again

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross USA:

$38,229,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 84 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Unlike The Love Bug (1968), in which all VW logos were removed from Herbie, Disney worked closely with Volkswagen to promote the sequel. 300,000 Herbie posters were distributed to dealers to pass on to their customers and each VW dealer had a Bug on display that was made up to look like Herbie. Plus, if a customer wanted to turn their new Beetle into a Herbie they could purchase a graphics kit from the VW parts department.

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Goofs

When Herbie takes Mrs. Steinmetz up the window washing elevator, the external building features change between shots, along with the ground below the elevator.

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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

References The Absent Minded Professor (1961)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Terrific movie

Herbie Rides Again is a great family comedy. The funniest part in the movie was when Herbie and all of his volkswagen friends chased Alonso Hawke down the streets of San Francisco. That part is hilarious and priceless. Children and adults will love this movie and the other Herbie movies too. Go out and buy all of the Herbie movies. You won't regret it.