Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)

Herbie, the Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, is racing in the Monte Carlo Rally. Unbeknownst to Herbie's driver, thieves have hidden a cache of stolen diamonds in Herbie's gas tank, and are now trying to get them back.

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writers:

Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson

Stars:

Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Julie Sommars

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Jones	...	Jim Douglas
Don Knotts	...	Wheely Applegate
Julie Sommars	...	Diane Darcy
Jacques Marin	...	Inspector Bouchet
Roy Kinnear	...	Quincey
Bernard Fox	...	Max
Eric Braeden	...	Bruno Von Stickle
Xavier Saint-Macary	...	Detective Fontenoy (as Xavier Saint Macary)
François Lalande	...	Monsieur Ribeaux
Alan Caillou	...	Emile
Laurie Main	...	Duval
Mike Kulcsar	...	Claude
Johnny Haymer	...	Race Official
Stanley Brock	...	Taxi Driver
Gérard Jugnot	...	Waiter

Storyline

Race car driver, Jim Douglas goes to Monte Carlo to enter his car, Herbie, in the Monte Carlo rally. When they get there, Herbie falls for another driver's car and Jim falls for the driver Diane, who thinks he's weird. But what they don't know is that a pair of thieves who stole a very valuable diamond, hid it in Herbie's gas tank. And the thieves try to get it back.

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Plot Keywords:

vehicle driving by itself | monte carlo | car | diamond | driver car relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Love Bug falls 'hood-over-wheels' for a classy chassis!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

24 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cupido motorizado enamorado

Filming Locations:

Laguna Seca Raceway - 1021 Monterey Salinas Highway, Monterey, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$29,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Herbie The Love Bug was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe ragtop sedan painted in Volkswagen L87 pearl white. Under normal circumstances, the interior would be a matching white. However, Herbie's interior was painted a special non-reflective grey color so the camera and studio lights would not reflect.

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Goofs

When Herbie crashes into the table at the gypsy camp, the gypsy setting the table throws both hands in the air, but in the next shot both his arms are at his side.

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Quotes

[after Herbie successfully passed Bruno Von Stickle's race car in dark tunnel and last half mile before the finish line]
Bruno Von Stickle: Swine!

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Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #35.1 (2006)

User Reviews

not that funny

Race car driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) brings Herbie to Europe with mechanic Wheely Applegate (Don Knotts). They enter the Trans-France Race from Paris to Monte Carlo. It's 12 years since they last raced. Their opponents include the German Bruno von Stickle, Frenchman Claude Gilbert, and Diane Darcy. Thieves Max and Quincey steal the giant diamond Étoile de Joie and hide it in Herbie's gas tank as the police surround the museum. Herbie falls for Diane's car.

Dean Jones returns to the Herbie franchise. The addition of Don Knotts does not necessarily add to the humor. Julie Sommars is beautiful and strident. However, she isn't with the guys enough to create chemistry. The thieves and the cops aren't that compelling. They do a bit of broad humor. It's not that funny in this Disney franchise sequel.