About Herbie Rides Again

Herbie Rides Again is a 1974 American comedy film and the sequel to The Love Bug, released by Walt Disney Productions. The movie follows the adventures of Herbie, an anthropomorphic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, as it aids and abets an elderly woman in her efforts to prevent a wealthy real-estate mogul from bulldozing her Victorian property.

Plot and Summary

The story revolves around a charming, sentient Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie helping elderly Mrs. Steinmetz save her home from the wicked developer, Alonzo Hawk. Herbie draws on his inner strength, ingenuity, and some special abilities—or "herbiemagic"—to help Mrs. Steinmetz outsmart Mr. Hawk and protect her house.

Making / Production

The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Bill Walsh. The movie is set and filmed in San Francisco, California.

Actors

• Helen Hayes as Mrs. Steinmetz: Hayes plays the endearing elderly woman who vows to protect her property with Herbie's help.
• Ken Berry as Willoughby Whitfield: Berry portrays a young lawyer, sympathetic to Mrs. Steinmetz's cause, and gradually becoming fond of Herbie too.
• Stefanie Powers as Nicole Harris: Powers represents the romantic interest and support for Willoughby in the film.
• Keenan Wynn as Alonzo Hawk: Wynn masterfully enacts the role of the ruthless businessman who seeks to destroy Mrs. Steinmetz's home.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the first of several sequels to Disney's hit movie "The Love Bug."
• "Herbie Rides Again" was originally scheduled to be only released overseas but was eventually released in the United States due to the popularity of the car.
• Herbie Rides Again was the last Walt Disney Productions film to star Disney regular Elsa Lanchester.

Awards

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction (Art Direction: Jack Martin Smith and Preston Ames; Set Decoration: Walter M. Scott and Stuart A. Reiss).

Quotes

• "You're the most alive car I've ever seen!" - Willoughby Whitfield
• "What this town needs is a really big cheese!" - Alonzo Hawk

Music, Soundtrack

• The opening theme song is "Herbie Rides Again," written by Mel Leven and George Bruns, and performed by Randy Sparks and the Back Porch Majority.
• Herbie's theme, known as "The Love Bug Theme," composed by George Bruns, is fully presented.