HERBIE RIDES AGAIN (1974, U.S.)

Herbie Rides Again

(1974, U.S.) Color 88 minutes
Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista
Story: Gordon Buford
Screenplay: Bill Walsh
Music: George Bruns
Cinematography: Frank V. Phillips
Editing: Cotton Warburton
Art Direction: John B. Mansbridge, Walter H. Tyler
Produced by Bill Walsh
Directed by Robert Stevenson

With: Helen Hayes (Mrs. Steinmetz), Ken Berry (Willoughby Whitfield), Stefanie Powers (Nicole Harris), John McIntire (Mr. Judson), Keenan Wynn (Alonzo Hawk), Huntz Hall (Judge), Richard X. Slattery (Traffic Commissioner), Raymond Bailey (Lawyer), Dan Tobin (Lawyer), Elaine Devry (Secretary), Liam Dunn (Doctor), Vito Scotti (Taxi Driver), Don Pedro Colley), Chuck McCann (Loostgarten), Larry J. Blake, Jack Manning, Ivor Barry, Rod McCary

***

In July of 1974, Walt Disney Productions released a sequel to THE LOVE BUG, called HERBIE RIDES AGAIN. The story opens with evil building contractor Alonzo Hawk (Keenan Wynn) buying and destroying old buildings, so that he can construct impressive-looking but poorly-built and dangerous high-rises.

After screening a montage of scenes that show Hawk wrecking buildings and attending the grand openings of his new acquisitions, the scene shifts to Hawk's offices in San Francisco, where he shows off his latest prize, some property in the lowliest section of the city. But during his demonstration to investors, he finds out to his chagrin that the owner of an old firehouse, Mrs. Steinmetz (Helen Hayes) has not been removed from the property. It seems that Hawk’s lawyers were unsuccessful in their attempts to have Steinmetz sign over her firehouse to the company, and she is refusing to allow anyone to let her give up her home.

Hawk chews out his legal council and asks his secretary to find a new lawyer who can get the property without being suspected of the crooked motives. Into these proceedings comes a naive young fellow named Willoby (Ken Berry, best remembered by TV fans as Capt. Wilton Parmenter on ABC's “F Troop” and Councilman Sam Jones on “Mayberry RFD”) who is looking for a job as legal council with his uncle Hawk.

Seeing the young man as his means of taking over the Steinmetz firehouse, Hawk manipulates the gullible lawyer into thinking that the neighborhood in which Steinmetz lives is unsafe. Fooled by the old codger's scheme, Willoby heads for the Steinmetz abode, and tries to get her to sell the property. Willoby is unprepared for the atmosphere of the Steinmetz firehouse, which is filled with enchanted items: a nickelodeon that interprets the motives of unsavory people, and Herbie, the former racing car, who had helped his former owners Jim Douglass (Dean Jones), Michelle Lee and Tennessee Steinmetz (Steinmetz' nephew, played by Buddy Hackett) win the El Dorado race, and who now protects his new owners and friends, Steinmetz and Nichole (Stephanie Powers) from harm.

At first Willoby doesn't believe that the car or the piano is magical, and feels that Steinmetz may be nuts. Then he meets Nichole, who is not thrilled that this character is trying to force the two ladies out of their home. She is even more angry that Willoby is a nephew of Hawk. After a drive with Nichole, which leads to the young man being the reluctant opponent in a car joust, does he believe in the special relationship of Herbie and his friends. Willoby barely survives the joust but now seeing that his uncle is a fink, he works with Steinmetz and Nichole to prevent Hawk from wrecking the firehouse and taking over the property.

Hawk is not a villain who gives up easily, however. He tries to get rid of the occupants and take over the property, but all of his plans fail. In the end Hawk is thwarted by Herbie, Willoby, Steinmetz, Nichole, and a kindly old rancher (played by John McIntyre), and is arrested by the San Francisco Police Commissioner (Richard X. Slatterly). The property is fixed up by McIntyre’s company, and Willoby and Nichole are married.

***

I first saw this film at the Dale Theater in the Bronx, New York, back in July of 1974. It is one of the few sequels to a previous Disney hit movie that actually tops the original. The comedy is fast and funny and the cast is top notch. Hayes is perfectly cast as Mrs. Steinmetz, showcasing a mix of charm, befuddlement and whimsy. (The role was originally meant for Walter Brennan, who died before shooting began). Powers is tough but charming as Hayes’ caring adoptive granddaughter. Berry is hilarious as the naive, bumbling but caring hero and, once again, Wynn is a marvelously crafty but blustery villain. There are also some funny cameos from such beloved comic/character actors as Alan Carney (from the now forgotten comedy team of Brown & Carney) as the herald at the Car Joust; former “Bowery Boy” Huntz Hall as the judge of the car joust; Herb Vigrain (regular on “The Adventures Of Superman”) as a put-upon window washer; Vito Scotti as a befuddled Italian cabbie; Burt Mustin (Gus The Fireman on “Leave It To Beaver”) and Queenie Smith as guests at a black tie concert; John McIntyire as Hayes' boyfriend; one of my childhood heroes and a dear friend, Chuck McCann (host/performer of WPIX TV’s “Laurel & Hardy & Chuck!”, “Let's Have Fun!” and “The Chuck McCann Show”) as Wynn's inept house wrecker, Lostgarden.

The Disney studios did a lot of publicity for this film. They even produced a TV special that was hosted by “Wonderama’s” Bob McAllister, “Herbie Day At Disneyland!” which aired in prime time on WNEW TV Channel 5 in New York during the summer of 1974. McAllister did some comedy bits with the mischievous little car and interviewed Hayes and Wynn at Disneyland . Bob also mc'd a Herbie car dress up contest. The winner was a guy named Herbie -- Believe It Or Else!

- Kevin S. Butler

Video/DVD availability: VHS/DVD (Disney Home Video)