Herbie Rides Again facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Herbie Rides Again
Directed by	Robert Stevenson
Produced by	Bill Walsh
Screenplay by	Bill Walsh
Story by	Gordon Buford
Starring	Helen Hayes Ken Berry Stefanie Powers Keenan Wynn John McIntire
Music by	George Bruns
Cinematography	Frank V. Phillips
Editing by	Cotton Warburton
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	June 6, 1974 (1974-06-06)
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Money made	$38,229,000 (US/Canada gross) $30.8 million (worldwide rentals)

Herbie Rides Again is a fun 1974 American comedy film. It's the second movie in The Love Bug series. This film stars Herbie, a special 1963 Volkswagen Beetle racing car. Herbie is like a person; he can think and drive himself!

The movie was made by Walt Disney Productions. It was directed by Robert Stevenson. The main actors include Helen Hayes, Stefanie Powers, Ken Berry, and Keenan Wynn. Keenan Wynn plays the bad guy, Alonzo Hawk, again. He was also a villain in other Disney movies.

After Herbie Rides Again, there were more movies about Herbie. These included Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and Herbie Goes Bananas. A much later movie, Herbie: Fully Loaded, came out in 2005.

Herbie's New Adventure

This story begins with a very rich and powerful builder named Alonzo Hawk. He wants to build a huge shopping center in San Francisco. But there's one big problem! An old firehouse is in his way.

This firehouse is home to "Grandma" Steinmetz (Helen Hayes). She is the widow of the fire station's old owner. Her niece, Nicole Harris (Stefanie Powers), a flight attendant, also lives there. And, of course, Herbie, the amazing Volkswagen Beetle, lives with them! They also have an old music machine and a retired cable car called "Old No. 22."

Alonzo Hawk's Plan

Alonzo Hawk wants to tear down the firehouse. He has tried many times to make Mrs. Steinmetz leave. He even wants to send her to a retirement home he owns. But his lawyers haven't been able to make her move.

Hawk is losing a lot of money each day because of the delay. So, he sends his nephew, Willoughby Whitfield (Ken Berry), to talk to Mrs. Steinmetz.

Willoughby Meets Herbie

Mrs. Steinmetz likes Willoughby right away. He is polite and young. She tells him about Herbie and Old No. 22. She explains that Herbie's old owner, Jim Douglas, is racing cars in Europe.

When Nicole first meets Willoughby, she punches him! She's angry because he works for Hawk. But then she feels bad and offers him a ride in Herbie.

Herbie gets upset when Willoughby says something mean about him. The car goes wild! Herbie takes them to a car jousting event. Herbie wins, earning Willoughby a small prize.

Later, Nicole tells Willoughby all the bad things Hawk has done. Willoughby accidentally says Hawk is his uncle. Nicole gets very angry and throws a lobster at him! He falls into the water at Fisherman's Wharf.

Herbie's Escapes

Willoughby decides he doesn't want to help his uncle anymore. He tries to tell Hawk, but Hawk is very angry. Hawk then tries to harass Mrs. Steinmetz. His first plan is to capture Herbie.

Hawk manages to get into Herbie. But Herbie doesn't like Hawk! Herbie causes many traffic accidents and jams. He even crashes into a police car! Herbie then drops Hawk off right at his office door. A policeman gives Hawk many tickets for all the trouble Herbie caused.

While Herbie takes Mrs. Steinmetz to the market, Hawk's men chase them. Herbie makes amazing escapes! He drives through the famous Sheraton Palace Hotel. He even drives along a cable on the Golden Gate Bridge! Mrs. Steinmetz doesn't even notice all the wild driving.

New Friends and Rescues

Nicole convinces Willoughby to stay and help. Mrs. Steinmetz asks Nicole and Willoughby to get groceries. She suggests they drive to the beach. Nicole wants to get broccoli, but Herbie takes them to the beach anyway. They have a nice time there and start to like each other.

On their way home, they find the road blocked. So, Herbie drives right into the ocean! He surfs through the bay to find another way home.

When they get back to the firehouse, all the furniture is gone! Hawk had it removed. Mrs. Steinmetz, Willoughby, Nicole, and Herbie track the stolen items to a warehouse. They break in and find all of Mrs. Steinmetz's things loaded into "No. 22." Hawk's security guards try to catch them. But Herbie pushes other items off shelves, trapping the guards. The trio escapes with their belongings.

An old-timer named Judson (John McIntire) joins Mrs. Steinmetz on "No. 22." He thinks it's a public cable car. Hawk chases them. Herbie distracts Hawk and saves Mrs. Steinmetz and Judson from a crash. "No. 22" rolls down a hill and into a building! Willoughby jumps aboard and uses the handbrake to stop it.

The Final Showdown

The next morning, Mrs. Steinmetz decides to face Hawk herself. She drives Herbie onto the window-cleaning machine of Hawk's skyscraper. They go up to his 28th-floor office. They hear Hawk talking about tearing down the firehouse.

Mrs. Steinmetz then turns on the window-cleaning machine. It fills Hawk's office with foam and water! Hawk throws an ashtray at Herbie. Herbie chases Hawk around the outside of the building, even onto a narrow ledge! Mrs. Steinmetz tells Herbie to stop by mentioning a used car lot.

Willoughby then tricks Hawk. He pretends to be Hawk and tells the demolition agent to tear down Hawk's own house! Hawk realizes too late that he has ordered his own home to be destroyed.

Hawk tries to make a fake peace with Mrs. Steinmetz. He even puts a false story in the newspaper saying he gives up. Willoughby and Nicole go to dinner, thinking it's over. But Hawk sends big earthmovers to crush the firehouse!

Herbie quickly goes to find Nicole and Willoughby. Without Herbie, the only defense is an old fire hose. Judson uses it against the earthmovers, but it bursts!

Herbie finds Nicole and Willoughby. Then, Herbie gathers many other Volkswagen Beetles from all over the city! They form an army and come after Hawk and his men. Hawk is terrified of Herbie and his new friends. Herbie chases Hawk away. Hawk is arrested after telling the police about an army of Beetles chasing him.

In the end, Nicole and Willoughby get married. They ride away in Herbie, passing under an arch made by Herbie's new Volkswagen Beetle friends!

Cast