The Love Bug facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Love Bug
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Stevenson
Produced by	Bill Walsh
Screenplay by	Bill Walsh Don DaGradi
Story by	Gordon Buford
Starring	Dean Jones Michele Lee David Tomlinson Buddy Hackett
Music by	George Bruns
Cinematography	Edward Colman
Editing by	Cotton Warburton
Studio	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	December 24, 1968 (1968-12-24) (limited) March 13, 1969 (1969-03-13) (wide)
Running time	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5 million
Money made	$51,264,000

The Love Bug is a fun 1968 American comedy film from Walt Disney Productions. It's the first movie about a very special car named Herbie. Herbie is a pearl-white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that seems to have a mind of its own! This movie is based on a book called Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford.

The story follows Herbie and his driver, Jim Douglas (Dean Jones). Jim is a race car driver who discovers Herbie's amazing abilities. Jim's friend, Tennessee Steinmetz (Buddy Hackett), helps him understand Herbie. Tennessee is an artist who makes cool sculptures from old car parts. The movie also features Carole Bennett (Michele Lee), who becomes Jim's love interest. The main villain is Peter Thorndyke (David Tomlinson), a car shop owner and a champion racer. He sells Herbie to Jim and later becomes his biggest rival on the race track.

Meet the Cast

This movie has many great actors who bring the characters to life!

• Dean Jones as Jim Douglas, a race car driver who becomes Herbie's owner.
• Michele Lee as Carole Bennet, a kind woman who works with Thorndyke and later helps Jim.
• David Tomlinson as Peter Thorndyke, the sneaky owner of a car shop and a rival racer.
• Buddy Hackett as Tennessee Steinmetz, Jim's artistic and wise friend.
• Joe Flynn as Havershaw, Thorndyke's assistant.
• Benson Fong as Tang Wu, a friend who supports Jim's racing team.
• Joe E. Ross as Detective, a police officer.
• Barry Kelley as Police sergeant, another police officer.
• Iris Adrian as Carhop, a server at a drive-in restaurant.
• Gary Owens as Announcer, a voice at the races.
• Chick Hearn as Announcer, another voice at the races.
• Andy Granatelli as Association President, a racing official.
• Ned Glass as Toll Booth Attendant, a worker at a toll booth.
• Robert Foulk as Bice, a character in the film.
• Gil Lamb as Policeman at Park, a police officer.
• Nicole Jaffe as Girl in Dune-Buggy, a young girl.
• Wally Boag as Flabbergasted Driver, a surprised driver.
• Russ Caldwell as Boy Driving Dune-Buggy, a young boy.
• Peter Renaday as Policeman on Bridge, a police officer.
• Brian Fong as Chinese carrying Herbie, a person helping with Herbie.
• Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez as Mexican Driver, a driver in the race.
• Dale Van Sickel as Driver, another driver.

Herbie in Comics

Did you know Herbie also appeared in comic books?

• Gold Key Comics made a comic book version of The Love Bug in June 1969.

Herbie's Legacy: More Adventures!

The Love Bug was so popular that it led to many more movies and even a TV show about Herbie!

• Four more movies followed the original:
  • Herbie Rides Again (1974)
  • Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)
  • Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
  • Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
• Some exciting racing scenes from The Love Bug were even used again in Herbie Rides Again to show how famous Herbie used to be.

In 1982, a TV series called Herbie, the Love Bug aired on CBS. Dean Jones came back to play Jim Douglas in this series, continuing the story from the movies. There was also a TV movie sequel in 1997, which also featured a cameo by Dean Jones. The most recent movie, Herbie: Fully Loaded, came out in 2005 and starred Lindsay Lohan.

You can even find Herbie at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! At Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, buildings 6 and 7 are themed after "The Love Bug," celebrating this beloved car.

See also

In Spanish: The Love Bug (película de 1968) para niños