The Love Bug (1968)

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screenplay) &
Don DaGradi (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 marzo 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Sport

Frase comercial:

It's a Love-in for Herbie... the incredible little car who shifts for himself!

Plot:

A race car driver becomes a champion with a Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own.

Plot Keywords:

Animate Car | Inanimate Object In Cast Credits | 1960s | Automobile | Ghost Town

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Herbie, the little VW with a mind of its own

Cast

Dean Jones	...	Jim
Michele Lee	...	Carole
David Tomlinson	...	Thorndyke
Buddy Hackett	...	Tennessee Steinmetz
Joe Flynn	...	Havershaw
Benson Fong	...	Mr. Wu
Andy Granatelli	...	Association President
Joe E. Ross	...	Detective
Iris Adrian	...	Carhop
Ned Glass	...	Toll Booth Attendant
Robert Foulk	...	Bice
Gil Lamb	...	Policeman at Park
Barry Kelley	...	Police Sgt.
Nicole Jaffe	...	Girl In Dune-buggy
Wally Boag

También conocida como:

Car-Boy-Girl (USA) (original script title)
Cupido motorizado (Argentina) (Mexico) [es]
Ahí va ese bólido (Spain) [es]

Duración:

107 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sonido:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Clasificación:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | Canada:G (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Canada:F (Ontario) | Finland:S | Norway:A | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

1000 block of Lombard Street, Lombard Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivialidades:

The backdrop in the race scenes is of the Riverside International Raceway.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Herbie gets scared to get on the freeway there is a sign showing Findlay, Garfield, Wilcox exits. This is in Los Angeles, not San Francisco where the film is set.

Quotes:

Bice: You used to be a big track driver, ain't you got no pride?
Jim Douglas: I ran out of pride when I ran out of cars.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Pumaman (#10.3)" (1998)

Herbie, the little VW with a mind of its own

This is a true Disney Classic, in fact Walt Disney had a hand in developing the story but, sad to say, never lived to see it hit the big screen. In the film, we learn rather quickly that race car driver Jim Douglas(Dean Jones) has hit rock bottom after being a prominent race car driver(what caused his demise? it's not explained but it appears that he got into quite a few bang ups). He lives with a Buddhist named Tennessee Steinmetz(Buddy Hackett)who finds a soul in everything.

Jim soon looks for a new car and comes across a fancy dealership, only to be embarrassed by the owner Peter Thorndyke(David Tomlinson) who refuses Jim's $80 offer for a gorgeous race car. While in the showroom, a VW rolls in that was supposed to be scrapped. As Thorndyke berates the little car, Jim sticks up for it and soon the car thinks it has a friend and follows Jim home. To avoid being blamed for stealing the car, Jim agrees to buy it from Thorndyke but the car acts up. Jim is about to return it when he's caught in a drag race because someone makes fun of the VW. Herbie blows the competition away and Jim falls in love with the car's speed, but Tennessee knows it has heart and names it Herbie.

Soon Jim, Herbie and Tennessee are winning races and Jim's ego inflates while Thorndyke's temper grows since he too races and loses every time to Herbie. Thorndyke decides to sabotage the little car and when he succeeds, Jim turns his back on Herbie. Once Jim realizes HE hasn't being winning the races he tries to find Herbie who has since run off. Herbie gets impounded after an accident and Jim must sell him to a Chinese man who agrees to let Jim drive Herbie in a big race. If Jim wins, he gets to buy Herbie back for a buck. Needless to say, Thorndyke once again sabotages Herbie,but hey, this is Disney. Who do YOU think wins out at the end?

I had to give this movie a 10 because it has so much going for it. Comedy, some drama, romance. We know very little about Jim Douglas except when Tennessee describes him as down on his luck, angry, and one who was prone to getting into trouble. Jones did an excellent job as the cocky, angry, egotistical driver who is knocked down a few pegs by his friends and a little car. The character mirrored Jones back then, who admits in his biography that he was a dirt bike racing nut prone to losing his temper quite a bit and having an affinity for women other than his wife. Michelle Lee is grand but we don't see much of her and Hackett plays the sincere bit amazingly well especially when he tells Jim that he was nothing without Herbie. For comedic relief David Tomlinson was terrific as was his assistant Havershaw(Joe Flynn of McHale's Navy fame).

Yes there are some over the top, goofy and somewhat embarrassing sight gags and a few interesting moments(i.e. Carol thinking Jim has ulterior motives when Herbie brings them to a make-out point, i.e. when Herbie tries to kill itself, and when Jim finally admits to Carol that he's just a bum), but the film has heart, like Herbie. The film had three more sequels, a five part TV miniseries, a re-make in 1998(or so) and there's a new film coming out. Jones only did Love Bug, Monte Carlo(film 3), the miniseries and made a pathetic appearance in the 1998 film. In each one, Jones was still down on his luck but nothing like the sad figure he portrayed in Love Bug. Great classic film, filled with 60's nostalgia.