Herbie Rides Again *** (1974, Helen Hayes, Ken Berry, Stefanie Powers, John McIntire, Keenan Wynn) – Classic Movie Review 7868

Director Robert Stevenson’s 1974 children’s comedy Herbie Rides Again is the amusing sequel to Walt Disney’s The Love Bug (1968). It stars venerable actress Helen Hayes as the sweet little old lady Mrs Steinmetz who enlists the help of the living Volkswagen Beetle Herbie to protect her home against nasty property developer Alonzo Hawk (Keenan Wynn).

Effective stunts and special effects and a witty slapstick script by producer Bill Walsh (based on a story by Gordon Buford) make it good fun for children of all ages. It is the second of the four original Herbie movies. Later the popular Herbie went to Monte Carlo then went Bananas in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) and Herbie Goes Bananas! (1980). Herbie Fully Loaded followed in 2005 with Lindsay Lohan.

Ken Berry (1933–2018).

It is a rare movie credit for comedian Ken Berry (as Willoughby Whitfield), whose long career was almost entirely on TV in shows such as F-Troop, Mayberry R.F.D and Mama’s Family. He died on 1 December 2018, aged 85.

Also in the cast are Stefanie Powers, John McIntire, Huntz Hall, Ivor Barry, Dan Tobin, Vito Scotti, Raymond Bailey, John Zaremba, Liam Dunn, Richard X Slattery, Elaine Devry, Fritz Feld, Maurice Marsac, Chuck McCann, Robert Carson, Alvy Moore, Arthur Space, Herb Vigran, John Hubbard and Hank Jones.

Herbie Rides Again is directed by Robert Stevenson, runs 88 minutes, is made by Walt Disney, is released by Buena Vista, is written by Bill Walsh, based on a story by Gordon Buford, is shot by Frank V Phillips, is produced by Bill Walsh, is scored by George Burns, and is designed by John B Mansbridge.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7868

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