fiction.wikisort.org - Movie

The Herbie franchise (also known as The Love Bug franchise) consists of American race car-sport family-comedies, including five theatrical feature films, one television film, a television series, and other multimedia releases.[1] The overall story centers around the titular Herbie, a sentient anthropomorphic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of his own and capable of driving himself. The vehicle is often times a legitimate contender, though the underdog contestant in competitive races, but to a greater degree assists his human owners in bettering their lives.

Herbie
Official home video release, boxset collection artwork
Based on	Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford
Starring	Dean Jones (1-3) Lindsay Lohan (6)
Music by	George Bruns (1-2) Frank De Vol (3-4) Shirley Walker (1997 film) Mark Mothersbaugh (5) Marco Beltrami (6)
Production company	Walt Disney Studios
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Release dates	1969–1980 1997–present
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	~$70,000,000 [lower-alpha 1] (Total of 5 films)
Box office	~$279,639,816 [lower-alpha 2] (Total of 5 films)

The first film, notable for being the final live-action film approved by Walt Disney prior to his death, was released in 1969. Based on a short story titled "Car, Boy, Girl", the feature proved to be a critical and financial success for Walt Disney Productions. Upon its release, the movie was the second highest grossing motion picture for the company, second only to Mary Poppins. Its performance placed it fourth highest on box office returns, and spawned a franchise.[2][3][4] Each of the subsequent releases were successes in their own right, but none received as much universal praise as the original.

The second film was met with mixed critical reception, while notably it is to-date^[when?] the highest critically scored film in the series.[5][6][7] The third film was met with mixed reception,[8] while the fourth film was poorly received and is often classified as the weakest Herbie film.[9][10] The television series was panned by critics, resulting in a cancellation following five episodes, with reviews calling it "domesticated", "mild", and "boring".[11] The fifth film, which sought to reveal the titular hero's origin, was met with negative reviews, citing its inferiority to the original.[12] The sixth film was met with mixed reception, and garnered the highest box office returns out of all of the installments. Though the film was criticized for various aspects including the plot, it was seen as a return to form for the franchise.[13][14]

Origin

In 1961 a short story titled "Car, Boy, Girl" was written by Gordon Buford. In an interview with a U.S. publication for VW owners titled Small World Magazine, Buford stated that the idea for his story came from growing up on a Colorado farm, where he witnessed how his parents treated their vehicles with a similar manner as they did their horses. Though there are no publications currently in circulation, it is believed that the short was presented directly to Walt Disney and/or that The Walt Disney Company purchased the rights of distribution to the story shortly thereafter.[3]

Film

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Story by	Producer(s)
The Love Bug	March 13, 1969 (1969-03-13)	Robert Stevenson	Bill Walsh & Don DaGradi	Gordon Buford	Bill Walsh
Herbie Rides Again	June 6, 1974 (1974-06-06)		Bill Walsh
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo	June 24, 1977 (1977-06-24)	Vincent McEveety	Arthur Alsberg & Don Nelson		Ron Miller
Herbie Goes Bananas	June 25, 1980 (1980-06-25)		Don Tait		Kevin Corcoran, Ron Miller and Don Tait
The Love Bug	November 30, 1997 (1997-11-30)	Peyton Reed	Ryan Rowe		Joan Van Horn and Irwin Marcus
Herbie: Fully Loaded	June 22, 2005 (2005-06-22)	Angela Robinson	Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant and Alfred Gough & Miles Millar	Mark Perez and Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant	Robert Simonds

The Love Bug (1969)

Has-been professional race car driver Jim Douglas and his philosophical mechanic Tennessee Steinmetz find themselves in possession of a white Volkswagen Beetle that seems to have a mind and spirit of its own. Naming the car Herbie, Jim and Tennessee become the talk of the California racing circuit. Sports-car dealer and circuit contestant Peter Thorndyke tries to use his assistant to come between the friends and their car.[15]

Herbie Rides Again (1974)

By not letting him buy her house, Mrs. "Grandma" Steinmetz foils the plans of Alonzo Hawk, a property developer who wants to build a shopping mall in downtown San Francisco. Hawk plots to force her out. While helping his uncle Alonzo, Willoughby Whitfield discovers a special Volkswagen Beetle and falls for Nicole, Mrs. Steinmetz's niece. After they discover Alonzo's plans, it's up to Mrs. Steinmetz and the extraordinary Beetle to save the day.[16]

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)

Jim Douglas, reunited with Herbie, finds himself once again hitting the roads in a race car event. This time, Jim and Herbie, along with goofy mechanic Wheely Applegate compete in a French competition. Also involved in the automotive adventure are Quincey and Max, a pair of jewel thieves, and Diane Darcy, the beautiful woman who drives Giselle, a sporty female car and Herbie's love interest.[17]

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)

Peter is excited when he learns he's inherited a car from his uncle. His enthusiasm wanes when he and his friend D.J., travel to Puerta Vallarta and discover the car is a rusty old Volkswagen Beetle. They quickly realize their car has extraordinary abilities and set off on a road trip across Central America to enter the special Beetle in a high-stakes race, encountering pickpockets, counterfeiters and various obstacles along the way.[18]

The Love Bug (1997)

Released as a made-for-television movie, as a part of The Magical World of Walt Disney, this installment was marketed as a remake. Events of the film, however, reveal it is a direct sequel to the previous films.[19]

Herbie, inimitable VW Beetle is losing all his races and destined for the scrap heap, until mechanic Hank takes him over and gives him a new lease of life. Soon, the little car is winning again, to the fury of his previous owner who builds a menacing black bug to challenge Herbie to the ultimate race.[20]

Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)

Maggie Peyton wants to become a NASCAR driver but her overprotective father, Ray Peyton Sr. won't hear of it. A former racer himself, Ray wants Maggie to take a lucrative television sportscasting job and leave the dangers of driving to her crash-prone brother. When Ray Sr. takes Maggie to a junkyard to pick out a car, she has no idea that the little Volkswagen Beetle, named Herbie, she takes home will change her life.[21]

Television

Live action

Herbie the Love Bug (1982)

A television series based on, and a continuation of, the film series was developed and released from March 17 – April 14, 1982.[22] The series was released as a mid-season replacement to a cancelled show, and was given the 8:00 P.M. time slot. Developed and executive produced by William Robert Yates, the television show was written by Arthur Alsberg, Don Nelson, and Don Tait. The production was produced by Walt Disney Productions, and distributed by Buena Vista Television. The series, which aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System, did not receive a second season.[23]

Episodes

Nº	Title	U.S. airdate	Director	Written by	Producers
1	"Herbie the Matchmaker"	March 17, 1982 (1982-03-17)	Charles S. Dubin	Arthur Alsberg & Don Nelson	William Robert Yates and Kevin Corcoran
2	"Herbie to the Rescue"	March 24, 1982 (1982-03-24)	Vincent McEveety
3	"My House is Your House"	March 31, 1982 (1982-03-31)	Bill Bixby	Don Tait
4	"Herbie, the Best Man"	April 7, 1982 (1982-04-07)	Vincent McEveety	Arthur Alsberg & Don Nelson
5	"Calling Dr. Herbie"	April 14, 1982 (1982-04-14)	Bill Bixby

Premise

Jim Douglas and his living vehicle named Herbie own and run a driving school. Jim stumbles upon an attempted bank robbery, and with Herbie's help rescues a hostage. Later, the driving school is closed down after Herbie interferes with a motor vehicle inspection. Jim, now divorced from Carole, begins a relationship with a similarly divorced woman named Susan MacLane. Together with her daughter and two sons, Jim and Susan begin to build a family unit, to the disdain and envy of her ex-boyfriend/fiancé Randy.

When the pair become engaged, Randy attempts to sabotage the relationship. Jim's ex-girlfriend shows up to his bachelor party, while Randy kidnaps Herbie and replaces him with a look-alike vehicle. After his plans to ruin the wedding are stopped, with the assistance of Herbie, Jim and Susan are married. Together, they sell her vehicle and purchase a family-sized station wagon. Herbie joyfully gains a larger family, with the new additions of Susan, Julie, Robbie, and Matthew.[19]

The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (1989–1994)

• In 1990, Herbie made an appearance in the second season of the 1980s/90s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. The character appears briefly in a spoof skit titled, "Herbie the Love Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup".[24]
• One of the Disney Parade car versions of Herbie the Love Bug, also briefly appears in the comedy skit titled, "Clown College". The character is redesigned as a clown car for the routine.[25]

Animation

• Herbie briefly appears in Disney's House of Mouse. During season 2 episode 5, titled "Max's New Car", the character appears with other Disney vehicles. Herbie encourages Max Goof to talk to his father about buying a car.
• Herbie has a brief cameo in The Simpsons season 11 episode titled, "Beyond Blunderdome". Released in 1999, the character appears alongside various other famous vehicles in the Movie Car Museum.[26] Though the appearance was originally produced by 20th Century Fox Television, through acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company in 2019, the cameo is currently distributed by the latter company's subsidiary, 20th Television.[27]
• Herbie has a brief appearance in the American Dad! season 13 episode titled, "Stan Smith as Keanu Reeves as Stanny Utah in Point Breakers". Released in 2016, the character helps Stan escape from a collaborative attack from poachers and wolves. Similar to The Simpsons, American Dad! was originally produced by Fox, before the company was purchased by The Walt Disney Company. The show is currently distributed by its parent-company, Disney.[28]

Main cast and characters

Character	Title
	The Love Bug	Herbie Rides Again	Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo	Herbie Goes Bananas	Herbie the Love Bug	The Love Bug	Herbie: Fully Loaded
Herbie The Love Bug	Appeared
Jim Douglas	Dean Jones	mentioned	Dean Jones	mentioned	Dean Jones		mentioned
Tennessee Steinmetz	Buddy Hackett	mentioned
Carole Bennet-Douglas	Michele Lee
Peter Thorndyke	David Tomlinson
Havershaw	Joe Flynn
Mrs. "Grandma" Steinmetz		Helen Hayes
Willoughby Whitfield		Ken Berry
Nicole Harris-Whitefield		Stefanie Powers
Alonzo Hawk		Keenan Wynn
Wheely Applegate			Don Knotts
Diane Darcy			Julie Sommars
Giselle			Appeared
Bruno Von Stickle			Eric Braeden
Claude Gilbert			Mike Kulcsar
Inspector Bouchet			Jacques Marin
Detective Fontenoy			Xavier Saint-Macary
Pete Stancheck				Stephen W. Burns
Davy "D.J." Johns				Charles Martin Smith
Paco				Joaquin Garay III
Melissa Trends				Elyssa Davalos
Aunt Louise Trends				Cloris Leachman
Prindle				John Vernon
Quinn				Alex Rocco
Shepard				Richard Jaeckel
Susan MacLane-Douglas					Patricia Harty
Julie MacLane					Claudia Wells
Robbie MacLane					Douglas Emerson
Matthew MacLane					Nicky Katt
Bo Phillips					Richard Paul
Randy Bigelow					Larry Linville
Hank Cooper						Bruce Campbell
Roddy Martel						Kevin J. O'Connor
Alex Davis						Alexandra Wentworth
Dr. Gustav Stumpfel						Harold Gould
Simon Moore III						John Hannah
Rupert						Dana Gould
Horace The Hate Bug						Appeared
Maggie Peyton							Lindsay Lohan
Ray Peyton, Sr.							Michael Keaton
Ray Peyton, Jr.							Breckin Meyer
Kevin							Justin Long
Trip Murphy							Matt Dillon
Crash							Jimmi Simpson

Additional crew and production details

Film	Crew/Detail
	Composer(s)	Cinematographer(s)	Editor(s)	Production companies	Distributing company	Running time
The Love Bug	George Bruns	Edward Colman	Cotton Warburton	Walt Disney Productions	Buena Vista Distribution	1hr 48mins
Herbie Rides Again		Frank Phillips				1hr 28mins
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo	Frank De Vol					1hr 44mins
Herbie Goes Bananas		Gordon D. Brenner	Leonard J. South			1hr 38mins
Herbie the Love Bug	Frank De Vol & Tom Worrall	Jack A. Whitman Jr. & Jack Swain	Gordon Brenner, Marsh Hendry & Ron Honthaner		Buena Vista Television, Columbia Broadcasting System	2hrs 40mins
The Love Bug	Shirley Walker	Russ Alsobrook	Chip Masamitsu	Walt Disney Television	Disney–ABC Domestic Television	1hr 28mins
Herbie: Fully Loaded	Mark Mothersbaugh	Greg Gardiner	Wendy Greene Bricmont	Walt Disney Pictures, Robert Simonds Productions	Buena Vista Pictures	1hr 41mins

Reception

Box office and financial performance

Film	Box office gross			Box office ranking		Budget	Worldwide Total income	Ref.
	North America	Other territories	Worldwide	All-time North America	All-time worldwide
The Love Bug	$51,264,000	—	$51,264,000	#1,733	#2,757	$5,000,000	$46,264,000	[29][30][31]
Herbie Rides Again	$38,229,000	—	$38,229,000	#2,689	#3,778	$5,000,000	$33,229,000	[32][33]
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo	$29,000,000	—	$29,000,000	#2,944	#4,092	$5,000,000	$24,000,000	[34][35]
Herbie Goes Bananas	$17,000,000	—	$17,000,000	#4,004	#5,426	$5,000,000	$12,000,000	[36][37]
The Love Bug	—	—	—	—	—	Information unavailable [lower-alpha 3]	Information unavailable [lower-alpha 4]
Herbie: Fully Loaded	$66,023,816	$78,123,000	$144,146,816	#1,263	#1,225	$50,000,000	$94,146,816	[38][39]
Totals	$201,516,816	$78,123,000	$279,639,816			~$70,000,000 [lower-alpha 5]	~$209,639,816 [lower-alpha 6]

Critical response

Film	Rotten Tomatoes	Metacritic
The Love Bug	76% (17 reviews)[40]	48/100 (7 reviews)[41]
Herbie Rides Again	80% (5 reviews)[7]	49/100 (5 reviews)[42]
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo	60% (10 reviews)[8]	38/100 (4 reviews)[43]
Herbie Goes Bananas	40% (5 reviews)[44]	55/100 (4 reviews)[45]
Herbie the Love Bug	—	— (0 reviews)[46]
The Love Bug	— (2 reviews)[47]	—
Herbie: Fully Loaded	40% (144 reviews)[48]	47/100 (31 reviews)[49]

Audience survey company CinemaScore polled opening weekend audiences for Herbie: Fully Loaded and they gave the film a grade "A" on scale of A to F.[50] The other films in the series were not polled upon their release by CinemaScore.

Notes

Related films

Keenan Wynn appears as the primary antagonist in Herbie Rides Again (1974), named Alonzo P. Hawk. Wynn previously portrayed the same character in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and Son of Flubber (1963). Hawk is a villainous, dishonest, scheming businessman character in each respective film.[51]

Film	U.S. release date	Director	Screenwriter(s)	Story by	Producer(s)
The Absent-Minded Professor	March 16, 1961 (1961-03-16)	Robert Stevenson	Bill Walsh	Samuel W. Taylor	Bill Walsh
Son of Flubber	January 16, 1963 (1963-01-16)		Don DaGradi & Bill Walsh		Walt Disney and Bill Walsh

Video games

• Disney's Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005): A racing game developed by Climax Handheld Games, published by Disney Interactive Studios and Buena Vista Games as a Game Boy Advance exclusive release. The game is based loosely based on the 2005 film Herbie: Fully Loaded and features stills from the movie as in-game cut scenes.[52] The player takes the role of Herbie throughout a series of races, though should they fail to place first in any race, they are shown a Game Over screen and booted to the menu to start over.[52] The game was met with mixed reception, while its 3D graphics were widely praised.[52][53][54]
• Disney's Herbie: Rescue Rally (2007): A racing game developed by Climax Handheld games, and published by Disney Interactive Studios as a Nintendo DS exclusive release. The game is based on the Herbie film series. It earned a positive critical reception with IGN stating: "...Herbie Rescue Rally is a good game. For a system that is seriously lacking in solid racing titles, it's refreshing to find one that is at least worth playing."[55]

Theme park attractions

• Love Bug Day: An event held at Disneyland to celebrate the financial successes of the first and second films, which took place on two separate days in 1969 and 1974.
  • March 23, 1969 – The event had two main parts. In the first portion park visitors met in the parking lot, where they presented their own custom decorated VW Beetles in a competition to win a new one. During the second part of the occasion, the vehicles paraded from Main Street, U.S.A. town square, to the It's a Small World ride. Dean Jones greeted the contestants, and awarded car keys to the winner.
  • June 30, 1974 – The second "Love Bug Day" followed a similar series of events, while this time Helen Hayes was the film star to welcome and award the guests. This second occurrence featured as a part of the aired "Herbie Day at Disneyland" television special.[56][57][58]
• Disney's All-Star Movies Resort: After previously appearing in various Disney Park parades,[59][60] including Disney on Parade at Hong Kong Disneyland, the character now features at a hotel in Walt Disney World. Herbie is featured prominently in the Love Bug-themed section of the resort called Winner's Circle.[61]
• Lights, Motors, Action!: Extreme Stunt Show (2005–2011): Herbie featured during the half-time show at Disney theme parks from the time the attraction opened on May 25, 2005, to 2011. In 2011 the sequence was replaced with Lightning McQueen.[62] The show was later cancelled on April 2, 2016 and replaced by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.[63]
• Disney World opening "World's Greatest Mom" contest – buddy hackett drives through grand prix raceway
• Walt Disney World's Backlot tour

Productions

• Disney on Parade (1969–1973): In 1968 the concept was conceived by Thomas Sarnoff and presented to his father, Robert Sarnoff. Robert had served as President of National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and CEO of Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the prior of which was the network which had aired The Wonderful World of Disney.[64] In developing the stage show, Walt Disney Productions worked with NBC to create a partnership subsidiary company called Nawal Productions. Four seasons of the show traveled, as separate editions. After the financial success of a trial run in Long Beach in 1969, the show evolved and thrived with the addition of producer/director Michel "Mr. G" Grilikhes. The first edition's run at Madison Square Garden made a record in advanced ticket sales with $400,000.00 total; while a run in Salt Lake City booked a total of 77,255 people in nine days (equivalent of 38% of the city's population). It later toured Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America, earning $64 million worldwide.[65][66] Herbie featured during the last three years, in the comedy acts:
  • "Goofy and the Love Bug" (1970–'71): The comedy comedic short, centered around Goofy working in an autobody shop, who comes into contact and contends with Herbie.
  • "Three's a Family" (1972–'73): Goofy once again meets Herbie. The plot featured the latter falling in love with a pink VW, and the pair have their own little Bug of their own.
  • "The Used Car Lot" (1973–'74). During the comedic skit, Goofy visits a used car lot and can't decide if he prefers a Ford Model T or Herbie.
• Walt Disney's World on Ice: In 1979, Mattel approached The Walt Disney Company to collaborate on an ice show centered around the latter's properties. The precursor to what would later be known as Disney on Ice, the traveling show was developed by Irvin & Kenneth Feld Productions. The first series of shows debuted in 1981, while Herbie featured throughout the performances.[67][68] The show eventually evolved into Disney on Ice, with Herbie featuring in various shows.[69]
• Herbie and Friends Tour: In joint-commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the franchise and Volkswagen Group of America, Walt Disney Pictures in collaboration with VW America sponsored a roadtrip tour, featuring Herbie and various classic VWs. The trek included 25 VW dealership stops, impromptu mini-car shows, as well as promotional stays for the Herbie Fully Loaded film. Starting in San Francisco, California and ended New York City, the event lasted from May 13–31, 2005.[70]

Marketing

Herbie appears in Disneyland's 50th Anniversary television commercial, where he helps Mickey Mouse and Goofy as transportation to get to Disneyland.[71]

References

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