Herbie Rides Again

Name: Herbie Rides Again
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Family
Released: June 6, 1974
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Dan Tobin, Helen Hayes, Huntz Hall, Ivor Barry, John McIntire

1974

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Distribution Company | Release Date: June 6, 1974 | G

Starring: Dan Tobin, Helen Hayes, Huntz Hall, Ivor Barry, John McIntire, Keenan Wynn, Ken Berry, Raymond Bailey, Stefanie Powers, Vito Scotti

Summary: The living Volkswagen Beetle helps an old lady protect her home from a corrupt developer.

Director: Robert Stevenson

Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Family

Rating: G

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

Despite some insipid characterisation and one or two lapses, things move along at a fair pace and there's a surprising plot all about property speculation in San Francisco. Can Grandma Steinmetz save her home from the grasping magnate Alonzo Hawk? The comedy is on the whole inventive, occasionally aspiring to almost surrealist heights. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Another fat plug for the Volkswagen 'bug' as the runaway (literally) titular star. Read full review

Empire Kim Newman

Pleasant, forgettable. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Egregious kiddie slapstick, punctuated by shameless overacting. Read full review

Vincent Canby

The problem with comedies as witless as this is that the villains are much more appealing than the good guys. One winds up rooting for the fellows who would tear down the Plaza to put up a 100‐story, glass‐andbrass breadstick. Read full review

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Kai82

Sep 5, 2021

A sequel that has the heart and charm of the original but tells a new and different story. Like the prequel it is is one of my favorite childhood movies. It is a Walt Disney comedy film and the second movie staring Herbie. The first movie was quite successful and started this franchise.A sequel that has the heart and charm of the original but tells a new and different story. Like the prequel it is is one of my favorite childhood movies. It is a Walt Disney comedy film and the second movie staring Herbie. The first movie was quite successful and started this franchise. Herbie is a Volkswagen Beetle with the number 53 and a racing car too. His secret is that he is alive and has a mind and personality. I think it is a modern fairy tale an as much for children as for adults as my parents did also enjoy the movies too. Instead of a safe sequel they made a new and different story and I praise them for this. Today this would be prevented in most cases by the studios. You don't even need to know the prequel for this. Except that Grandma Steinmetz is the aunt of Tennessee Steinmetz and a few side-notes what happen to the characters from the prequel there is no connection story wise. The story starts with estate tycoon Alzono Hawk wanting to build a shopping center in form of a 130 story skyscraper in San Francisco. He has acquired nearly everything he needs except the old firehouse inhabited by Mrs. Steinmetz. She does not want to sell it because it has more memorial and nostalgic value for her than any money could compensate. Also the young woman Nicole Harris lives there together with her and 3 sentient things. There is of cause Herbie, our favorite Beetle, an cable car named Old No. 22 and an orchestrion (Forgot if it had a name). Hawk has tried a lot until now but is now at the end of his patience and will try harsher methods when his nephew the lawyer Wiloughby Whitfiled visits him. He sends him to convince Ms. Steinmetz. This is the start of the story. It was an unexpected but excellent story. I expected more of a repeat of the last movie but was not disappointed. It had the charm, heart and characters to win me over. I even struggle to name the better movie between this and the prequel. Like in the first movie the characters enhance the experience. Herbie is an awesome main character. They manged to give him character and charm without aid of a human face, mimic or other human expressions. This alone is magnificent and won me easily over as child and still works as adult. I will not deny that I am heavily influenced by childhood nostalgia but think it is still great. Then there is Keenan Wynn as Alonzo Hawk. He is such a great antagonist. He is ruthless and intimidating but no stereotype as he is a human underneath. I think I name him hidden star of the movie. Ken Barry fully delivers as Wiloughby Whitfield. He is a nice guy and struggles a lot character wise which makes him relatable. Stefanie Powers as Nicole Harris rounds up the great main cast. A great performance. The cast has great chemistry and together with the story work really well. That makes this movie so enjoyable for me. Of cause the humor works well and I still laugh a lot when I rewatch the movie. Overall this is a fond childhood memory and a favorite. I recommend this easily for each one who kept his inner child still alive.… Expand

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