HERBIE WILL HONK HIS WAY INTO YOUR HEART.

Down-on-his-luck race-car driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) gets a white Volkswagen Beetle on his hands that turns out to have a life of its own.

One of the most successful movies that year is an example of how Disney could make fine live-action entertainment for families, in this case creating a romantic image of San Francisco, using an ingenious combination of authentic locations and irresistibly cute matte paintings.

This is a clever and charming film, with a game cast and kid-friendly races between Herbie’s gang and David Tomlinson’s uptight villain. Playful special effects bring life to Herbie the love bug.

1969-U.S. 108 min. Color. Produced by Bill Walsh. Directed by Robert Stevenson. Screenplay: Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi. Story: Gordon Buford (”Car, Boy, Girl”). Cast: Dean Jones (James ”Jim” Douglas), Michele Lee (Carole Bennett), David Tomlinson (Peter Thorndyke), Buddy Hackett, Joe Flynn, Benson Fong. 

Trivia: Followed by five sequels, starting with Herbie Rides Again (1974), and a TV series, Herbie, the Love Bug (1982). 

Last word: “The important thing in casting is that they must fit the part. [Michele Lee] has great warmth, is very believable and different looking from the average Hollywood actress. I wanted Dean Jones because he’s a personality actor who understands comedy and he reacts well. In addition, he has an all-American look about him that makes the nutty shenanigans all the more convincing. Buddy Hackett was also signed for the film because he’s a good actor. I always try to implement what Walt had been doing and that is to entertain.” (Walsh, Mouseplanet.com)