The Herbie franchise consists of American sportsadventurecomedy theatrical feature films, one television film, a television series, and other multimedia releases.[1] The overall story centers around the titular Herbie, a sentientanthropomorphic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of his own and capable of driving himself. The vehicle is oftentimes a legitimate contender, though the underdog contestant in competitive races, but to a greater degree assists his human owners in bettering their lives.
The first film, notable for being the final live-action film produced under the supervision by Walt Disney prior to his death, was released in 1969. Based on a 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 film for the company, second only to Mary Poppins (1964). Its performance placed it fourth highest on box office returns, and spawned a franchise.[2][3] 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 generally positive reception from critics.[4][5][6] The third film was met with mixed reception,[7] while the fourth film was poorly received and is often classified as the weakest Herbie film.[8][9] The television series was panned by critics, resulting in a cancellation following five episodes, with reviews calling it "domesticated", "mild", and "boring".[10] The fifth film was met with negative reviews, citing its inferiority to the original.[citation needed] 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.[11][12]
Origin
In 1961, a short story titled "Car, Boy, Girl" was written by Gordon Buford. In an interview with a United States publication for Volkswagen 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. As the story was not published, it is believed that it was presented directly to Walt Disney and had its film rights purchased by Walt Disney Productions shortly thereafter. The Love Bug was the last live-action film produced by Disney before Walt Disney's death.[2]
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.[13]
Alonzo P. Hawk is a mean-spirited property developer who has bought several blocks of land in the downtown district in order to build a gigantic shopping mall. There is one problem however; an elderly widow named Mrs. Steinmetz who won't sell the one remaining lot that Hawk needs to proceed with his scheme. So he resorts to all manner of chicanery, legal or otherwise, to get it. After they discover Alonzo's plans, it's up to Herbie to save the day and save Mrs. Steinmetz's home.[14]
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.[15]
Jim's nephew, Pete and his friend D.J., board a cruise ship called the Sun Princess to Panama to enter Herbie in the Brazil Grand Primero. Unknown to them, a young pickpocket named Paco has stowed away in Herbie's trunk, as a trio of gold counterfeiters peruse the youngster in an attempt to retrieve the location of a source of ancient Inca gold.[16]
Herbie, the inimitable VW Beetle is destined for the scrap heap, until down-on-his-luck mechanic Hank Cooper takes him over and gives him a new lease of life, much to the fury of his previous owner, who builds a menacing, evil, black Beetle to challenge Herbie and Hank to a one-on-one race.[17]
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 reveal it is in fact a sequel to the previous films.[18]
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.[19]
Television
Official promotional poster for the short-lived television series.
A television series based on, and a continuation of, the film series was developed and released from March 17 – April 14, 1982.[20] 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.[21]
Jim Douglas, a former racing driver, owns and runs a driving school, along with his sentient VW Beetle, Herbie. 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 begins a relationship with a divorcee 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.
Featured appearances
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".[22]
One of the versions of Herbie, that appeared in the Disney Parade, also briefly appears in the comedy skit titled "Clown College". The character is redesigned as a clown car for the routine.[23]
Animation
Herbie has a brief appearance in the House of Mouse season 2 episode 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 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.[26]
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.[48] The other films in the series were not polled upon their release by CinemaScore.
Notes
^Disney's The Love Bug (1997) originally debuted on Walt Disney Television, as a made-for television film on Wonderful World of Disney. The figures for the production budget is not publicly available.
^Though Disney's The Love Bug (1997) was originally released as a made-for-television film, it was subsequently released direct to video on VHS. The figures for its home video sales are not publicly available.
^These figures are calculated without the production budget cost for Disney's The Love Bug (1997), which is not publicly available. Therefore it is an approximate number.
^These figure are calculated without the home video sales for each movie, which are not publicly available. Therefore it is an approximate number.
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, and scheming businessman character in each respective film.[49]
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.[50][51][52]
Disney on Parade (1969–1973): In 1968 the concept was conceived by Thomas Sarnoff and presented to his brother, 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.[58] 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.[59][60] 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 littleBug 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.
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, impromptumini-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.[64]
Marketing
Herbie appears in Disneyland's 50th Anniversary television commercial, where he is driven by Mickey Mouse and Goofy as they take a roadtrip get to Disneyland.[65]
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.[66] 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.[66] The game was met with mixed reception, while its 3Dgraphics were widely praised.[66][67][68]
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."[69]
^D23 (2023). "Love Bug, The (film)". D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. Retrieved March 28, 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^The Disneyland Encyclopedia: The Unofficial, Unauthorized, and Unprecedented History of Every Land, Attraction, Restaurant, Shop, and Major Event in the Original Magic Kingdom; Section title: Love Bug Day, California, USA: Santa Monica Press
