Alonzo Hawk (Wynn) looks at beautiful old buildings and sees skyscrapers. His newest project is Hawk Plaza, a 130 story building in San Francisco, with only an old fire house standing in the way. His team of lawyers have been unable to persuade the elderly owner, Mrs. Steinmetz (Hayes), to sell. Hawk convinces his naive nephew, Willoughby Whitfield (Berry), to talk take on the job. But Mrs. Steinmetz stands firm, and is reinforced by her feisty roommate Nicole (Powers) and protective car Herbie.
Willoughby doesn't believe their stories about his uncle and Herbie, but becomes a believer after Herbie takes him to a car chicken contest. He quits Hawk Enterprises and joins forces with the ladies. But Hawk isn't willing to stop and orders his lawyers to use any means necessary:
"We'll start on Number 1 - Harassment! And I wrote the book
on harrassment - We'll shut up her phone, turn off her water; we'll sic
the Health & Building inspectors on her...steal her dog."
"She doesn't have a dog."
"What do you mean she doesn't have a dog? A little old lady living in a place like that? Who does she look for? How does she get around?"
"She has a little car she goes everywhere in."
"Well then, you fellows go and pick it up!"
"She doesn't have a dog."
"What do you mean she doesn't have a dog? A little old lady living in a place like that? Who does she look for? How does she get around?"
"She has a little car she goes everywhere in."
"Well then, you fellows go and pick it up!"
Can Herbie beat Hawk, or will the firehouse be demolished?
After the success of The Love Bug, Disney decided to release a sequel... but they changed up the formula. Herbie's career as a famous race car is in the past... he's retired and his owner is racing overseas. His current owner is Tennessee Steinmetz's aunt. There is a brand new cast of characters with Herbie, but somehow it works.
The film starts slow, but give it time. Keenan Wynn is an incredible character actor and satisfying villain. Apparently he played the Alonzo Hawk character in Disney's The Nutty Professor and The Son of Flubber films, and the character was memorable enough to appear in this film. Wynn is clearly having fun with the character and is a riot to watch. Stefanie Powers (who I know best from McLintock!) is entertaining as the female lead. She is tough and funny, even when delivering unfortunate lines. Helen Hayes is entertaining as Mrs. Steinmetz, and Ken Berry grows on you.
This is the Herbie movie that I have seen the most... growing up we had it on VHS (actually I'm fairly certain my parents still have that VHS) and watched this film all the time. We loved Wynn and his crazy dream sequences. Age has not diminished my joy with this film. I'm excited to see what happens in Herbie's story.
Herbie Rides Again (1974) 88 minutes
Director: Robert Stevenson
Starring: Helen Hayes as Mrs. Steinmetz
Ken Berry as Willoughby Whitfield
Stefanie Powers as Nicole Harris
John McIntire as Mr. Judson
Keenan Wynn as Alonzo Hawk
Huntz Hall as Judge
Ivor Barry as Maxwell the Chauffeur
Chuck McCann as Loostgarten
Don Pedro Colley as Barnstorff
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