The Love Bug (1968)

This I can remember was the first film I held as my favorite. Since then there has been Home Alone(1990), Back to The Future(1985), and 12 Angry Men(1957) holding that title. The first time I saw this I was very young, no more than 7 years old. I have always been into cars. I have loved this film and Herbie ever since. Dean Jones plays as Jim Douglas, a race driver who hasn't won in a while. He buys a Volkswagen Beetle from the cynical Peter Thorndyke played by David Tomlinson. Tennessee Steinmetz is Jim's roommate and the first to befriend Herbie. Michelle Lee stars as Carole Bennett who used to work for Thorndyke but joined Herbie's side after Thorndyke tried to kill him. Great casting choices for all the characters. I especially love the racing scenes. I say you should definitely see this movie.

Robert Stevenson directed this appealing comedy that stars Dean Jones as unemployed race car driver Jim Douglas, who comes into possession of a Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie that somehow has a life of its own, and as soon as Jim realizes this, with the help of his friend Tennessee Steinmetz(played by Buddy Hackett) Herbie goes to work winning races for him, and helping him meet an attractive lady(played by Michele Lee) He must compete against his chief rival Peter Thorndyke(played by David Tomlinson) to win the big climatic race. Amusing and delightful film can be enjoyed equally by adults and children alike. First in a series of such films with Herbie.

I had seen the modern Lindsay Lohan/Michael Keaton remake of the classic collection of films about the living car, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and it was right I should see the first of the old ones, from director Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks). Basically down on his luck racing car driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) and his friend, occasionally drunk mechanic Tennessee Steinmetz (The Little Mermaid's Buddy Hackett), live together in an old run down fire house. One day Jim goes to a luxury car dealership and wants something in a rather low price range, but mean dealer Peter Thorndyke (Mary Poppins' David Tomlinson) has no interest in helping him. Then Jim spots a strange car, an old Vauxwagen Beetle, and after managing to take it away with him, it proves to be an unusual car, it has a mind of its own driving where it wants to. He believes Thorndyke planted the car on purpose, but dealer assistant Carole Bennett (Michele Lee) proves the car is a good purchase, only to discover the car is living as well, and Jim has found a love interest. After being fixed up Jim, and given the name "Herbie" by Tennessee, the car is more controlled by its driver, and with a high speed they start racing to be champions, against Thorndyke, who wants the car back. After Thorndyke sabotages one race to win, the big race called the "El Dorado" is on the way, and there is a point when you wonder if Herbie will go to it, but after the apologies, he does. So the two lap gets started, with Thorndyke seeming to cheat his way to the lead, but Jim, Carole and Tennessee in Herbie manage to catch up and eventually win the race. Also starring Joe Flynn as Havershaw, Benson Fong as Mr. Wu, Andy Granatelli as Association President and Joe E. Ross as Detective. The car doesn't have as much personality as perhaps the remake version does, Tomlinson makes a reasonably mean villain, like a live version Dick Dastardly, and the jokes are alright, it is something the family will enjoy, an alright comedy. It was number 94 on The 100 Greatest Family Films. Good!

Before "Knight Rider" or "Speed Buggy",there was Herbie. This spunky Volkswagon can win a race whenever he can! Hardly anyone can control this machinery, he tends to think on its own. Here you have a racer named Jim Douglas(Dean Jones), a racer who lives for the thrill. Known for wrecking cars, he gets a chance to go on the racing field once again. He and his partner Tennessee Steimetz(Buddy Hackett) get the car and the fun begins. Both he and Herbie get the glory, but the owner of foreign cars has other plans. He wanted to get Herbie out of action, permanently! Carole Bennett(Michele Lee)decides to join forces with Jim and Tennessee, and make sure that Peter Thorndyke(David Tomlinson) don't get all the glory. There was a lot of humor in the race when the bear took the saboteur's place when trying to keep Herbie from winning. And who needed a chauffeur when you have Herbie doing the driving. A great movie, family friendly, and true gem that can make you sparkle. For all you grease-monkeys, here's a movie for you! Also it was my nickname. HAHAHA!!! 5 STARS!