The Herbie Trilogy (Part 2: Herbie Rides Again)

Everybody's favorite and lovable Volkswagen makes his return in this 1974 Disney movie, a sequel to The Love Bug.

Taking place a few years after the events of The Love Bug, Herbie and hid friends (Jim Douglas, Tennessee Steinmetz, and Carole Burnett-Douglas) made a name for themselves after winning California's biggest road race: The El Dorado. But as Herbie's short racing career dried up. Jim and Carole move to Europe so Jim can compete in races there, and try out European cars. Tennessee gets word that his master in Tibet is sick and decides to go visit him. So, Herbie was left in the care of Tennessee's aunt "Grandma" Steinmetz who is fighting a legal battle over her favorite Firehouse (the same Steinmetz firehouse from the previous movie) as aggressive CEO of San Francisco's Demolition company, Alonzo A. Hawk is planning to make his own apartment complex in its place.

But, how did that happen exactly? This is what Part 2 will try to cover. But first, the cast.

## The Characters

### Mrs. "Grandma" Steinmetz (Helen Hayes)

A nice, kind, loving old lady and Tennessee's Aunt. The only other member of the Steinmetz family that understand about "living" objects such as Herbie as well as a living music box and a living Trolley, and she keeps around the firehouse. Constantly hounded by Hawk's lawyers about the selling of her beloved home. The firehouse where she got married to one of San Francisco's bravest firefighters (possibly the fire caused by the 1906 Earthquake). Though, knowing about her current situation with Hawk, she doesn't always notice this as she can be (at times) oblivious to her current situation.

### About Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes was known mostly for her work on Television shows such as her role as Ernesta Snoop from *The Snoop Sisters* and *Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers.*

### Willoughby Whitfield (Ken Berry)

A young attorney fresh out of law school. He travels to San Francisco from Missouri. A Nephew of Hawk, he tries to make his Uncle proud. Being nice by nature compared to other of Hawk's lawyers, Willoughby was quite skeptical of the "living object" thing. But once he went for a ride with Herbie (and Nicole Harris) is when he realizes this concept, and it wasn't until Nicole hit him in the face with a Lobster is when he realizes that his Uncle Hawk isn't all that he thought he was and decides to help Nicole and Grandma Steinmetz.

### About Ken Berry

Ken Berry is also a well-known Television actor best known for his role as Vinton Harper in *Mama's Family*as well as playing multiple characters on the TV Series *Fantasy Island*. Berry was also considered for the leading role in the Disney movie *The Shaggy D.A.* but (ironically) lost the role to Dean Jones.

### Nicole Harris (Stephanie Powers)

A flight attendant who lives with Grandma Steinmetz after losing her own living place to Hawk's aggressive projects, and because of this she can be very nasty and abrasive towards anybody who works for Hawk, and expresses an extreme distaste for anything about Hawk. This changed, somewhat when she met Willoughby who she made realize on what kind of person Hawk really is.

### About Stephanie Powers

Yet, another Television Star who is best known for her role of Jennifer Hart on *Hart to Hart*. Her recent work is playing the role of Jane Powers on *Doctors.*

### Alonzo A. Hawk (Keenan Wynn)

The mean, nasty, and demanding CEO of San Francisco's biggest demolition company. He enjoys seeing old buildings get wrecked (and sometimes does the detonation himself). Currently, at war with Grandma Steinmetz over her beloved firehouse, he'll do anything to give up her home, even if it means to steal things she loves, like Herbie. Hawk (as like with a lot of Disney villains) is susceptible to fits of anger and rage, which causes him to be comforted by his personal secretary and also has a tendency to lose sleep.

### About Keenan Wynn

Mr. Wynn is probably best known for his role as *Cpl. "Bat" Guano* from *Dr. Strangelove: Or How I stopped worrying and love the bomb.* Wynn played another character named *Alonzo Hawk* in the original Flubber movies (*The Absent-Minded Professor* and *The Son of Flubber*) though, it's not determined if this is the same character. He also did some work on Television as he played the role of Digger Barnes in the famous TV Show *Dallas.*

Familiar with the cast? Okay. Let's begin.

## Herbie Rides Again

### The Beginning

The movie begins with Hawk watching and even detonating many of San Francisco's old buildings. He then takes a short trip to Rome where the Taxi Driver was admiring the Roman Coliseum, and Hawk wonders what the Coliseum would look like with s shopping mall.

After returning to San Francisco. He appears in his own private office where he is going to present his finest project, Hawk Plaza (San Francisco's tallest and advanced apartment building). But when he gets a phone call from his employer Barnstorff who is wondering when they're going to start digging, then Hawk realizes when they were taking Hawk Plaza model off that it reveals the Steinmetz Firehouse (which hawk though he got rid of months ago) and his lawyers told him that Grandma Steinmetz wouldn't sign the final documents. Then, Willoughby comes in to see his Uncle and even presents him with a "Humanitarian Award". Hawk then gives Willoughby this first assignment and the low down on what Hawk Plaza can do for Grandma Steinmetz.

### Willoughby meets Herbie

As Willoughby arrives at the Steinmetz Firehouse, he was personally greeted by Herbie (who ran over his shoe), when Grandma Steinmetz comes out, she tells Herbie to get off Willoughby's shoe, and they head in. Willoughby trie to get Grandma Steinmetz to sign the final documents so Hawk can build his Plaza. Though still refusing to sign the papers, Grandma Steinmetz then goes on about her house (The Steinmetz Firehouse where her late husband a hero of "The Great Fire" was stationed) and how Tennessee taught her about the essence of "living objects" such as Herbie, the No.22 Trolley and her long-standing Music Box as well as other objects.

Then, Nicole comes (from her job as a flight attendant) and then gives Willoughby a right hook to his face as Grandma Steinmetz says he's from Hawk. But with some talking by Grandma Steinmetz. Nicole decides to have Willoughby to ride with her (and Herbie).

Just as Grandma Steinmetz tried to explain to Willoughby about Herbie, Nicole even tried to explain to the still skeptical Willoughby about the "living objects". But as Willoughby made an unconscious insult to Herbie, he takes off and scares Willougby, it wasn't until Willoughby apologized to Herbie is when he stopped. But as Willoughby and Nicole switch places, Willoughby insults Herbie again and they go on a surprising trip through the Golden Gate Bridge and to the Northern California countryside, and to what is called a *"Chicken Jousting Tournament."*

Willoughby and Nicole witnessed 2 competitors (The Red Knight, the champion, and Sir Lancelot, the challenger). But just as they begin to know it, the workers at the tournament were preparing Herbie for the tournament. Though Nicole gets out of Herbie, Herbie wouldn't let Willoughby out and goes on to compete.

Herbie seems eager to take on The Red Knight as Willoughby tries to get out but to no avail. Then the Chicken Joust begins. As Herbie races towards The Red Knight, he says he takes everything back as he didn't want any part of the Joust.

Surprisingly, Herbie wins the Chicken Jousting Tournament (with The Red Knight leaving with his tail in between legs). The sponsors surround Willoughby as the Queen kisses him and the guy hands him 3 dollars.

Try not to spend that all in one place, Willoughby.

Anyway,

Willoughby wanted to apologize to Nicole for what he did to her and Herbie. He decides to take Nicole to lunch. As they go to a seafood restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf, Nicole goes on about what hawk has done to San Francisco, as he is also replacing the city's historical sites for his own structures. Willoughby (being Hawk's nephew) finds what Nicole says to be unbelievable, Nicole then got so upset she took a boiled lobster and hits him with it and is sent flying into the San Francisco Bay.

That night, Grandma Steinmetz wasn't exactly fond of Nicole's actions earlier, but Nicole admitted that she couldn't restrain herself. She then wishes Grandma Steinmetz and Herbie good night. Herbie than has a dream of his racing career (a montage of the first movie).

### Hawk's plan to steal Herbie

The next day, Willoughby (who is still reeling from being hit in the face with a boiled lobster) was also hit with the fact on how much of a creep his Uncle really is, and is reciting his lines on what he wants to say to his Uncle. But as soon as he got there, Hawk (who is aware that Willoughby has checked out of his hotel room) gets angry and threatens to do harm to Willoughby, intimidated he goes to a phone booth to let him know that he was leaving (he's obviously lying) but even with this lie Willoughby was telling Hawk, Hawk gets upset and screams so loud that it shatters the glass in the phone booth.

Hawk (still upset about Willoughby) tries to calm down. He then comes up with a plan to take away something Grandma Steinmetz loves the most, believing that she would give up her home for whatever she loved. When his lawyers told him that she has Herbie, Hawk hatches a plan to steal Herbie from Grandma Steinmetz.

As he arrives at the Firhouse, he unlocks Herbie's driver's side car door and hotwires him. He then goes all over San Francisco, until Herbie stops at an intersection right in the middle of traffic.

As the city's traffic police try to help Hawk (who gives them lip), he tells them to push Herbie out of traffic, but as they did, Herbie pushes them back, wrecking a few other cars behind the police car.

The police decide to tow Herbie out of traffic, the traffic commissioner then tells Hawk (who also gives him lip and criticizes his uniform) to stay calm. But as the police try to tow Herbie out of traffic, he decides to play a bit of Tug O' War with the police.

Perhaps this is Herbie's plan to make Hawk look bad as most people would blame the driver and not Herbie.

Anyway,

Herbie drops off Hawk at his office building and Hawk tells his lawyers to get Herbie.

Then, Willoughby (wearing a fake beard) was at the airport calling his mother to let him know that he's coming home and telling her how much a creep his uncle really is. That is until Nicole comes in and somehow, his romantic development convinces him to stay, and help her and Grandma Steinmetz topple his uncle.

Then, Grandma Steinmetz decides to go shopping to get things for her dinner tonight. She takes Herbie out for this ride.

Though, what Grandma Steinmetz doesn't realize (and oblivious to) that Hawk's lawyers are chasing her and Herbie. Herbie then goes all over San Francisco to try to lose Hawk's lawyers.

Herbie goes into a luxurious hotel and even up the Golden Gate Bridge. Then, Grandma Steinmetz tells Herbie that they need to get to the supermarket, and Herbie complies, making Hawk's lawyers retreat.

Herbie and Grandma Steinmetz then return to the Firehouse as does Willoughby and Nicole, and Grandma Steinmetz (still oblivious to the fact that she and Herbie were chased by Hawk's lawyers) tells them how wonderful her trip was. But then realizes that she forgot to buy Brocolli for her dinner. So Nicole and Willoughby decide to get it themselves.

As Nicole and Willoughby buy Broccoli, Herbie realizes that they're being chased again, this time by Hawk's personal chauffeur. Taking yet another ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and onto a nearby beach.

This is where Hawk's chauffeur discovers a fisherman and offers him $50 to block the only road leading out of the beach (as Hawk told his Chauffeur that they don't return to the Firehouse until nighttime).

While on the beach, Nicole tells Willoughby on how romantic the Pacific Ocean can be, and how Grandma Steinmetz's husband proposed to her on the very beach they're on right now, and this is where Nicole and Willoughby shared their first kiss but was then interrupted by Herbie (who's chasing Seagulls). Willoughby gets stern and tells Herbie to stop. The 2 then realize that they better get back to the Firehouse, but the fisherman (who's getting paid by Hawk to block the only road out of the beach) tells them he can't move his truck. This is when Herbie finds another way, he drives into the Ocean and they find a surfer who helps them get back to San Francisco.

### Getting Grandma's Stuff Back

As Nicole and Willoughby arrive back at the Firehouse, Willoughby discovers that the #22 Trolley is gone, as they get in the Firehouse, Grandma Steinmetz tells them that a huge truck came in while they were gone and took everything. She knew what they were, they worked for Hawk (no doubt).

Her stuff was taken to *"Alonzo Hawk Van & Storage"* company (another scheme to get Grandma Steinmetz to give up her home). Herbie helps them with the door.

After searching for a while, they eventually find Grandma Steinmetz's stuff. But they were then confronted by security guards who tell them to put their hands up, Grandma Steinmetz (being stubborn) gives the guards a bit of a hard time, but this is just to buy Herbie time to try to find a way to deal with the guards, Herbie then runs into other things in the warehouse to trap the guards, allowing his friends to escape with Grandma Steinmetz's stuff.

The guards then told Hawk about what just happened, and Hawk calls for a search for Grandma Steinmetz and her friends.

As Herbie and his friends are getting away with Grandma Steinmetz's stuff (and picking up a drunk named Judson, played by John McIntire). Hawk's security force comes in and tries to stop them. Herbie then tries to divert and stop Hawk's security force and manages to do so.

As Herbie and Nicole were dealing with Hawk's men, Willoughby just stands and watches, and doesn't realize until it was too late that the #22 Trolley was rolling down the hill. Grandma Steinmetz was busy talking to Judson to know what is going on. Herbie and Nicole soon joined Willoughby and he joins them to try to stop the #22 Trolley from going into the bay.

With time running out, Herbie and his friends know that they have to stop the trolley before it plunges into the bay. Herbie drives faster, allowing Willoughby to get onto the trolley and use the Handbrake which stops the Trolley from plunging into the bay, but barely. Judson than gets off and hopes to see Grandma Steinmetz again.

### Grandma VS. Hawk

The next morning, and still angry at Hawk for what he has done. Grandma Steinmetz decides to go to Hawk's office and tell him off once and for all, this is led to disapproval from Nicole and Willoughby, but Grandma Steinmetz presses on with this anyway, Willoughby follows her.

Meanwhile, at Hawk's office, Hawk's new lawyers remind him of a permit in order to proceed with his project, Hawk gets angry and throws them out of his office. He then, calls his former employee (Loostgarden, who has his own demolition company) to knock down the Steinmetz Firehouse, and just as he was about to enjoy some quiet time, the window washer comes in and disturbs him, and then fires him for it.

As Grandma Steinmetz arrives at Hawk's office, she asks the now-fired window washer where Hawk's office is, he tells her that it's on the 28th floor, she steals his keys and uses his window washing platform to get up to the 28th floor. As she takes the trip up, Willoughby tries to stop her and ends up hanging on the edge of the platform, after a while, Grandma Steinmetz realizes Willoughby is hanging off the platform and helps him get up.

As Grandma Steinmetz and Willoughby reach Hawk's office, Grandma Steinmetz turns on the window washing machine to anger Hawk with Willoughby trying to stop her, but as Hawk throws something at Herbie, Herbie then drives into his office, chasing him with Grandma Steinmetz enjoying the moment.

The chase continues even when Hawk tries to escape from Herbie, nearly to the point where Hawk fell off his own building. This forces Grandma Steinmetz to tell Herbie that if he doesn't stop, he'll sell him to a used car company. With this, Grandma Steinmetz calls off her attack on Hawk, for now.

When she gets home, she said during her attack on Hawk, she found out about Loostgarden's demolition company. Willoughby then helps him as he has Hawk's home address (as Hawk sends fruit to him every Christmas) and calls Loostgarden's company with Willoughby mimicking Hawk's voice to write down Hawk's home address.

That night, Hawk calls his doctor as he's having a hard time sleeping (possibly from what happened earlier), and his doctor tells him to try counting sheep (which really doesn't work in the real world). But as he tries to sleep, he has nightmares about Herbie, being a werewolf chasing him, Herbies being Native Americans and cut his hair off, to even a nightmare sequence that mimics King Kong. Hawk was then only awoken by a phone call by Loostgarden who's not sure about the address, Hawk doesn't realize that loostgarden is being duped by Herbie and his friends, and doesn't realize until Loostgarden punches a hole through his house that it \*is\* his address. Hawk (being the villain he is) gets angry, takes a broken 2x4 and starts chasing Loostgarden.

### The Final Battle/Battle of Steinmetz Firehouse

The next morning, Hawk calls Grandma Steinmetz to apologize for everything he has done (especially after what happened to his own house which has gotten the press to talk about Hawk giving up). Though, it seems like Hawk has thrown up the white flag and given up on his Hawk Plaza project. But, in reality, it's a deception plan by Hawk to make Grandma Steinmetz and her friends think he is soundly defeated.

That night (and believing that Hawk has given up) Nicole and Willoughby decide to celebrate their victory at the seafood restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf. When Nicole calls Grandma Steinmetz, she decides to have a nice quiet evening at home (unbeknownst to Nicole that she's having her own victory dinner with Judson). But as Grandma Steinmetz and Judson were enjoying their dinner, Grandma Steinmetz then hears a rumbling outside.

It's Hawk and an army of bulldozers and demolition cranes. Hawk then gives them an ultimatum, give up or be taken down along with the Firehouse.

Herbie than goes to get Willoughby and Nicole.

Herbie comes in and disrupts Willoughby and Nicole's dinner, but knowing that if Herbie is here, trouble is afoot, so they go into Herbie who goes all over San Francisco for reinforcements, basically all of the living Volkswagens in the city.

With Hawk not giving them enough time. Both Grandma Steinmetz and Judson decide that they're going to stay (and fight if they have to).

Once Hawk brings in his demolition team one-by-one, Judson and Grandma Steinmetz prepare the old Steinmetz firehose to stop them, and they do for a time until the hose bursts on them.

Now with the Steinmetz Firehouse defenseless, Hawk takes the opportunity to have his army go in at the same time. But, just as he was about to give the signal, the Herbie Corp. arrives and they chase Hawk all the way down a hill. Willoughby also told Herbie to stop (again to make Hawk look bad).

After Hawk gets up, he sees the traffic commissioner and tells him that he's being chased by the Herbie Corp., but because there were so much dust and steam coming from where Hawk was being chased, the commissioner simply didn't believe him and arrested him.

Probably to get back at Hawk for making fun of his dress uniform.

### The End

The end of this movie came when (off-camera) Willoughby proposes to Nicole, and they have a wedding ceremony inside the Steinmetz Firehouse (just like Grandma Steinmetz did) with Judson and Herbie's new VW friends attending. So, the newlyweds then drive off with Herbie.

## Trivia

* As said before, Keenan Wynn played a character named Alonzo Hawk in the original Flubber Movies (*"The Absent-Minded Professor* and it's sequel *"The Son of Flubber"*) though, it's unclear if the Hawk Wynn plays is the same character, though there is some evidence to prove this particular case, he is also a villain and susceptible to anger, while the case against it is that the Hawk in the Flubber movies has a different middle initial.
* Unlike in The Love Bug, Dinsey agreed to work with Volkswagen for this movie, and thus, Herbie was able to have the Volkswagen symbol. On top of that, around 30,000 posters of Herbie were sent to dealerships across America. If there were any customers that wanted to turn their VW Bug into Herbie, they would pay Volkswagen for this and Volkswagen would provide for them a do it yourself graphics kit.
* The scene where Hawk was coming in with his army of bulldozers and cranes, Grandma Steinmetz gets down onto the floor and puts her ear next to the floor and she says "I think I saw this in a movie". This is a reference to the movie *"In Search of the Castaways"* where it had a scene where a character put their ear to the floor to hear a rush of water.
	+ Another reference (as said before) was made in Hawk's nightmare sequence was a reference to *"King Kong"*.
* One of Hawk's nightmare sequences (which was filmed but left out of the final version) is when he was on an operating table with Herbie being the surgeon and he's going through a surgical procedure. This was taken out because of it being too intense for kids. But shots from this scene was on a 3-D viewmaster.
* The #22 Trolley really was an old #22 Trolley.
* The Hotel that Herbie drives thorough when he's being chased by Hawk's lawyers was one of San Francisco's finest hotels called the Sheraton Palace Hotel. Herbie was only allowed to drive through the dining area if he wasn't running on gas (to meet the proper health guidelines of the Hotel).