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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Angela Channing" data-source="post: 327628" data-attributes="member: 33">Even though I have such an enduring affection for this film, I've only watched it twice: the first time when I was around 5 and then again about 30 years later. When I watched it as an adult, I was surprised how much I still enjoyed it. Yes, it's a bit silly and it's a bit far fetched but if you just accept it for what it is, it's difficult not to be taken in by the warmth and comedy of it all. I've often wondered whether this film was originally conceived as a direct sequel to The Love Bug because Stephanie Powers and Ken Berry are both physically very similar to Michelle Lee and Dean Jones so I can imagine the parts being written for the original actors but maybe they weren't available so the roles were recast and they changed the scripts to explain the new characters.Totally! Yes, it's a family film so you can't expect too much nuance or intricate subplots but it's a really accessible story told in a straightforward and really entertaining way. That's really interesting because I didn't see it that way. I saw Herbie as being unique and having the power to bring the other beetles "to life". As a child that, scene when all the other beetles unite to help Herbie was so enthralling that it made the film for me. I even  didn't mind the Golden Gate Bridge nonsense (even as an adult) because by this stage I decided to just go with what everything they threw at the audience and not do my usual questioning the credibility of what I was watching.The casting was spot on. Stephanie Powers and Ken Berry made for a great double act, charming and engaging and played off each other well. Helen Hayes in the 1970s seemed to corner the market for playing loveable old granny roles and she did it so well. I completely agree with you about how she can covey so much by doing very little, just a glance, a facial expression or a change in the tone of her voice was often all she needed. Keenan Wynn was great as the villain, I think this is the only comedy role I can remember seeing him in and he really should have worked in that genre more because he wrung every drop of comedy out of the lines and situations he was given while still remaining believable as his character. I agree. What I particularly like about the score was how the Herbie theme was not just reserved for the titles but dropped into it at select stages during the film while being careful not to overuse this idea. It's a technique that John Williams uses regularly, for example in Superman and Star Wars (it's not often those films are compared with Herbie!)Reading your thoughts on the film makes me want to watch it again, I'm long overdue a third viewing so I'll put that right soon.</blockquote>

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