Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo ** (1977, Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Julie Sommars, Jacques Marin, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Fox, Eric Braeden) – Classic Movie Review 7869

Director Vincent McEveety’s 1977 Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is the third of the four original movies featuring Walt Disney’s cute Volkswagen Beetle love bug. This one sees Herbie off to compete in the Paris to Monte Carlo race, driven some of the way by his original owner Jim Douglas (Dean Jones) from The Love Bug (1968).

Thanks to gem thieves, Herbie gets a diamond cache – not a tiger! – hidden in his tank. Jim falls for attractive driver Diane Darcy (Julie Sommars). But meanwhile the thieves trying to get their stolen diamonds back.

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is showing signs of wear and tear, and slightly running out of gas. But nevertheless it is fast paced, fun and still a winner for car-crazy kids.

Also in the cast are Don Knotts, Julie Sommars, Jacques Marin, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Fox, Eric Braeden, Xavier Saint-Macary, Alan Caillou, Laurie Main, Mike Kylcsar, Johnny Haymer, Stanley Brock, Gérard Jugnot, Tom McCorrey, Lloyd Nelson and Jean-Jacques Moreau.

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is directed by Vincent McEveety, runs 105 minutes, is made by Walt Disney Productions, is released by Buena Vista, is written by Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson, is shot in Technicolor by Leonard J South, is produced by Ron Miller and Jan Williams, is scored by Frank DeVol and designed by John B Mansbridge.

It follows Herbie Rides Again (1974). Later the popular Herbie went bananas in Herbie Goes Bananas! (1980). Herbie Fully Loaded followed in 2005 with Lindsay Lohan.

It proved to be Jones’ last starring role in a Disney feature, but he reprised his role as Jim Douglas in a short-lived 1982 TV series Herbie, the Love Bug and in a 1997 TV remake of The Love Bug.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7869

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