Herbie Goes Bananas
Encyclopedia
Herbie Goes Bananas is the fourth of a series of films made by Walt Disney Productions starring Herbie
– the white Volkswagen
racing Beetle
with a mind of its own. The film stars former Mel Brooks
collaborators Cloris Leachman
and Harvey Korman
.
left off, Pete Stancheck (Stephen W. Burns
) has inherited the one-of-a-kind automobile from his uncle, Jim Douglas. Pete travels to Mexico
(Puerto Vallarta
) with his friend Davy "D.J." Johns (Charles Martin Smith
) to retrieve the car. There, they meet little Paco (Joaquin Garay, III
), a comically mischievous, orphaned pickpocket.
Pete and D.J. board a cruise ship to Rio de Janeiro
to enter Herbie in the Brazil Grand Primeo. Unknown to them, Paco has hitched a ride under Herbie's hood to avoid three irate victims of his thievery. On the trip, they meet an anthropology student named Melissa (Elyssa Davalos
) and her extravagant, eccentric aunt Louise (Cloris Leachman
), who is trying to find a husband for her niece. When Herbie wreaks havoc on board, Pete pretends to court Melissa, with the intended result that her Aunt Louise will sponsor the men for their race.
Meanwhile, Herbie helps Paco, who has dubbed the car 'Ocho' (which means 'eight' in Spanish, Paco having simply added together the individual numerals in Herbie's number 53, also being a pun on the affective Mexican nickname for the beetle: "vocho" or also pronounced "bocho".), escape captivity. When the overenthusiastic ship's captain Blythe (Harvey Korman
) has his costume party wrecked by the mischievous boy and car, he puts Herbie on trial and sentences him to be dropped in the sea
. Herbie becomes a rustbucket as a result of immersion in the salt water
, but is rescued from the sea by Paco and disguised as a taxi.
Thence follows an Inca gold-stealing plot, Herbie's matador part in a bullfight, romance
between Aunt Louise and Captain Blythe, and some banana
s which are initially used to camouflage Herbie in a convoy of farm vehicles traveling to market and later used to comic effect by Herbie and Paco in an attempt to stop the villains escaping in their plane. The bad guys (John Vernon
and Alex Rocco
) are in pursuit of Paco, who misplaced some important film when he stole their wallets.
franchise since its inception in 1969 with The Love Bug
. Most film critics remarked that the series had run its course, with Leonard Maltin
commenting that there was "one amusing scene where the VW turns matador; otherwise, strictly scrap metal." Maltin (who rated the film *½ out of ****) added that the plot dealt with its cast "encountering all sorts of 'hilarious' obstacles along the way." Phil Patton, author of the book Bug: The Strange Mutations of the World's Most Famous Automobile, observed that the Herbie franchise was "a game of diminishing returns: Herbie Goes Bananas...is filled with "south of the border" clichés and stereotypes."
Herbie
Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, a character that is featured in several Disney motion pictures starting with the 1968 feature film The Love Bug. He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself, and is a serious contender in auto racing competitions...
– the white Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
racing Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
with a mind of its own. The film stars former Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows...
collaborators Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
and Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman
Harvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
.
Plot
Loosely picking up where Herbie Goes to Monte CarloHerbie Goes to Monte Carlo
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo is a 1977 film, the third of a series of films by Walt Disney Productions starring Herbie – the white Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own.-Plot:...
left off, Pete Stancheck (Stephen W. Burns
Stephen W. Burns
Stephen W. Burns was an American actor.-Career:Born in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Burns is best known for playing 'Pete Stancheck' in Herbie Goes Bananas and 'Jack Cleary' in the The Thorn Birds mini-series...
) has inherited the one-of-a-kind automobile from his uncle, Jim Douglas. Pete travels to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
) with his friend Davy "D.J." Johns (Charles Martin Smith
Charles Martin Smith
Charles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director.-Early life:Smith was born in Van Nuys, California. His father, Frank Smith, was a film cartoonist and animator, while his uncle Paul J. Smith was an animator as well as a director for the Walter Lantz Studios...
) to retrieve the car. There, they meet little Paco (Joaquin Garay, III
Joaquin Garay, III
Joaquin Garay III is a former Latin child actor best known for playing the role of 'Paco' in Herbie Goes Bananas.Now grown up and residing in California, Garay is currently writing, acting and producing sketch comedy at the Improv at the Groundlings and the L.A. Connection in Los Angeles...
), a comically mischievous, orphaned pickpocket.
Pete and D.J. board a cruise ship to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
to enter Herbie in the Brazil Grand Primeo. Unknown to them, Paco has hitched a ride under Herbie's hood to avoid three irate victims of his thievery. On the trip, they meet an anthropology student named Melissa (Elyssa Davalos
Elyssa Davalos
Elyssa Davalos is a former American television and movie actress. Her father is actor Richard Davalos. She is the mother of actress Alexa Davalos, from her marriage to photographer Jeff Dunas.-Television:...
) and her extravagant, eccentric aunt Louise (Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman
Cloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
), who is trying to find a husband for her niece. When Herbie wreaks havoc on board, Pete pretends to court Melissa, with the intended result that her Aunt Louise will sponsor the men for their race.
Harvey Korman
Harvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
) has his costume party wrecked by the mischievous boy and car, he puts Herbie on trial and sentences him to be dropped in the sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
. Herbie becomes a rustbucket as a result of immersion in the salt water
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
, but is rescued from the sea by Paco and disguised as a taxi.
Thence follows an Inca gold-stealing plot, Herbie's matador part in a bullfight, romance
Romantic friendship
The term romantic friendship refers to both very close but non-sexual relationship and at times physical relationship between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in modern Western societies, and may include for example holding hands, cuddling,...
between Aunt Louise and Captain Blythe, and some banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s which are initially used to camouflage Herbie in a convoy of farm vehicles traveling to market and later used to comic effect by Herbie and Paco in an attempt to stop the villains escaping in their plane. The bad guys (John Vernon
John Vernon
John Keith Vernon was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada.-Early life:...
and Alex Rocco
Alex Rocco
Alex Rocco is an American actor. His roles have ranged from comedy to playing gangsters in Mafia movies.-Early life:...
) are in pursuit of Paco, who misplaced some important film when he stole their wallets.
Cast
- Cloris LeachmanCloris LeachmanCloris Leachman is an American actress of stage, film and television. She has won eight Primetime Emmy Awards—more than any other performer—and one Daytime Emmy Award...
.... Aunt Louise Trends - Charles Martin SmithCharles Martin SmithCharles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director.-Early life:Smith was born in Van Nuys, California. His father, Frank Smith, was a film cartoonist and animator, while his uncle Paul J. Smith was an animator as well as a director for the Walter Lantz Studios...
.... Davy "D.J." Johns - John VernonJohn VernonJohn Keith Vernon was a Canadian actor. He made a career in Hollywood after achieving initial television stardom in Canada.-Early life:...
.... Prindle - Stephen W. BurnsStephen W. BurnsStephen W. Burns was an American actor.-Career:Born in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Burns is best known for playing 'Pete Stancheck' in Herbie Goes Bananas and 'Jack Cleary' in the The Thorn Birds mini-series...
.... Pete Stancheck - Elyssa DavalosElyssa DavalosElyssa Davalos is a former American television and movie actress. Her father is actor Richard Davalos. She is the mother of actress Alexa Davalos, from her marriage to photographer Jeff Dunas.-Television:...
.... Melissa - Joaquin Garay, IIIJoaquin Garay, IIIJoaquin Garay III is a former Latin child actor best known for playing the role of 'Paco' in Herbie Goes Bananas.Now grown up and residing in California, Garay is currently writing, acting and producing sketch comedy at the Improv at the Groundlings and the L.A. Connection in Los Angeles...
.... Paco - Harvey KormanHarvey KormanHarvey Herschel Korman was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960...
.... Captain Blythe - Richard JaeckelRichard JaeckelRichard Hanley Jaeckel was an American actor of film and television.-Life and career:Jaeckel was born in Long Beach, New York. A short, but tough guy, he played a variety of characters during his fifty years in movies & television and became one of Hollywood's best known character actors...
.... Shepard - Alex RoccoAlex RoccoAlex Rocco is an American actor. His roles have ranged from comedy to playing gangsters in Mafia movies.-Early life:...
.... Quinn - Fritz FeldFritz FeldFritz Feld was a film character actor actor who appeared in over 140 films, both silent and sound. His trademark was to slap his mouth with the palm of his hand to create a pop sound.-Biography:...
.... Chief Steward - Vito ScottiVito ScottiVito Scotti was a veteran character actor who played many roles, primarily from the late-1940s to the mid-1990s. He was known as a man of a thousand faces, for his ability to assume so many divergent roles in more than 200 screen roles, in a nearly 50 year career. He was known for his resourceful...
.... Armando Moccia - José González González .... Garage owner
- Ruben Moreno .... Store owner
- Tina Menard .... Store owner's wife
- Jorge MorenoJorge MorenoJorge Moreno Cuban-American musician.Moreno won much critical acclaim for his debut album and was awarded a Latin Grammy award for "Best New Artist", Early the next year he nominated in the Grammy's for "Best Latin Album" and was one of the first artists to perform in Spanish on Good Morning...
.... Bus driver - Allan HuntAllan HuntAllan Hunt is an American actor from California, probably best remembered as Crewman Stuart Riley from season 2 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.-Biography:...
, Tom ScottTom ScottTom Scott may refer to:*Tom Scott , New Zealand cartoonist*Tom Scott , member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame*Tom Scott , coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program...
.... Canal operators - Hector Morales .... Mexican General
- Iris AdrianIris AdrianIris Adrian was an American film actress.-Life and career:Born in Los Angeles, California as Iris Hostetter, Adrian won a beauty pageant and worked with the Ziegfeld Follies, before she entered films at the end of the silent era in Chasing Husbands and appeared as an extra or chorus girl in early...
.... Loud American wife - Ceil Cabot .... Mrs. Purkiss
- Patricia Van Patten .... Cigarette guest
- Jack PerkinsJack PerkinsJack Perkins is an American reporter, commentator, war correspondent, and anchorman. He has been dubbed "America's most literate correspondent" by the Associated Press....
.... Loud American - Henry Slate .... Off-watch officer
- Ernie Fuentos .... Native
- Antonio Trevino .... Pigeon owner
- Dante D'Andre .... Dr. De Moraes
- Alma Beltan .... General's wife
- Dolores Aguirre, Aurora Coria .... General's daughters
- Alex Tinne, Don DiamondDon DiamondDonald Alan "Don" Diamond was an American radio, film, and television actor who portrayed "Crazy Cat", the sidekick and heir apparent to Chief Wild Eagle on the popular 1960s television sitcom, F Troop .-Career:...
.... Locals - Warde Donovan .... Maitre d'
- Ray Victor .... Guard attendant
- Bert Santos .... Policeman #3
- Buddy Joe HookerBuddy Joe HookerBuddy Joe Hooker is a Hollywood actor, second unit director, stunt man and stunt coordinator. He is most famous for his expertise in designing and performing vehicle stunts for movies and television...
.... Chef - Steve BoyumSteve BoyumSteve Boyum is a long time Hollywood stunt performer, television director and film director. He has appeared in over 60 films as a stunt performer.-Selected filmography as a director:*Human Target...
.... Panama policeman - Kenny Endoso .... Mexican policeman
- Mario Cisneros .... Puerto Vallarta policeman
- Jeff Ramsey .... The matador
- John C. Meier .... Ship's officer
Reception
Herbie Goes Bananas was the most poorly received film in the HerbieHerbie
Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, a character that is featured in several Disney motion pictures starting with the 1968 feature film The Love Bug. He has a mind of his own and is capable of driving himself, and is a serious contender in auto racing competitions...
franchise since its inception in 1969 with The Love Bug
The Love Bug
The Love Bug is the first in a series of comedy films made by Walt Disney Productions that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie...
. Most film critics remarked that the series had run its course, with Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
commenting that there was "one amusing scene where the VW turns matador; otherwise, strictly scrap metal." Maltin (who rated the film *½ out of ****) added that the plot dealt with its cast "encountering all sorts of 'hilarious' obstacles along the way." Phil Patton, author of the book Bug: The Strange Mutations of the World's Most Famous Automobile, observed that the Herbie franchise was "a game of diminishing returns: Herbie Goes Bananas...is filled with "south of the border" clichés and stereotypes."
Cars
- Only a few of the rusted Herbies that were used as props are left. The prop Herbie thrown into the sea was never retrieved. A total of 26 VW Beetles were used due to the enormous amount of stunts and tricks.