HERBIE RIDES AGAIN (1974) *** Just another masterpiece from the greatest director of children's films that ever lived. The "Ye Chicken Tournament" scene (will someone please invent whatever kind of Oscar Rod McCary wants ) is one of the handful of funniest ever put to celluloid, and great arrive with admirable regularity, including the climactic one that inspired my three-year old son to exclaim, "Yeah! Those are the best cars that I ever liked!" Of course even Robert Stevenson couldn't have done it without the actors: Stefanie Powers lights up the screen every time she's on it, Ken Berry couldn't look more good naturedly doofy, Keenan Wynn channels depths of depravity accessible only to corporate barons who have sold their souls and then triple mortgaged them, and Helen Hayes...God grant me the wisdom and serenity of Helen Hayes! Stevenson does an excellent job of balancing the contemporary concerns of the zeitgeist (cops kissing rich people's butts, gentle mockery of classical music) with eternal values (love, individuality, guts), leaving a film that serves as much as a warning (or admonishment to adults in extreme cases) as it is magical animistic entertainment for children. And take note, young lawyers-if you don't sell out you may not get an office in a tall building and, even better, you might land a young lady as soulful as Powers.
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