Unlock the mystery: Herbie’s first film appearance revealed!

As a detective, the first thing I would do is gather some information about the clue. Herbie is a well-known character from movies and TV, and it’s clear that we are looking for one of his first film appearances. The year 1963 also gives us a hint that we should be looking for an older film. Then, after some brainstorming and research, I would recall that the first film in which Herbie appears as a supporting character is “The Love Bug” which was released in 1968. The film portrays Herbie as a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that has become sentient, with a personality and will of its own. Hence, after linking all the pieces together, it becomes apparent that the correct answer to the crossword clue is “THELOVEBUG“.