Gidget (1959)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

Frederick Kohner (novel)
Gabrielle Upton (writer)

Release Date:

10 April 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Watch out Brigitte...here comes Gidget!

Plot:

A young girl discovers surfing and love (in that order) during one transitive summer.

Plot Keywords:

Surfing | Surf | Love | Beach Party | Teenage Boy

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Sandra Dee	...	Gidget (Frances Lawrence)
James Darren	...	Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
Cliff Robertson	...	The Big Kahuna
Arthur O'Connell	...	Russell Lawrence
Bruce Belland	...	Lead Singer (as The Four Preps)
Glen A. Larson	...	Group Member (as The Four Preps)
Don Clarke	...	Group Member (as The Four Preps)
Ed Cobb	...	Group Member (as The Four Preps)
Mary LaRoche	...	Mrs. Dorothy Lawrence
Joby Baker	...	Stinky
Tom Laughlin	...	Lover Boy
Sue George	...	Betty Louise aka 'B. L.'
Robert Ellis	...	Hot Shot
Jo Morrow	...	Mary Lou
Yvonne Craig	...	Nan

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (ColumbiaColor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Leo Carrillo State Beach - 35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The title character was based on the author's daughter, Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, and her adventures growing up in the surf culture on the beach at Malibu in the 1950's. As of this note (July 2006), she is 62, petite, healthy and attractive and living in Pacific Palisades with her husband of 42 years. And yes, there was a "Moondoggie", who still lives in California and is an artist.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Gidget has completed her first successful surf the gang carry a surf board back to the shack. An audio reel of various ad libs plays during this part. After the Gidget learns of the "orgy" the gang disbands and the very same audio reel of ad libs is heard though it has no relevance this time around.

Quotes:

Little girl at the beach: [Gidget's friends throw a beach ball at the surfers to get their attention. Moondoggie sends the little girl over to them with the beach ball and a message] The man said for me to take the toy back to the nursery!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)

Soundtrack:

Cinderella

The blonde and bubbly Sandra Dee at her most appealing!

All right, so it's not a masterpiece of moviemaking, but the film is still widely shown today and adored by most of those who see it. The slight, but very perceptive story concerns a plucky teenage girl nick-named Gidget(contractions of the words Girl and Midget) who mostly just wants to have fun in the sun. There's nothing wrong with that. But she's getting to that certain age where she's beginning to have deeper feelings, especially about the opposite sex. She begins to fall for a more "mature" surf bum(Cliff Robertson), but then finally settles for Moon-doggie(James Darren) who is closer to her own age. Some people might dismiss GIDGET as standard studio corn, but I beg to differ! It's not your typical sixties teen beach movie about surfing, sand, and sex. GIDGET actually has a story to tell. Maybe I'm being slightly sentimental, but to me GIDGET is a beautiful coming-of-age story that can still teach the teenagers of today a valuable lesson about first love. For those of you who didn't already know it, GIDGET was played by the beautiful young Sandra Dee who was a hot item in her day. Dee was seventeen and at her liveliest when she made this film. I would also say she was at her most appealing. She's on the screen for most of the film's 95minutes, and she's an absolute joy to watch for the film's entire running. Needless to say, I thought Dee was irresistably charming in this film. It's easy to see why she was so popular and such an idol to teenage girls in the sixties. She's blonde, beautiful, spirited, and has a terrific personality. It's a pity she doesn't make more films today. Having seen most of her films, I must say that in addition to being a pretty face, she is also a good actress. I could watch her for hours and hours. I may only be a simple 21-year-old boy from cincinnati, but I really enjoy and appreciate older films like this. They're fun and teach a lesson without being too preachy. If you're at the local video store one night and want something that's not too complex and is just good, clean fun, then GIDGET is highly recommended!!!!! And yes, this is the film that spawned the equally popular hit TV series starring another fresh and exciting talent, Sally Field.