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IMDb > Gidget (1959)
Gidget
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Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   1,090 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 22% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Paul Wendkos
Writers:
Frederick Kohner (novel)
Gabrielle Upton (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Gidget on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 April 1959 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Tagline:
Watch out Brigitte...here comes Gidget!
Plot:
A young girl discovers surfing and love (in that order) during one transitive summer. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Real Or Imagined: Homoeroticism In 60S Beach Movies
 (From CinemaRetro. 13 April 2009, 10:30 AM, PDT)

Actress Sandra Dee Dies at 62
 (From IMDb News. 21 February 2005)

User Comments:
Gidget Gets Started more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
95 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (ColumbiaColor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
James Darren was originally not selected to play Moondoggie because the role required two songs to sing and Darren was not well established as a singer. On his own, he cut a single with the studio's recording subsidiary Colpix Records which charted. Columbia changed their minds and gave him the role despite the fact that he couldn't surf and was a weak swimmer. He became a huge teen idol and subsequently repeated the Moondoggie role in Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Gidget Goes to Rome (1963)with two other Gidgets: Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Gidget gets her lesson on her new surfboard, the fin is broken in half when it rolls over in the water, but is "repaired" when she and Moondoggie reach the beach. more
Quotes:
Mr. Russell Lawrence: That's a man-hunter?
Mrs. Dorothy Lawrence: Who did you expect? Kim Novak?
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Riding Giants (2004) more
Soundtrack:
The Next Best Thing To Love more

FAQ

What is a "gidget"?
Why didn't Sandra Dee return as Gidget in future Gidget movies?
Does Moondoggie really sing or is he just lip-synching?
more
Gidget Gets Started, 2 September 2007
4/10
Author: wesconnorsehny from Earth

Sandra Dee gets to play the first "Gidget" (combining "Girl and Midget"). She's seems too made-up and beautiful for the role, but she acts the perkiness well. James Darren has a good role with "Moondoggie". Cliff Robertson is the "The Big Kahuna" of the beach. At different times, Ms. Dee's Gidget seems to want to: have fun, have sex, grow up, grow out, stay young, and/or learn to surf (which is not at all unusual). Most of all, Gidget wants a boyfriend.

This film seems much more significant in hindsight; since, the Gidget character proved to be so enduring, and filmmakers discovered an audience for teenagers in swimsuits was ready for action. As a film, "Gidget" only fair, and its story is standard. I thought the most interesting part was Mr. Robertson's character -- do you want him to "grow up" and leave the beach, or should he become an old beach bum? You do get an answer, at the end of the movie. Also interesting is how Robertson relates to the younger characters. The music is slight. Mr. Darren does the title song nicely (later on); and, the soundtrack often sounds like the melody to "Tammy" is about to begin.

**** Gidget (4/10/59) Paul Wendkos ~ Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Gidget (1959)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Something I just noticed Jessica-656
Moondoggie looks like... TeAmoMiVidaLoca
What I would do for a modern day sequel. laurmartin
Kahuna! RetroDoll
My husband made me turn the channel... Josudu
Sandra Dee not in sequels? Why not? entrapment27
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