Gidget (1959)

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

Gabrielle Upton (screenplay)
Frederick Kohner (novel)

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 | Swimsuit

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Sandra Dee	...	Francie Lawrence aka Gidget
James Darren	...	Jeffrey Matthews aka Moondoggie
Cliff Robertson	...	Burt Vail aka The Big Kahuna
Arthur O'Connell	...	Russell Lawrence
The Four Preps	...	Band at Beach
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
Patti Kane	...	Patti
Doug McClure	...	Waikiki
Burt Metcalfe	...	Lord Byron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bruce Belland	...	Lead Singer (uncredited)
Dick Clark	...	Himself - Trailer Host (uncredited)
Don Clarke	...	Group Member (uncredited)
Ed Cobb	...	Group Member (uncredited)
Ed Hinton	...	Cop (uncredited)
Glen A. Larson	...	Group Member (uncredited)
Shary Layne	...	Joanne (uncredited)
Edward McNally	...	Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Cheerio Meredith	...	Nosy Woman (uncredited)
Richard Newton	...	Cop (uncredited)
Ruthie Robinson	...	Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Wendkos

Writing credits
Gabrielle Upton		(screenplay)
Frederick Kohner		(novel)

Produced by
Lewis J. Rachmil	....	producer

Cinematography by
Burnett Guffey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William A. Lyon

Art Direction by
Ross Bellah

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup supervisor
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Milton Feldman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John P. Livadary	....	recording supervisor (as John Livadary)
J.S. Westmoreland	....	sound (as Josh Westmoreland)

Stunts
Linda Benson	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Mickey Dora	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Johnny Fain	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Munoz	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Henri Jaffa	....	color consultant

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Morris Stoloff	....	conductor
Morris Stoloff	....	music supervisor
John Williams	....	orchestrator (as John Williams Jr.)

Other crew
Mickey Dora	....	surfing double: James Darren (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (ColumbiaColor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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

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:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Gidget is told a used surf board costs $25.00. She mentions she only has $4.50 left from her allowance, meaning she only needs $20.50 more. However, when she asks her father for some money, she asks for $21.50 instead of only $20.50.

Quotes:

Mr. Russell Lawrence:That's a man-hunter?
Mrs. Dorothy Lawrence:Who did you expect? Kim Novak?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Psycho Beach Party (2000)

Soundtrack:

Gidget

Gidget is about a fun loving girl who gets involved with a group of surfers and has the summer of her life!

I have loved this movie ever since the first time I saw it years ago when I was a preteen. Although it is an old movie, it is still quite enjoyable. It was made in 1959 so of course it lacks the newer features which todays movies emit. However, I think the simple, sweet story of first love is a nice escape from the harsh realities of todays world. I always choose movies that provide something I cannot find in real life. I prefer escaping the norm. If I want to see sex and violence all I have to do is watch the news.

Gidget takes us all back to a simpler time and place where we can relive the memories of our youth or imagine how it might have been. I not only own the video but I also watch it on television whenever it airs. Having just finished watching again, I have to say that the idea that BL was a lesbian never entered my mind. They speak about how she has it made cause she wears her boyfriends pin. I always took that to mean that she was involved in a relationship with a guy who just happened to be away at college or working a lot. Just cause someone has short hair doesn't make them a lesbian in my mind and I think the person who made that comment was way off base and didn't really follow the conversations of the movie closely.

I love all of the Gidget movies, however to me Sandra Dee will always be the ultimate Gidget and I am sad that we have lost her recently.