Gidget Goes to Rome (1963)

Francis, now 17, is still in love with Moondoggy. She can persuade her parents to allow them a journey to Rome, together with two of her and two of his friends. However they have to take an... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

Ruth Brooks Flippen (story), Ruth Brooks Flippen,

Stars:

James Darren, Jessie Royce Landis, Cesare Danova

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Darren	...	Moondoggie (Jeffrey Matthews)
Jessie Royce Landis	...	Albertina Blythe
Cesare Danova	...	Paolo Cellini
Danielle De Metz	...	Daniela
Cindy Carol	...	Gidget (Frances Lawrence)
Joby Baker	...	Judge
Trudi Ames	...	Libby Bennet
Noreen Corcoran	...	Lucy McDougall
Peter Brooks	...	Clay Anderson
Lisa Gastoni	...	Senora Cellini
Claudio Gora	...	Alberto
Don Porter	...	Mr.Russell Lawrence
Jeff Donnell	...	Mrs. Lawrence
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Kamel

Storyline

Francis, now 17, is still in love with Moondoggy. She can persuade her parents to allow them a journey to Rome, together with two of her and two of his friends. However they have to take an adult with them, so they choose Peter's eccentric aunt. In Rome they get the beautiful guide Daniela, who's fascinating the guys and making especially Gidget jealous. She starts looking elsewhere herself.

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Plot Keywords:

youth | gladiator | sequel | ancient rome | cleopatra | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

April entdeckt Rom

Filming Locations:

Fontana di Trevi, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Jerry Bresler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Although story is supposed to be set during summer vacation, film was clearly shot in winter as actors' breath frequently condenses in outdoor sequences and there are no throngs of tourists as you'd expect to see during high-season.

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Connections

Referenced in The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Gegetta"
Lyrics and Music by George David Weiss and Al Kasha

User Reviews

Weakest of the Three Movies

Although this movie is the weakest of the three Gidget films, it's still a fun view. James Darren is back again as 'Moondoggy' - always a good thing. It's also nice to see the Rome of the early 60s, Cesar Danova is gorgeous, and Jessie Royce Landis is charming. Cindy Carol? Not too much of an actress and definitely second rate compared to Sandra Dee and Deborah Walley. The girl was two-dimensional all of the way through the movie. However, she didn't have as much to work with, script-wise, as the other two actresses, so I'm not sure that it's totally fair to compare them. Being the third sequel, what should we expect, after all? Still, it is a fun movie and actually has some funny bits that are intentional (and some that are unintentional, but not surprising given how old the movie is). If you liked the first two 'Gidget' movies, you'll probably enjoy this one, as well. Just don't expect too much in the way of great acting, slick plot lines, and scintillating conversation.