Gidget Goes to Rome (1963)

Director:

Paul Wendkos

Writers:

Ruth Brooks Flippen (story)
Ruth Brooks Flippen (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Francis, now 17, is still in love with Moondoggy. She can persuade her parents to allow them a journey to Rome...

Plot Keywords:

Youth | Gladiator | Sequel | Ancient Rome | Cleopatra

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
Leon Auerbach	...	East Indian Yoga (uncredited)
Mimo Billi	...	Fontana Doorman (uncredited)
Luigi Bonos	...	Museum Official (uncredited)
Charles Borromel	...	Whitefaced Poet (uncredited)
Leonardo Botta	...	Italian Boy (uncredited)
Mathilda Calnan	...	Old Party Guest (uncredited)
José Canalejas	...	Pinchman (uncredited)
Jan Coomer	...	Poet's Listener (uncredited)
Rod Dana	...	U.S. Embassy Marine (uncredited)
Jim Dolen	...	Nelson (uncredited)
Audrey Fairfax	...	Contessa Ginger de Roquefort (uncredited)
Fontana	...	Themselves (uncredited)
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Beachgoer Wanting to Use Phone (uncredited)
Eddra Gale	...	Fat Party Guest (uncredited)
Tina Lepri	...	Fontana Model (uncredited)
Sylvia Llore	...	Fontana Model (uncredited)
Evi Marandi	...	Receptionist (uncredited)
David Maunsell	...	Poet's Listener (uncredited)
Milly	...	Henrietta (uncredited)
Norma Nedici	...	Normal Party Guest (uncredited)
Umberto Raho	...	Mario, the Waiter (uncredited)
Adria Ramaccia	...	Fontana Model (uncredited)
May Sariola	...	Fontana Model (uncredited)
Carmen Scarpitta	...	Caviar Party Guest (uncredited)
Nino Segurini	...	Italian Boy (uncredited)
John Stacy	...	Drunken Butler (uncredited)
Milena Vukotic	...	Caviar Party Guest (uncredited)
Irina Wassilchikoff	...	Lean Party Guest (uncredited)
Veronica Wells	...	Fontana's Major Domo Dresser (uncredited)
Vadim Wolkowsky	...	Prince Bianchi (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Wendkos

Writing credits
Ruth Brooks Flippen		(story)
Ruth Brooks Flippen		writer and
Katherine Albert		(as Katherine Eunson) &
Dale Eunson		writer

Produced by
Jerry Bresler	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams		(as Johnny Williams)

Cinematography by
Enzo Barboni
Robert J. Bronner

Film Editing by
William A. Lyon

Art Direction by
Robert Peterson
Antonio Sarzi-Braga

Set Decoration by
Ferdinando Ruffo

Costume Design by
Pat Barto

Makeup Department
Mel Berns Jr.	....	makeup supervisor (as Mel Berns)
Serafina Calef	....	makeup artist
Amalia Paoletti	....	hair stylist
Giancarlo De Leonardis	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mara Blasetti	....	production manager

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

Sound Department
Cyril Collick	....	sound supervisor
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Mickey Dora	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Stu Phillips	....	music arranger: vocal arrangements

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Jerry Bresler Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Aldo-Italwig, Rome  wigs
• Sorelle Fontana, Roma  Gidget's special outfit
• Sorelle Fontana, Roma  fashion show clothes

Also Known As:

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | West Germany:6 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Fontana di Trevi, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989)

Soundtrack:

Big Italian Moon

"Gidget" - a contraction, meaning "girl midget."

"Gidget Goes to Rome" in 1963 was the third installment in the Gidget series of films. The first had Sandra Dee and the second Deborah Whalley as the Gidget leads. Including a couple of TV series and some TV movies, there were nine in all, and many of them pretty lame.

This Gidget film, in 1963, is one of the better ones. Cindy Carol as Gidget Lawrence plays her as a bright, perky, mature teenager, and the slight over-acting style she uses fits the character just right. Remember, the Gidget films are not to be taken very seriously. They depict 1960s teenager life and in particular, the mythical beach life. Here Gidget and some of her friends are in Rome, she meets a mysterious and handsome older Italian man who seems to be intent on helping her have a good stay. In the end he has been retained by Gidget's father to make sure she has both a good time, and remains safe.

I was a teenager in 1963, specifically it was the year I graduated from high school. A "Gidget" represents more than anything else that cute girl we admired from afar but never could get close to. Watching any of these Gidget films, especially the first three (1959, 1961, and 1963) brings back fond memories that doesn't quite seem to be 40+ years ago.