Gidget Goes to Rome ** (1963, James Darren, Cindy Carol, Jessie Royce Landis, Cesare Danova) – Classic Movie Review 3386

A disappointing Cindy Carol takes over as the 17-year-old Gidget in returning director Paul Wendkos’s modest but nice-looking 1963 second sequel to Gidget (1959). And, guess what?, the  ‘girl midget’ is off to Rome.

Happily, James Darren is still playing Moondoggie, the surfing boy Gidget loves. Happily, too, Jessie Royce Landis is drafted in as Albertina Blythe, with Cesare Danova as Paolo Cellini.

Gidget persuades her parents (Don Porter, Jeff Donnell) to allow her and Moondoggie to go to Rome, with two of her and two of his friends. The condition is they must take an adult with them, so they choose eccentric aunt Albertina.

Also in the cast are Danielle De Metz, Joby Baker, Trudi Ames, Noreen Corcoran, Peter Brooks, Lisa Gastoni and Claudio Gora.

Gidget Goes to Rome is directed by Paul Wendkos, runs 104 minutes, is a Jerry Bresler Production, released by Columbia, is written by Ruth Brooks Flippen, Katherine Albert and Dale Eunson, is shot in Eastmancolor by Enzo Barboni and Robert J Bronner, is produced by Jerry Bresler, is scored by John Williams and designed by Robert Peterson.

It follows Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3386

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