Gidget Goes to Rome

I'm 21, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate or love the Gidget movies. My friends look very puzzled when I mention how much I love these movies. However, "Gidget Goes to Rome," gets no love from me and was by far the most boring Gidget to date. Cindy Carol, as Gidget, did not click with me the way Sandra Dee and Deborah Walley did. I don't mean to put her down or bash her but she didn't have that spunk that the previous Gidget's had. The best part about the movie was the gorgeous Moondoggie, but even he couldn't save this film. I'm not sure why they had a new Gidget every movie (maybe no one wanted to stay on) but I really wish they could have gotten Sandra or Deborah back. Even Sally Field's television version of Gidget was much better than Cindy Carol's portrayal.

The one thing I enjoyed was the scenery and fashion show sequence.Carol Carol is a lousy actress, and the "gang" are as equally uninteresting.James Darren is a gorgeous italian and I love his songs!

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.

Before the "Gidget" franchise got a shot in the arm via television (with young Sally Field in the title role), she trudged along theatrically, here with Cindy Carol in the lead. 17-year-old Frances Lawrence goes on a chaperoned trip to Italy with boyfriend and gal-pals in tow. Slick but artificial mixture of on-location tourist's folly and set-bound situation comedy isn't at all interesting, despite the efforts by veteran comedy writer Ruth Brooks Flippen. The teens seem tired, Carol exudes very little charisma, and only Don Porter is engaging playing Gidget's dad, a role he filled even more comfortably a few years later on TV. *1/2 from ****

Gidget Goes to Rome is easily the low point of the series. The comedy is lame and the story is neither original nor as sweet as Gidget. While Cindy Carol makes a better lead than Deborah Walley did in Gidget Goes Hawaiian, she's not going to make anyone forget about Sandra Dee. The series should have ended in Hawaii. Maybe it's just me, but I found a few things about Gidget Goes to Rome a little weird. First, take the relationship between Gidget and Moondoggie as presented in this movie. James Darren looks to be about twice the age of Carol. Seeing the older Darren snuggling up to a girl half his age is just a little too creepy for me to enjoy. Second, Moondoggie spends the entire movie ignoring Gidget and wooing the hot Italian tour guide. He even asks her to marry him. Yet when she refuses and sends him on his way, Gidget takes him back with open arms and without any questions. Again, it's just too creepy.

Cindy Carol effortlessly projects warm and verve onto the silver screen. The storyline is written for children and teenage women of the early 1960's. Like so many movies during the 60's, (e.g., 007 films), Gidget Goes to Rome was probably snubbed by some reviewers of the time, only to reappear decades later to a new audience of more appreciative viewers. It is now a classic period piece of that particular time and genre. I rented the VHS tape and noticed that Ms. Carol's name was way down the list on the credits shown on the cover. Cindy Carol's face in shown for most of the 110 minutes this film runs. With her beauty, presence and naturally bubbly personality, she is carrying the entire cast.

This is by far the worst of the three Gidget movies. The plot is ridiculous, with Gidget breaking up with Moondoggie right away of course. He falls for a Roman tour guide who oddly, has a French accent. By the end of the tedious movie he asks her to marry him. When she refuses, right away he goes back to Gidget. Meanwhile, Gidget falls for a married man. Yes, all this in between seeing the sights And crashing a fashion show. She was much ore interesting back in Malibu. Sandra Dee was the best Gidget in my opinion. But that had a lot to do with a better script and cast.

The movie itself was ok, good scenery and all, but the acting wasn't exactly the best. Cindy Carol wasa terrible choice for gidget because of a lack of acting skills. If you look past the fact that her acting was lousy the movie is pretty good, the plot is slighlty more mature than the other gidget's. The scenery was great and so was the fashion show sequence. All in all, it wasn't that bad...

This is one of my favorite movies, it features Cindy Carol. She is my idea of the perfect girl, she is so pretty and has a perfect personality. I wish she was in more movies. This movie would be nothing without her in the lead role. I think this is the best of the Gidget movies. She is a little known actress, watch this movie and she if you agree that she deserved more movie roles. Filmed in 1963, the height of the beach movies. A great movie for all ages. It stands the test of time, it's just as good today as it was 40 years ago. I wish Cindy stared in the Gidget TV show, I can't get enough of her joyful personality.