Gidget, directed by Paul Wendkos, is a delightful coming-of-age film that captures the carefree spirit of surf culture in Southern California during the late 1950s. Sandra Dee stars as Francie Lawrence, a young girl who unexpectedly falls in love when her friends take her to the sunny beaches of Malibu on a "manhunting" trip. She is considered "square" by her friends because, up until this summer, her extracurricular activities involved playing the cello and making straight A’s in school. While they lament little Francie's hopelessness of ever catching a boy, Francie catches a new love instead - surfing! "Honest to goodness, it's the absolute ultimate!"
Francie pleads with her parents to get the money to purchase a used surfboard and then enthusiastically joins the male-dominated surfing community and gets rechristened "Gidget" ( Girl + Midget ) by her fellow surfers.
Francie is treated just like one of the guys and loves it, yet she is beginning to think something is wrong with her because she isn't wild about boys the way her friends are. But, as her mother predicts, she simply has not yet met "the one".....until she sees Moondoggie that is. Francie then tries her own technique of manhunting to try and reel in the ultimate catch at the beach.
Gidget was released in the spring of 1959 and made quite a splash when it first hit the screen. Sandra Dee was launched to stardom and the surfing fad that was in its infancy when the film was made would become the "Big Kahuna" of teen crazes within a few short years. The surfing lifestyle with its surf music, surf wagons, surfing shorts, surfing tees, and surfing tans was all the rage by 1965. Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello helped popularize this Hawaiian import in films such as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo but before they were out there having fun in the warm California sun, little Francie Lawrence was discovering the joys that could be had with a wooden board and demonstrating to teenage girls across America that it was a sport that even girl midgets could master.
Gidget was based on the 1957 novel of the same name, penned by screenwriter/novelist Frederick Kohner. He was simply writing about the exploits of his own teenage daughter and the summer she fell in love with surfing. Little did he realize that this story would be so endearing that it spawned two follow-up feature films ( Gidget Goes Hawaiian and Gidget Goes to Rome ) and a popular 1965 television series ( Gidget starring Sally Field ). For many, Sandra Dee's portrayal of Gidget is considered the best. She was flat-chested and tomboyish but cute and cuddly at the same time. At least, Moondoggie certainly found her appealing. For teeny-boppers, the main draw of the film was Moondoggie himself, played by James Darren. What teenage girl couldn't relate to being stuck on the most handsome boy at the beach? Columbia Pictures certainly hit the jackpot when they signed this dreamy youth to a contract. He not only looked like a Greek god but could sing and act, too. Darren's rendition of the title song hit the Billboard charts at #89 in April of 1959.
The Four Preps did a marvelous version of the Gidget theme for the opening credits of the film, setting the lighthearted mood of the picture. They appear in the flesh later in the film performing "Cinderella" during the luau scene. One of the members of the group was Glen A. Larson who later produced a number of popular television series ( The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Buck Rogers in the 21st Century ).
Like many Columbia Pictures productions, Gidget had a great cast filled with pros such as the versatile Cliff Robertson who gives a solid performance as the world-wary lost soul known as Kahuna, and Arthur O'Connell and Mary LaRoche as Gidget's parents. Mary LaRoche later played mother to another teenage daughter going through a phase as Mrs. McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie ( 1963 ). "Mom, I could perish! I could perish with shame. Last night, after all those hours of concentrated effort, I come home as pure as the driven snow."
While Gidget is primarily a colorful teen beach romance flick, it also subtly touches upon themes of empowerment and defying societal expectations. Gidget's determination to break free from gender stereotypes and pursue her passion for surfing probably served as an inspiring message for young girls. After all, Gidget proved that one didn't have to be a shapely model to catch a boy like Moondoggie.
Overall, Gidget is a timeless gem that continues to charm. Its endearing characters, picturesque visuals, and uplifting theme make it a delightful watch, especially for those seeking a breezy and nostalgic trip to the sun-soaked beaches of the late 1950s.
