Tag Archives: Deborah Walley

Page to Screen: Gidget Goes Hawaiian

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“It’s not the same, down by the sea … since the Gidget came to Waikiki …” It’s especially not the same since in the second Gidget film, “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961), the whole cast except for Moondoggie is different.

Thankfully, the book version of “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” is much better than the film.

gidget goes hawaiia

To recap: In 1957, screenwriter Frederick Kohner wrote the bestselling novel “Gidget: The Little Girl with Big Ideas,” which was based on the summer adventures of his daughter, Kathy. Gidget discovers surfing, hangs out with a college-aged male surfers at Malibu and has a crush on one in particular, named Moondoggie. The bestselling book was adapted into the hit film, “Gidget” (1959), starring Sandra Dee, James Darren and Cliff Robertson.

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Review: “Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961)

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gidget-goes-hawaiian-movie-poster-1961-1010681749“Gidget Goes Hawaiian” (1961) is the worst of the Gidget feature films. And even though it’s ridiculous and has some stupid

The success of the 1959 “Gidget” film was followed by two feature films, three made-for-TV movies and two television shows.

As previously mentioned, I adore the film “Gidget” (1959) that spawned a beach culture craze. However, the film that followed two years later is abysmal.

In the film, Moondoggie/Jeff Matthews (James Darren) returns from college. He and Gidget spend a carefree summer together, and Moondoggie gives Gidget his fraternity pin. All is bliss until Gidget’s parents (Jeff Donnell, Carl Reiner) surprise her with a trip to Hawaii. Rather than being overjoyed, Gidget is outraged, because she will have to leave Moondoggie, who only has two weeks of summer vacation left. In a tizzy, she runs to tell him the bad news. Rather than being angry with her, Moondoggie is happy that she has the opportunity to go on this trip. Naturally Gidget assumes that this means he doesn’t love her, so she flies off the handle, gives him back his fraternity pin and decides she wants to go to Hawaii.

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