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Gidget: Sandra Dee
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Based on the book by Frederick Kohner about his surfer daughter Kathy, "Gidget" (a nickname for a "girl-midget") first became popular in a 1959 film version that starred Sandra Dee as the surf-and-boy-loving Francine "Gidget" Lawrence. The movie led to two sequels, and in 1965, Columbia Pictures' television arm Screen Gems decided to turn 'Gidget' into a half-hour comedy. Fresh-faced 18-year-old Field, who had graduated from a Columbia acting workshop, was tapped to play the title role; she beat 75 other teenage girls for the part. Field's freshness and effervescent personality dominated the show (along with sage advice from her professor father, Russ Lawrence, played by veteran sitcom actor Don Porter.) Lynette Winter was Gidget's best friend Larue; Betty Conner and Peter Deuel ... starred as Gidget's sister and brother-in-law.
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Frederick Kohner about his surfer daughter Kathy, "Gidget" (a nickname for a "girl-midget") first became popular in a 1959 film version that starred Sandra Dee as the surf-and-boy-loving Francine "Gidget" Lawrence. The movie led to two sequels, and in 1965, Columbia Pictures' television arm Screen Gems decided to turn 'Gidget' into a half-hour comedy. Fresh-faced 18-year-old Field, who had graduated from a Columbia acting workshop, was tapped to play the title role; she beat 75 other teenage girls for the part. starred as Gidget's sister and brother-in-law.
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Although the very title prompts snorts of derision from many, Gidget is actually not a bad little teenaged flick from the '50s. Great art it definitely isn't, but as frivolous, lighthearted entertainment, it more than fits the bill. Those who know it only by reputation will probably be surprised to find that it does attempt to deal with the problems of life as seen by a teenager -- and that, while some of those attempts are silly, many of them come off quite well. It ... paints a very convincing picture of the beach-bum lifestyle, much more so than the Frankie Avalon-Annette Funicello beach party movies. Yes, there's plenty to laugh at (including some surf sequences that barely attempt to hide the fact that rear projections are being used), and the character of Gidget herself is likely to seem a bit too dated for many modern viewers, but for the most part, the film is pleasant and fun. And if Sandra Dee sometimes comes across as too cute and perky, that's really due more to the way the part is written than the way in which it is played.
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In Gidget, a near-drowning finds Francis Lawrence (Sandra Dee, A Summer Place) saved by handsome young surfer Moondoggie (James Darren, Guns of Navarone). Suddenly infatuated with the longboard lifestyle, Francis endears herself to Moondoggie's beach bum friends, including their mentor, the Big Kahuna (Cliff Robertson, Spider-Man). She learns to surf and earns the nickname "Gidget" (an abbreviated form of "girl midget"), but Moondoggie still isn't interested-in fact, he's planning on dropping out of college to join the Kahuna as a surf-drenched drifter. Tired of being not noticed, Gidget concocts a plan to drive Moondoggie into her arms with jealousy.
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Actress Sandra Dee, the blond beauty who attracted a large teen audience with films such as Gidget and Tammy and the Doctor and had a headlined marriage to pop singer Bobby Darin, died Sunday. She was 62.
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Based on the hit, 1959 movie, Gidget, starring Sandra Dee, TV's short lived series (Sept. 1965-1966) about cute, spunky, quintessentially California teen, Frances Lawrence (Gidget), starred none other than academy award winning and still acclaimed dramatic film actress, Sally Field, (above), with a supporting cast that included Betty Conner (below left) as big sis, Anne, and Peter Deuel (below right) as bro-in-law, John.
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