MovieChat Forums > Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) Discussion > As good as the first?

As good as the first?

posted 18 years ago by lil_sweetie007
20 replies | jump to latest

I didn't think this movie was anything like the first... I guess I'm just a Sandra Dee fan.. How can you go from a petite, short-haired blonde to a "not-so-petite", long-haired red head...? lol I didn't care at all for Deborah Walley's acting in this... She tried way too hard to be a "Sandra Dee"... The beginning of the movie tormented me.. but I continued watching it to find the rest of the movie was alot of fun (Walley-acting aside).. James Darren, Michael Callan, and Carl Reiner saved this film.

[–] karmala2 17 years ago

Really? I love Deborah Walley in this film. I first saw this film on T.V. as a kid and thought she was soooo cool. (Since then I have seen her in other films and am now a huge fan. See "Summer Magic".)

I like Sandra Dee, too, but her role in the original "Gidget" was not my favorite. She seemed way too young, younger than even the girls she hangs out with. And her scenes with Cliff Robertson are downright creepy.

No, I think Deborah Walley is perfect in this one. And Carl Reiner and Jeff Donnell are MUCH more appealing as Gidget's parents in this one.

"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Drea_mz 16 years ago

I thought Deborah Walley was great as Gidget. Gidget's appearence changed big time, but I could overlook that because of how great she was. Sandra Dee was also a great Gidget, but I think the second Gidget is my favorite one. The only one I didn't like was the third one. That entire movie sucked and Cindy Carol was not a very good Gidget.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Drea_mz 16 years ago

Well I'm 21 and I know and love Gidget :-) I first saw the movie when I was about 10 or 11. I guess I can owe that to my mom because she grew up in the 50's and 60's. She had me in her 40's, so I was exposed to a lot of things from that time.

[–] Bunnymonsterz 16 years ago

Hi Drea_mz, I'm 22, and my mom had me in her 40's as well. I guess that's why I'm such a big fan of classic movies. I'd never really put the two and two together before!

"Dry your eyes, baby, it's out of character."
--Notorious

[–] StarlightSweetie 16 years ago

I'm 22 also, my grandparents raised me (they were in their 40's when I was born) so maybe that is why I have a love of old movies (musicals, classics).
My favourite Gidget movies:
# 1: Gidget
# 2: Gidget goes Hawaiian
I find it a bit weird how they go from a blonde Gidget to a redhead (I prefer to think of her as a strawberry blonde, so it kind of fits in with my Gidget sensibilities).
I must admit I didn't really like Gidget Goes to Rome because *Spoiler Alert for Gidget Goes to Rome* I think that if that Italian girl didn't refuse Moondoggie, then there wouldn't have been a "happy" ending. In my opinion, in GGTR, Gidget was his second choice. She was the fallback girl, he didn't really want her. The one he really wanted didn't want him, so Gidget was the booby prize, which made me angry. There was definitely no romance in that movie (at least I didn't see any).

by they way has anyone ever seen these: Gidget Grows Up | Gidget Gets Married | Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection | Gidget's Summer Reunion ?
If so, do you know where I can get them? I've been looking for them everywhere and am very curious about them.

[–] MedioSiglo 15 years ago

Sandra Dee was the perfect Gidget. She could be imperfect and one could still like her. Deborah Walley and Cindy Carol don't stand out in the crowd and neither was attractive enough to keep Moondoggie in his corral.

Gidget's parents were fun, but my favorite was Kam Fong as the hotel clerk. The way he tosses that beaten up lei and his facial expression are wonderful.

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

[–] gcarras 13 years ago

I'm 50 (about a year younger than the FIRST Gidget film!), so I was aorund when these were first out in theatres....but no one has praised the TV one...SALLY FIELD!!!!

[–] stance628 9 years ago

I totally agree with you Drea. I hated that Gidget Goes to Rome and didn't care for
Cindy Carol in that role. Loved Deborah Walley though

[–] DarcyBrandon 14 years ago

I liked Gidget Goes Hawaiian but not as much as the first one. I mean, it was cute but I just love Sandra Dee. Now Gidget Goes to Rome? Yuck! Like what some people said, Moondoggie acted like Gidget was his fall back girl. How is that supposed to romantic?

[–] rudeboy8080 13 years ago

What's "droll"? I don't know. It's some sort of slang expression.

[–] rudeboy8080 13 years ago

I think Gidget Goes Hawaiian(1961) is better than the first. The first Gidget(1959) is a good film, too. What it lacks in starpower, it makes up for in quality. It does a good job satirizing teen angst. Gidget Goes Hawaiian is flavored with a Hollywood-style musical. James Darren sings two songs and Michael Callen gets to show off his acrobatic dancing style.

[–] gcarras 13 years ago

Point well made, Rudeboy.. Very well. If the Eastmancolor credit is correct, (and Eastmancolor varied with lab as it was shared between them and Eastman Kokak), it was very Technoicolor-ish!

[–] lil_miss_independent92 11 years ago

Sandra Dee was the perfect Gidget...yes. Deborah Walley wasn't bad though. One thing that kind of irritates me though is that Gidget in this movie seems different. For one thing I do not think Gidget (in Gidget) would be that dramatic about Jeff saying it's okay for her to go to Hawaii....This Gidget seems more dramatic to me than the first. But all in all I still like this movie.

"In Vino Veritas"

[–] artsy_fartsy 9 years ago

I totally agree. I feel like they made her more of a stereotypical teen girl, rather than this unique person she was in the first film. I feel like they dumbed her down a bit for the sequels, as well, which is another reason I prefer the first. The only thing good about Gidget Goes to Rome is the theme song.

No, father, the moon's reaching for me!

[–] SCsurfguy 8 years ago

I found the first one to be more on the melodramatic side. The second was lighter fare, more playful and more carefree. And though it had a little drama, it didn't come off as being as serious.

The third installment wasn't horrible, but I too felt like Moondoggie's feelings for Gidget weren't the least bit serious. Not even close to convincing. It's almost like he didn't even like her all that much, from the very beginning. Hard to connect with the storyline because of that. In the first two you at least sense Jeff likes Gidget. Even though they have their ups and downs.

One thing you have to say about Gidget, I know the movie is titled after her and all, but how lucky for her that she attracts every good-looking male lead, every good-looking secondary male character, and even the male extras who happen to walk by. What is it about her that is such a "dude babe" magnet that she can attract every guy who enters her breathing space to the point where the dudes ignore every female around her? Is she really that appealing?

[–] liscarkat-2 8 years ago

Pheromones.

[–] MisterDenton 8 years ago

I liked this one. Mind you, I'm not crazy about the original, which I enjoyed probably just as much. The biggest difference, however, is that the original is probably better written and feels a little more substantial as opposed to the relatively fluffy, almost gimmicky plot of this sequel.

But even so, it's fun and lively and I actually enjoyed Deborah Walley as Gidget. It would've been hard for anyone to follow Sandra Dee in the role that she was basically made for, but Walley does the job well. I agree with the poster who recommended Summer Magic. That was the first movie I saw her in and it's still a favourite.

[–] seas286 8 years ago

I liked this one more than the original. I like Sandra Dee, especially in the Tammy films, but I guess this film drew me in with the beautiful scenes of Hawaii. Carl Reiner, Jeff Donnell, Eddie Foy and Peggy Cass are hilarious as the parents.

It's also interesting to see how people traveled back then circa 1961 all dressed to the nines with the women in dresses, gloves and hats and the men in sportcoats, ties and loafers. Now days people get on the plane in pajamas, barefoot etc...