Solid Sequel!
Gidget Goes Hawaiian(1961) is one of the best sequels ever made...just like Terminator 2(1991), Infernal Affairs 2(2003), Spiderman 2(2004), The Godfather Part II(1974), etc. What it lacks in starpower, it makes up for in quality. Gidget Goes to Rome(1963) is where the film franchise started to go downhill. Cindy Carol was horribly miscast as Frances/Gidget! She "phoned in" her performance! Here's a bit of trivia: John Williams(Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark) wrote the music score for the third Gidget movie. Although, he's billed as "Johnny Williams". The producers played it safe by making a Gidget TV show starring Sally Field as Gidget.
I liked that scene where the brunette spreads rumors that Gidget(Deborah Walley) is an "easy girl". People can denigrate you by spreading rumors. I speak from experience! The fantasy scenes where Gidget is a "fallen woman" were funny! Michael Callan could've been the next Gene Kelly...if the great Hollywood Musical hadn't gone downhill in the 1960's! For 3-4 minutes, he gets to show off his dancing prowess! Callen also appeared in The Magnificent Seven Ride(1972) as a writer who has to help Chris Adams protect a town from bandits!