Gidget Grows Up Part Six of Eight

Have you missed me? I thought so. Since the account is still here and functioning, despite the fact that I finally had to remove A Hollywood Christmas because another part of it was flagged (oh well...The whole movie was one big advertisement for Christmas Movie DVD's anyway so who's the loser here. Not me) I have decided to keep going...with a few things I've found that aren't holiday related although this film does have an Easter scene and a Fourth of July Scene.

I also thought it was fitting to bring you this edition of Gidget Grows Up because Room 222 Season One is making it's DVD appearance in March. Finally. Hmmm...wonder if there's a Christmas episode?

Anyway, Karen Valentine, who co-starred in 222 as Student Teacher Alice Johnson stretches her acting legs (well, maybe not) in this Made For TV edition of Gidget movies. And believe it or not, the movie's not that bad at all mostly thanks to the ever bubbly All American everybody's sweetheart (at that time) Valentine, who makes a pretty good Gidget and makes this movie more fun than it would have been otherwise.

Also on hand for some fun is Paul Lynde as a whacked out apartment owner/manager who is buried neck deep in movies nostalgia. He even has a marquee on his apartment building and that makes the brief 75 minutes you'll invest watching this movie worth it as well. Also on hand is Nina Foch, who shines also as a tour guide instructor and watch for a few quick scenes by Noxzema take it all off girl Gunilla Knudson as Moondoggie's main squeeze. Why is she the take it all of girl. You can find that video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_c_O8oJg10.

The job of playing Jeff "Moondoggie" Griffen lands on the shoulders of Paul Petersen from The Donna Reed Show, another series that just had its first season released on DVD and the part fits him although you won't get any songs from him like you did James Darren in the theatrical films. (Petersen did have a hit in the sixties called "She Can't Find Her Keys." Look it up.)

What really doesn't work is the romance between Edward Mulhare as Alex and Valentine's Gidget. When this movie was filmed he was about 46 and Valentine was a spunky 22 who seemed more like she was about 17. So Mulhare comes off as pretty much a lecherous old coot. Sometimes with the right combination, those kinds of relationships work on film. In this one it doesn't.

Which is probably why Gidget's dad, played here quite well by Robert Cummings, finally decides to meddle.

Oh, and we do get a song sung quite a few times by an artist who is unkown to me. This song gives Gidget a lot of time to walk around New York and Grow Up while the lyrics of the song go growing up and reaching out. Kind of fits right in. (By Freezing the end credits, the name of the song is Growing up by Shorty Rogers, sung by Jean King. Hmmm..Where are they now?) At any rate, I'm sure you'll get a kick out of seeing this again, or if it's the first time enjoy it for what it is.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Gidget
• Karen Valentine
• Paul Petersen
• Paul Lynde
• Nina Foch
• Robert Cummings
• Movie of the Week

[princebuddy08]

Well in a way the age differance isn't really that big a deal, I mean in every single movie Gidget always goes for an older guy, even Moondogie is a few years older. Also he did kind of tell her he wouldn't be staying, he told her he was waiting for the grant money, just niether of them expected to happen so soon. And in the end it boils down to what he said earlier you meet somone you share what you have to share then you let go. He helped her grow up and be a woman for Moondoggie.

[frankd1965]

@koln1996 At that time he was doing the game show "Hollywood Squares" and "Bewitched".

[tomservo56954]

And here, Mrs. Willard in encamped in Larry Tate's office.

And the intercutting...the scenes of Gidget and Alex in the field and on the beach were filmed in California, as well as that people are going towards or away from the Latimer Arms, it's New York--while the actual building is on the Burbank Studios lot.

Christmasfellow...I read a quote that perfectly explains the fuss over the Noxema ad. It stated Gunilla said the line "as if she were five seconds away from an orgasm".

[CoachProc]

The music in this reminds me of the music for Valley of the Dolls - don't know why but it does.

[koln1996]

Paul Lynde looks fab and manly as the Easter Bunny!!!

[koln1996]

Growing up is falling down a lot!!!

Fab line!!!

[Iluthra]

Age aside, Alex should not have gotten involved with Gidget without letting her know he had no intention of staying in the US.

[pagegirl507]

Many thanks for posting this movie I loved as a kid and haven't seen since I was young. Yes, as others said, set of Bewitched used; Darrin's office is the office of the UN. Thanks again!

[senoramariposa]

Gidget has the smarts to know a real man when she sees one. Alex is quite fine.

[pudgeyswife]

omg Alex is older than her dad!! She was what? 21 tops!? and he i at least 40! gross! lol