Gidget Grows Up Part Four 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. 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:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Gidget
• Karen Valentine
• Paul Petersen
• Paul Lynde
• Gunilla Knudson
• Robert Cummings
• Edward Mulhare
• Nina Foch

[Bobbytoo]

I think the bellboy alex is mike lembeck who was julie's husband on one day at a time. he directs lot of everyone loves raymond. I THINK ! ;0)

[Christmasfellow2008]

Your right!

[Iluthra]

It seems a lot of sets from Bewitched were used in this film.

[Christmasfellow2008]

You may be right. My guess is that most of the New York shots which were basically Gidget walking around with that song playing, were done in a one day location shoot. Everything else was obviously done on a studio sound lot except for maybe the beach scene. They probably used stock footage for the aerial shots. These Movies of the Week were generally made on a very tight shoe string budget.

[NoMudinJoyville]

@escritora08 That's because he is Edward Mulhare.

[DitchBiscuit]

@meriwesslie You should check the air pressure in your head.

[ShiksaWithChutzpah1]

Funny thing, Alex is played by Edward Mulhare and the little boy who shakes Gidget's hand is Harlen Carraher, both starred in "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" at the time.

[escritora08]

Michael lembeck is credited in this movie, but I think he has another role. Remember this was late 60s early 70s.

[escritora08]

However, the older guy, English, reminds me of Edward Mulhare.

[escritora08]

I don't see Brian Forster in this movie and I am sure that "Alex" is not Michael Lembeck.

[tomservo56954]

Yes to AntiCoproration....Katrina is Gunilla Knudsen, of the notorious Noxema shave cream ad. And the blond boy in the first tour group is Brian Forster, who became the second Chris on THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY.

Ilulthra...several standing sets at the Burbank Studios used for BEWITCHED are seen in this film. In this segment, the Guides Lounge is Darrin's office.

[koln1996]

I'd do him too!!!

[koln1996]

Probably!!!

Both of them produced by Screen Gems!!!

[meriwesslie]

...Alex is such a pedo!!!