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		Gidget Goes to Rome
Gidget Goes to Rome The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links Compositions: Films Previous: Diamond Head Next: The Killers Chronological filmography Alphabetical filmography Television films Miscellanea		The Film Release date: September 11, 1963 Studio: Columbia Pictures Running time: 103 minutes Director: Paul Wendkos Cast: Cindy Carol, James Darren, Jessie Royce Landis, Cesare Danova, Deanielle de Metz, Joby Baker, Trudy Ames, Peter Brooks, Lisa Gastoni, Caludio Gora Technical information: color The third film in the Gidget series, Gidget Goes to Rome lives up to its name when Gidget (Carol), her boyfriend Moondoggie (Darren), and their wacky teenage friends decide to take a summer trip to Italy, against the wishes of Gidget's father, who arranges for an old Army buddy, Paolo (Danova), to keep an eye on his daughter. Moondoggie ends up falling in love with the group's Italian tour guide, Gidget falls in love with Paolo, and the expected complications ensue before everything is finally put right in the final scene. This isn't exactly high comedy, but it's harmless enough; the Italian locations are a nice attraction.
Gidget Goes to Rome The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		The Music Music: Johnny Williams Vocal Arrangements: Stu Phillips Songs: "Gegetta," "Big Italian Moon" Lyrics and Music (Songs) by: George David Weiss and Al Kasha Williams had previously scored Because They're Young (also directed by Wendkos) and Diamond Head at Columbia, and had worked as an orchestrator on the first Gidget film. Here he follows the pattern of those two earlier films, creating a score around songs written by others. Asked to remember something of the film two decades later, Williams responded, "Lots of accordions." While there certainly are, he makes nice use of the two songs, creating a great deal of music that would be equally well suited to an Italian travelogue. Gidget's various daydream sequences provide an opportunity for musical pastiche, including some Rózsa-like fanfares. And there is also plenty of source music, for teen dances, various restaurants, and even a fashion show.
Gidget Goes to Rome The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Audio No original soundtrack album was released for this film, although James Darren's renditions of the two Weiss/Kasha songs were released on a 45 RPM single (Colpix CP 696) and are now available on various Darren compilation CDs.
		Video The film is available on VHS (Columbia/Tristar Home Video 04807) and on August 3, 2004 was issued on DVD, but only as part of the three-film "Complete Gidget Collection" (Sony Picture Home Entertainment 07342 — purchase), which unfortunately presents the original Gidget in pan-and-scan format rather than its original widescreen proportions.
Gidget Goes to Rome The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		References "Film Reviews: Gidget Goes to Rome," Tube. Variety, Jul 31 1963, 6:2 "Review: Gidget Goes to Rome," Louis Calta New York Times, Sep 12 1963, 32:2 "Where is John Williams coming from?" Richard Dyer Boston Globe, Jun 29 1980, MAG
Gidget Goes to Rome The Film | The Music Audio | Video References | Links		Links Internet Movie Database entry for Gidget Goes to Rome Cinebooks Database entry for Gidget Goes to Rome All Movie Guide entry for Gidget Goes to Rome
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