This second sequel to the hit 1959 film, Gidget (1959) takes the surfboards out of the picture entirely and sends lovebirds Gidget (now played by Cindy Carol who won a nationwide talent search) and Moondoggie (still portrayed by James Darren) overseas on a group trip to romantic Italy.
Frances is now 17 and with great effort, she persuades her parents to let her take a trip to Rome with her friends Libby (Trudi Ames) and Lucy (Noreen Corcoran); Moondoggie, his college roommates Judge (Joby Baker) and Clay (Peter Brooks), and Judge’s Aunt Albertina (Jessie Royce Landis) – a very eccentric dowager chaperone with two Yorkshire terriers.
Meanwhile, Gidget’s father asks old wartime buddy Paolo Cellini (Cesare Danova) to keep an eye on his daughter while she is in Rome.
Upon arrival in Rome, the group is excited to explore the city, but the excitement fades for the female half of the squad when their guide turns out to be a beautiful Italian girl named Daniela (Danielle De Metz) who captivates the three men of the group.
The rest of the weak plot shows more of Rome than anything else as we are taken on a tour of the famous ruins with Daniela and to museums and galleries with Gidget and Paolo.
A TV series followed in 1965, with Sally Field in the title role.
Frances ‘Gidget’ Lawrence
Cindy Carol
Jeffrey ‘Moondoggie’ Matthews
James Darren
Albertina Blythe
Jessie Royce Landis
Paolo Cellini
Cesare Danova
Daniela
Danielle De Metz
Judge
Joby Baker
Libby Bennett
Trudi Ames
Lucy McDougall
Noreen Corcoran
Clay Anderson
Peter Brooks
Signora Cellini
Lisa Gastoni
Alberto
Claudio Gora
Russell Lawrence
Don Porter
Mrs Lawrence
Jeff Donnell
Director
Paul Wendkos