A clip from the movie Gidget 1959 ("Next best thing to love")

[@kritterbug43]

Saw this movie in 1959 and fell in love with moondoggie. The boy who took me to the show is my husband of 53 years.

[@tyrneenakano2617]

Aweeee that is the sweetest thing ever!

[@vintage.doll.1926]

@kritterbug43: That's the most adorable thing I think I've ever heard!!!

[@JamesBrown-ij1px]

You found your very own 'Moondoggie'! 💘

[@hazeleyes1951]

Me too!!

[@199724]

And did you outlive him?

[@joannmartinez8526]

Seen this movie in 1959 and my Heart Belongs to Moondoggie* Still watching in 2022♥️

[@marijoelse9310]

love this

[@marijoelse9310]

I saw this movie than to. can't believe I'm seeing it now.

[@richardalvarado-ik9br]

@@marijoelse9310 How does it compare to Summer Place? I'm 59 so I don't know.

[@carriefawcett9990]

*you SAW it

[@sarge7526]

The fact that James starred in all 3 films was the absolute BEST!!! but this one is my favorite

[@JessicaLynnGimeno]

Yes James is *so* dreamy in all three but Part 1 is far superior to the sequels. He and Sandra Dee were fantastic; I wish she had returned for Part 2. With her, Gidget Goes Hawaiian had the potential to be better. Part 3 was forgettable minus James Darren. Moondoggie was just so handsome and charming.

[@nancymcmonarch]

Oh yes. I like the second one too (Michael Callan, all that marvy dancing, and who knew Gidget's father was Alan Brady? 😄) But by the time they got to Rome, even JD was phoning it in. The writing was abysmal, too, and I'll just charitably not mention Cindy Carrol.

[@okyou8706]

@@JessicaLynnGimenoAbsolutely, the script and new -new gidget was abysmal for the third one .. the only bright spot was they kept James as Moondoggie.

[@alejandromoreno812]

R.I.P. James Darren sept 9 2024

[@hd-xc2lz]

RIP Moondoggie. Hope you reconnect with Gidget in the Great Beyond!

[@jenniecosio3654]

I'm crying 😭😭😭😂 gonna miss this great actor and Sandra 🤩

[@carolszewczyk2484]

This is the best gidget movie

[@fleurpouvior2967]

That dress is stunning! Style is timeless😍

[@VioletLolitaPop27]

Best Gidget ever.

[@pamelawalton1318]

It's one of my favorites . I still watch it , from my downloads . I loved all of tge Gidget movies , but the one with Sandra Dee has always been my favorite . I even loved the series with Sally Fields .❤

[@barbaraobach]

The crazy cute James Darren and he could sing too and the great Sandra Dee ..wow

[@CVenza]

Rest in peace Gidget and Moon doggie. 🩷💙💙🙏🏼

[@darlenebeaverson4081]

Love all the Gidget movies

[@virginiaschaefer9693]

Love James Darren's voice, as well as him.

[@sierria64]

I saw this in 70' when I was 7 yrs abt 1972. I fell in love with James man he was fine as hell

[@thorgrootsweetrabbit2244]

He still is

[@JessicaLynnGimeno]

@@thorgrootsweetrabbit2244 100%!

[@Cynthia00007]

❤🕊 ❤ James 🕊 Darren 2024

[@whatwillbem6825]

Always loved this scene …this song ..one of my heart throbs…

[@kentclark6420]

I love Sandra Dee. Her brown eyes and blond hair can melt your soul!

[@shawnjewell5894]

I'm 61 years old I've Loved this movie since I was young girl owned it on VHS loaned as a friend never got it back need to find it again probably on Amazon of course need to get it love my old movies that were sweet

[@chelebear1823]

In 2024 I still have it on Vhs! And the VCR to play it on! 😊

[@The1baddman]

Rest In Peace Mr James Darren 🕊️😢

[@jujubegold]

😢😢

[@easterreodica5786]

James Darren was my favorite during my HS days!

[@laurendaley2503]

I love Gidget's dress!

[@CantStayAway]

GOD, I love this movie!!!!!!!

[@sinatracore]

SAME

[@karenstrycharz1499]

Me too! I never get tired of watches big it! Such a great “ feel good movie!” ♥️

[@birdsfan57]

It always brings me a smile and wonderfully happy memories...

[@doloresbutler2291]

Sandra dee is the only gidget. So cute

[@karenstrycharz1499]

One of my all time favorite actresses & movies of all time!!!! Just loved it then as I do now!

[@persianlady55]

I love all of these moives great wholes some fun you are still cute Moon dogie

[@karenfelder3901]

I love this movie. Just saw it on Turner Classic last night. James Darren was so fine..

[@amynunez4186]

Great movie 🎥 back then and even now.

[@ThePingShowJL]

my grandma made me watch thi yesterday ....i feel in love!

[@leilal8053]

How often I visualized myself in Gidget's place with Moondoggy singing to ME.🤩 Can you believe that he actually had to convince the studio to let him sing? according to an interview he gave, they wanted to dub his voice.

[@birdsfan57]

For years after I first saw this movie at the tender age of 6 years old in the early 60's, I wished that I could be a Gidget, so I could have a Moondoggie. Have adored Jimmy Darren ever since. Was fortunate to meet him at an event in the 90's and he was still just as handsome and the nicest, sweetest gentleman.

[@shawnjewell5894]

Love it, when I was a teenager I was like lmj I love it 61 so you get my drift

[@zippyflop09]

I'm 12 and This Is My Favorite Move Whilst Everyone I Know Doesn't Even Know This Movie. This is the best movie I have ever seen and I will always watch it. :)

[@karenstrycharz1499]

Me too! Saw this movie & Pollyanna with Hayley Mills at mine yrs old! I still love both movies & James Darren, Sandra Dee & Hayley Mills too! Great post/blog too!🥰

[@cherylrobinson3256]

You're from England? Then get them to remake this movie using Johnny Flynn and Anya as the next moondoggie and Gidget! They would be absolutely wonderful!!

[@lauriesolis1026]

Watch A Hard Day's Night!

[@thorgrootsweetrabbit2244]

Now you're 20 😁

[@zippyflop09]

@@thorgrootsweetrabbit2244 actually 21, I’m sure I posted this on the cusp and that’s why it says 12 ahaha. Gidget is still one of my all time favorite movies.

[@hweckle2]

The only celebrity crush I ever have is on Moondoggie when ever I watch this movie.

[@GlassOnion602]

Swoon, swoon! 😍🥰

[@dolphinprincess123]

I love this movie soooooooo much!!!!!!!!!

[@cm9859]

Loved James Darren, he was so handsome. RIP. Sandra Dee was adorable. Love Gidget movies.

[@thatcherpoe]

Love this movie!

[@vernaunderhill3382]

I was 5 or 6 when I seen this movie and fell in love with Moondoggie...what a gorgeous man he was!!!!!!

[@cherylrobinson3256]

James is still alive! There are videos still on here! I would love it if we could convince someone to reproduce this movie using Johny Flynn and Anya as moondoggie and Gidget to star in the remake Keep Johnny with his Blonde hair and beautiful body and help Him retrain for the vocals! OMG WE'D GO NUTS ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!

[@birdsfan57]

Me too...was 6 years ild in the early 60's when I first saw this film, and have adored Jimmy Darren since. He certainly had it all. It also didn't hurt that he was the pride of South Philadelphia , along with Bobby, Frankie and Fabian.

[@myGodsgirl15]

These are some of the best movies!! Thanks for posting! Though, now that I know Gidget is played by Sandra Dee, the song "Sandra Dee" in the movie Grease makes a lot more since now! =)

[@cherylrobinson3256]

I would love to see Johnny play moondoggie .?They have the same body. Johnny is beautiful as as James,.when johnny smiles he can also melt your heart like James.And Johnny can sing with a little vocal rehab he.could sound like James.

[@cherylrobinson3256]

Please pass this along. Maybe we can all get it made anew

[@birdsfan57]

@@cherylrobinson3256 Who's Johnny?

[@forgetyourlife]

@@birdsfan57 my best guess would be Johnny Depp.

[@swimlaps1]

James Dean and Ricky Nelson! MY 1st crushes, even at 3-4!

[@LetterNo1]

best gidget and moondogie ever! i love it when moondogie thinks it him she likes then she says its the kahuma :P

[@irisg1614]

My favorite scene!

[@lauraceballos9909]

I was 13 when I saw this movie. Nos, I'm 78 and I love Moondogee and Gidget the same.

[@newstart49]

Men were men and women- women. Everything in between was fun and a better life than now.

[@nancymcmonarch]

If you remember all that, you've got to be in your 70s at least. Why didn't you make a better, fun life for yourself when you had the chance?

[@iellelamore9252]

​@@nancymcmonarchwhat does your comment even mean Nancy? Ha! You must be crazy. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Mike_The_1950s_Historian]

Jimmy Darren also sang this song as a guest on "The Donna Reed Show" (to Shelly Fabares!)

[@callicordova4066]

James Darren as Moondoggie. Then as Vic Fontaine in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, still looking good.

[@laraoneal7284]

James Darren was so handsome all the way till he was 88.

[@sandyjuntunen4088]

It's so sad to see everyone going, never to see them again, know they're gone forever. They were our childhood.So many stars we're losing. James died this week. I hate knowing he's gone. He was always a pleasant sight to see.

[@cindycraig5701]

Love watching house moon doggy and gidget worked together so well ended have a big crush on moondoggie

[@GeniEvansonvids]

favorite movie of all time. I don't like how they re-cast gidget in the second and third movie though ):

[@christienelson1437]

True, very true, but I’m glad JD was in them. Sandra Dee was my favorite Movie Gidget and Sally Fields was my favorite TV Gidget!

[@karenstrycharz1499]

Sandra Dee was my very favorite Gidget of all time! I so agree with you!

[@heathervelasco5159]

According to what I read SD was in movies already so she couldn't reprise her role same with JD in the movies after gidget goes Hawaiian

[@birdsfan57]

@@christienelson1437 Me too...Sandra was the only and best Gidget for me, and Sally made the perfect "perky" TV Gidget. And the late Peter Duel was so adorable as her exasperated brother-inn-law...

[@birdsfan57]

I believe she was already being cast in other films, the most notable being the wonderfully poignant " A Summer Place" opposite the late, great Troy Donohue.

[@jmjohnson56]

❤LOVE THIS MOVIE ❤️

[@oldschooldjernie]

Jimmy is a great guy

[@1flamingomoon]

Had such a crush on Moondoggie!

[@lori4291]

My favorite old Beach movie has it on tape .. I need to find again ..

[@KIZERVONZINGER]

I was only 10 but I loved this guy!!!!

[@karenstrycharz1499]

Me too! Fell in love with him & I still am!!!!

[@sharonviale8423]

@@karenstrycharz1499 2w1jkoi

[@cm9859]

Love makes way for the faults. So true!

[@katiedeluise2345]

Memori goes back when I was 10 years old , and my Catholic school went to see a religious film , when that was over we were to all go home , but just as we were to go the 2nd film came on and it was Gidget , so no way I was going to leave, I sat low in my seat ,and enjoyed the movie .

[@patriciacurcio9455]

I also love ❤️ moon dogie and still do😅my sister used to talk to him on her computer 👩‍💻

[@Auto33333]

Moon doggie 😍

[@redbone8844]

This movie was made way before my time I seen this movie for the first time today and I’m loving it! Now watching Gidget Goes Hawaiian 🌺 hate they changed Gidget but I goggled and found out Columbia wanted Sandra Dee to reprise her role, but she was under contract at Universal Pictures who would not release her for the film. 😢

[@sarge7526]

It would been wonderful if Sandy could have returned… The other two films just wasn’t as believable to me … like James and Sandra

[@JessicaLynnGimeno]

I have the boxset of the Gidget movies. It’s a travesty Sandra Dee wasn’t in Gidget Goes Hawaiian. With her and James Darren’s chemistry, it could have been great. Still a fun movie but doesn’t hold a candle to the first Gidget. And Part 3 (Gidget Goes to Rome) is the least of the three Gidget films with Darren. (I am not counting Gidget specials/movies after the Sally Field TV series.)

[@nancymcmonarch]

@@JessicaLynnGimeno I liked Deborah Walley well enough, but she kind of knocked the whole Girl-midget thing out the window, and wow, did they put her in some dreadful clothes! She could dance, though, and really surf, and she took the role places Sandra likely couldn't have gone. GREAT cast, too!

[@JessicaLynnGimeno]

@@nancymcmonarch Thanks for your comment. It’s nice reminiscing over these films with someone.

[@annettespizuoco8419]

She was really smart to make friends with them and act like one of the boys.She infiltrated from the inside.And they all liked her.Not playing silly girl games like her friends.She got a boyfriend.None of the friends did.

[@BarbaraDougherty]

me too loved all the Gidget movies with those handsome "beach bums" california surfing - of course I wanted to look like Sandra Dee and I too loved James Darren - sad about his death but he had a long life, hope it was a good one after Hollywood experiences, who knows?

[@silvanaroque2092]

Quero ver esse filme como faço

[@patrickhicks9880]

I love the music

[@nancymcmonarch]

OK, kiddos, before anyone starts packing, no you do NOT want to surf Malibu without a wet suit, especially at night. 🤣 The Pacific coastal water is a LOT colder than the Atlantic. And we don't have hot summer nights; the temps can drop down to the 50s in the evenings, and the shoreline can be mighty windy.

[@matrix2297]

The way they dressed, spoke, interacted ahhh it wasn't all groovy gravy but damn we tossed the baby out with the bathwater

[@cm9859]

My favorite Gidget movie was Gidget Goes Hawaiian with James Darren. I liked Sandra Dee in movie "Summer Place" with Troy Donahue. I really liked Sally Field though in Gidget role best.

[@jeanieheidemann2869]

Sally Field played Goget too

[@ednanunesdesouza6217]

Eu tinha 13. Anos quando assisti esse filme so que era dublado gostei muito ela era uma atrz muito bonita

[@patriciacurcio9455]

I love this movie I would like to to see it again and the movie a summer’s place with Richard Egan I always had a Cush on him😅😅

[@stacystoltz8722]

Sweet heart Movie 1959

[@doloresbutler2291]

Loved this movie I was 13 yrs old and had one prom date

[@Marge-tv6tz]

I.love.the.gidget.movies..im.a.philly.girl.i.loved.moon.doogie. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@billbright1755]

That place makes that star wars bar seem pretty tame.

[@allicmw557]

RIP James Darren, Moondoggie

[@kimmilliner7300]

Kahuna is great …

[@PeterJ-cb3vk]

R.I.P.

[@carnationemerald]

You can see how old fashioned this movie is because Gidget has to tell the guy what to do. Nowadays he wouldn't have to be told to first hold her hand.

[@lucianadantas3132]

Amo!!!

[@stacystoltz8722]

Wow

[@Spillers72]

Never watched this movie, i did watch the tv show with Sally Fields.

[@stormwulf117]

RIP Moondoggie

[@patriciacurcio9455]

I love James

[@abigalemartin206]

Who is the short haired kid (boy or girl?) with Gidget in her room at the beginning of and near the end of the movie -- a sibling?

[@kimmilliner7300]

Moon doggies...

[@SimplyHerb-h8k]

Moondoggie passed away!

[@jamesgouldlock9267]

Vic Fontaine, DS9

[@thegrandhouseofamen7]

Ain't love grand?

[@thomastimlin1724]

James Darren was always pitch perfect, and he was as good as Sinatra.

[@damienroberts1987]

James Darren is one of my girlfriend crush

[@laraoneal7284]

I wanted them to be together in real life.

[@kimmilliner7300]

Moon doogies. Father figure.

[@ENFPerspectives]

I have never seen guys act this goofy.

[@georgeshelton6281]

Ah yes; get rich with real love, that's what. I alreafy know that, perfect practice makes perfect. Here's what I learned, do you promise to stay true to me, and never mess around with other women? Not even once. It's hard to be like Gabriel Kotter; that's when he said to the Buchanan High School principal, "but I love my wife." Gabriel Kotter had a conscience, not to be a womanizer in this case. 👍 ✔️ 🥰 💞 👌 ❤️ 😍 💖 ❣️ 💕 💘 ❤️

[@tabithatotten]

Rest in Peace James Darren🌿🕊