Gidget, played by Cindy Carol was at our local drive in theater in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pa, during the fall/summer of 1963. I was 13-years old. And during intermission, there, sitting at a round, rod-iron outdoor table, sat Gidget, in the same pink dress you see her in, on the "Gidget Goes To Rome", IMDb page! She wrote on the autographed picture, "To Rick with love, Cindy Carol" How cool was that! Frankly, I don't remember much about the movie except that it was curious for a "movie star" to find herself, 'here and now' at the Ardmore Drive in theater, which was in itself, a very special drive in. It was a modern, state of the art facility. Big wide screen, great concession stand and on both sides of which, there were mini, "theater rooms" where drive in movie goers, could venture out from their car and sit inside, with theater seats and sound, and watch the movie. During those early/mid teenaged years in the 60's, us kids would "sleep out" and at night go sneak over the hill through the thick trees in the back, to get into the drive in. Since they had the indoor seats, we would naturally go to "lover's cars" in the back of the drive in, knock on their windows, and ask for their stubs, so that when Chucky Pollack would make his rounds in the theater, he would ask to see our tickets. There may be 4 or 5 of us in there and we'd all pull our tickets out of our pockets. Chucky would say, "Why are all the ticket numbers out of sequence?" We would respond, "Because we all came in different cars!" Those were truly, the good old days! The drive in's been gone for many, many years as most have gone that way, which now is a strip mall with one of the most used, "Giant Eagle" super markets in Pittsburgh. I hope Cindy reads this one day she might look for her acting accomplishments on IMDb, and just maybe, she will remember that one particular night in Pittsburgh (Braddock Hills) when she sat outside at the drive in and signed autographs at the Ardmore Drive In -- making lasting memories in the heart and mind of a young, movie going enthusiast and still "Cindy Carol-fan"! Cindy turns 65-years old this year (2009). At last check, she was teaching in California. Dare you leave me a message Cindy. I'd love to catch up! Perhaps leave me a message at ladymoon here on IMDb!

Before the "Gidget" franchise got a shot in the arm via television (with young Sally Field in the title role),she trudged along theatrically, here with Cindy Carol in the lead. 17-year-old Frances Lawrence goes on a chaperoned trip to Italy with boyfriend and gal-pals in tow. Slick but artificial mixture of on-location tourist's folly and set-bound situation comedy isn't at all interesting, despite the efforts by veteran comedy writer Ruth Brooks Flippen. The teens seem tired, Carol exudes very little charisma, and only Don Porter is engaging playing Gidget's dad, a role he filled even more comfortably a few years later on TV. *1/2 from ****

Gidget Goes to Rome (1963): Dir: Paul Wendkos / Cast: Cindy Carol, James Darren, Cesare Danova, Jessie Royce Landis, Don Porter: This time the innocence of Gidget disturbs Rome where she travels to with friends while her parents secretly have someone watching out for her. Third film in the series is simple, slow and only really comes to life in the third act when it is uncertain the destiny of two key players. Paul Wendkos directs again with great imagery of Rome. Had it not been for the dedication of Wendkos then perhaps this series of beach films might have deteriorated with too many points of views of other filmmakers. Cindy Carol is perky as the 18 year old Gidget who is constantly in trouble. She is the third actress to portray Gidget, and her constant arrivals at the police station keep things humorous when the story grinds slow. James Darren returns as her boyfriend for the third time. He joins the director in his constant loyalty to the series. We know the character but his dealings with troubled Gidget provide great charm. Cesare Danova plays an older gentleman who sweeps Gidget off her feet. Jessie Royce Landis steals scenes as an aunt who is just out of plain sight of the real issues at hand. Don Porter plays Gidget's father who will likely never understand his ditsy blonde daughter. Weaker and less ambitious than previous films yet sustains a certain level of charm. Score: 6 / 10