Customer Reviews

Gidget - The Complete Series

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 1965 ABC-Screen Gems sitcom of GIDGET, based on the the adventures of author Frederick Kohner's real-life daughter (which had already formed the basis for the 1959 Sandra Dee movie "Gidget" and a slew of sequels). It launched the career of promising up-and-coming actress Sally Field, whose heroine became the quintessential picture of 1960s wholesomeness and girl-next-door charm.

Frances Lawrence, known as Gidget to her family and friends, spends every spare moment on the beach at Malibu where she surfs and enjoys harebrained adventures, though her married sister Anne loves to interfere with Gidget's plans. GIDGET suffered from poor ratings and only lasted for one full season before being shelved, though the show did generate some interest during summer re-runs. However, a second season could not be filmed due to Sally Field having been all but signed to do "The Flying Nun", and GIDGET was axed altogether.

The series remains pleasant and enjoyable viewing with fine performances from the entire cast, particularly Don Porter ("Private Secretary") as Gidget's widowed father Russ and Lynette Winter ("The Parent Trap") as Gidget's shy best friend Larue. Sally Field, in her first big starring vehicle, is perky, appealing and everything else we expect Gidget to be. The rest of the cast includes Betty Conner, Pete Duel and Michael Nader. Keep an eye out for several guest stars including Richard Dreyfuss, Bonnie Franklin, Barbara Hershey and Henry Jaglom.

Sony Pictures has released the entire series of GIDGET in this well-presented boxset, joining their other outstanding season-sets of "Bewitched", "The Flying Nun" and "I Dream of Jeannie".

Extras include the rarely-seen original pilot episode as well as a brand-new retrospective interview with Sally Field.

COMPLETE EPISODE LISTING:

"Dear Diary...Et Al" - Anne reads Gidget's diary and assumes her sister's highly imaginative entries are true.

"In God and Nobody Else, We Trust" - Anne begins to worry when John escorts Gidget to a luau.

"The Great Kahuna" - An older man dates Gidget as part of a plan to make his girlfriend jealous.

"Daddy Come Home!" - Gidget becomes concerned when her father begins dating a woman she suspects is a gold-digger.

"Gidget Gadget" - When Anne and John have a major spat, it's up to Gidget to play marriage counsellor.

"A Hearse a Hearse, My Kingdom for a Hearse" - Deciding she should have her own means of transportation, Gidget becomes the part-owner of a broken-down hearse.

"Gidget is a Proper Noun" - Gidget is convinced her new English teacher hates her.

"Image Scrimmage" - Gidget becomes infatuated with Larue's cousin Roger.

"Is it Love or Symbiosis?" - Anne and John convince Russ he's too dependent on Gidget, so he decides to send her to a private school in Paris.

"All the Best Diseases are Taken" - When the price of movie tickets begins to go up, Gidget organises a demonstration to bring them back down.

"My Ever-Faithful Friend?" - Gidget helps Larue look more attractive by giving her a makeover, and then becomes alarmed when she thinks her father has become attracted to her.

"Chivalry Isn't Dead" - Gidget and her friends come up with a scheme to stop their boyfriends from taking them for granted.

"The War Between Men, Women and Gidget" - An isolated beach cove becomes the object of a battle between the boys, Gidget and her girlfriends.

"Gidget's Foreign Policy" - Gidget educates a foreign bride-to-be in the "American way" and nearly wrecks her impending marriage.

"Now There's a Face" - Gidget falls for a fashion photographer, not realising he's engaged to be married.

"Too Many Cooks" - Gidget unintentionally makes a date to go to the dance with both of the Cook brothers.

"I Love You, I Love You, I Love You...I Think" - Gidget develops a crush on a surfer, not realising he's her new math teacher.

"Like Voodoo" - When accidents begin to happen, Gidget believes a fortune-telling gypsy has put a curse on her.

"Gidget's Career" - When Gidget's singing group gets to perform on TV, she changes their name to "Gidget and the Gories".

"Ego a-Go-Go" - Gidget decides to build Durf the Drag's self-confidence by inviting him to the Spinster Hop.

"In and Out with the In-laws" - When Jeff suddenly invites Gidget to meet his parents, she mistakenly believes he's going to propose.

"We Got Each Other" - Although jealous of her father's dates, Gidget tries to prove she's not.

"Operation Shaggy Dog" - When her favourite hamburger joint is threatened to be torn down, it's Gidget to the rescue!

"Ringa-Ding-Dingbat" - The fab British singing duo, The Dingbats, is in town, and their biggest fan Gidget hatches a scheme to meet them.

"Love and the Single Gidget" - When Russ goes out of town, Anne and John hire a college student to keep an eye on Gidget.

"Independence, Gidget-Style" - When Gidget gets a job to buy Russ a birthday present, he mistakenly believes she's working in a nightclub.

"One More for the Road" - Gidget's new job requires her to learn how to drive.

"Ask Helpful Hannah" - Taking over the school magazine's advice column, Gidget gets wrapped up in bringing two lonely hearts together.

"A Hard Night's Night" - Unaware Russ invited a friend to stay in their home while he's away, Gidget begins to believe that the house is haunted.

"I Have This Friend Who..." - When her boyfriend's father insists on coming along on their dates, Gidget tries to find a way to discourage him.

"Don't Defrost the Alligator" - To comfort her new young friend over the death of his pet alligator, Gidget preserves the remains in her family's freezer.

"If you're in doubt about angels being real..." So began the catchy, unforgettable theme from TV's Gidget. After Sandra Dee's trio of Gidget beach movies, Sally Field took the role and made it her own. This series was unsurpassed, made at a time when sitcom did not simply mean jokefest. It's not all laughs; there's real heart, teenage angst and working out of relationships. The college prof dad and shrink brother in law give ample space for working in the 'fifties fetish with psychology. The characters click; the chemistry's magic.

Now with The Flying Nun also soaring onto DVD, at last Sally Field can be seen as the talent she is. She doesn't have to play "serious" roles to shine. Light sitcoms like Field's and Patty Duke's were often dismissed by critics despite being wildly popular. The 32 episodes on these four discs may enable a reappraisement, and with the entire series on DVD, fans will have a Field day.

Most people looking at this product already agree that Gidget is a great, charming TV show with a wonderful cast, so there's no need to convince you on that point. I will say, however, that this DVD release is fantastic. I've been waiting years for Gidget to come out on DVD, and I was not disappointed.

Gidget - The Complete Series fits all 32 episodes in one box set -- four DVDs that come in two stylish, slim DVD cases. The episodes look good (remastered in High Definition) and sound great. The colors on the box are cute and attractive; they'll look good on anyone's shelf. I wish that there were more extras, but it does feature the original pilot and an exclusive interview with Sally Field, and everything else was so nice that I wouldn't think of taking off a star.

I loved, loved, LOVED "Gidget" when it was being shown on TV Land...in the words of the late, great Trio Channel, it was a "Brilliant but Cancelled" series that deserved a longer run. A nice, fun piece of 1960s sitcom television, Sally Field showed early on why she'd make the mark she did in the entertainment industry. Everyone else is great too...Don Porter is one of the most underrated TV dads of all time IMO. And the likes of Lynette Winter, Betty Conner, and Pete Deuel are just delightful. I am SO getting this one when it comes out in March!

The Gidget reruns ran only one summer when I was a kid. Every year I waited for it to come back on TV but it never did. I know it sounds crazy but these episodes actually helped shape my life. I just saw them that one summer but have always remembered them and what Gidget went through in certain episodes and how she dealt with things (although it's written as a comedy, she does deal with a lot of serious issues). I am so happy it's been released in '06 and I have a copy!!!

The show is just as entertaining, if not more, as an adult (you catch a lot more stuff such as Gidget's busty friend "Eleanor Chest" who the boys call "Treasure"). Everyone of all ages and sexes (my husband will even sit through and watch them with me) will adore Gidget.

The digital quality is fantastic, the cast chemistry is wonderful, and every episode will put a smile on your face. If you're at all a Gidget fan you've got to have this collection.

It is hard to believe that Gidget lasted such a short time and yet so many of us remember the show fondly. Even at the beginning of her career Sally Field shows us the fantastic actress she is to become, and Don Porter is a great dad. Gidget is set in a different time than we live in now - I grew up in that time also and I often long for the simplicity of the problems. My grown daughter enjoys the show as well - we only wish there were more of them!

Gidget was based on the movie series with a young Sally Field in the title role of Francis "Gidget" Lawrence. The show has a fun 60's surf setting with Gidget facing the typical teenage troubles of high school and dating. The true heart of the show is the relationship between Gidget and her father, Professor Russell Lawrence (Don Porter). The show is a somewhat dated due to the fact it is forty-years old, but it still holds up thanks to the first-rate acting and the fact that despite the time or era, teenagers face the same trials and tribulations.

If you love the Gidget movies and wish to continue the experience, then you'll find yourself falling in for the TV series, Gidget. Sally Fields is the most adorable, fun loving, and fiesty young lady, who seeks to follow her own path in life. A father who adores her and wishes to protect Gidget from her trustful, nuturing nature. A wonderful way to escape the harsh realities of today. Esacpe back to a time when life seemed much simplier.

...for finally getting this out on DVD, been waiting forever! Today's television is so horrible, trendy, will never hold up years from now when watching it! someone (all of 'em) in hollywood needs to really watch and remember when actors/actresses actually did their job well...one shining example is "Gidget".

I recently purchased this DVD and have been enjoying it so much since!!! I actually had been hoping that "Gidget" would come out on DVD for about a year or so. I didn't get to see it much when it aired in 1965-66 (perhaps another family member wanted to watch a western or another show). Anyway, I own it now and would highly recommend it to not only other fans of Sally Field, but to anyone who is interested in viewing a really fun example of what teens and life could be like in the 1960's! The words which best describe Sally as "Gidget" are adorable and charming and funny - in the best sense ever! She and her "Dad" are so sweet together. She and her best friend, "LaRue", get into comical predicaments together. It's all fun to watch! Sally portrayed this lovable teen with tremendous heart and soul, but her impishness and fun-loving personality shone through in every episode. What a treat to see this now when so many current television shows are blatant and disgusting! She is like a "breath of fresh air!" I love these shows - it's like living in the 60's again! Also, the interview with Sally Field is great, as well. Yes, she did enjoy playing "Gidget," and she has many fond memories which she shares. This is a great and entertaining DVD - I highly recommend purchasing it for yourselves! You will enjoy being taken back to a sweeter, more innocent time. And, don't we all need that?