Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

111 iii 111 iii 111 mi iii 111 iiniii 111 mi mi 111 1 ii i ii 1 1 ii iim i ii i 'Gidget Goes to Rome ’ (Col) Wins September Blue Ribbon Award By VELMA WEST SYKES ^OLUMBIA’s “Gidget Goes to Rome” was voted the September Boxoffice Blue Ribbon Award, as the most outstanding picture in current release which was also good entertainment for the whole family. Much of the film’s charm is in the settings and scenic values, since the Jerry Bresler production was made on location in Rome and directed by Paul Wendkos. This is the first of the Gidget series to win this Award but others may have had stiffer competition on the Blue Ribbon ballot. There is a new Gidget — Cindy Carol, but James Darren remains as the male star. Our reviewer said of it in the August issue of Boxoffice: “Cindy Carol, as Gidget, has such a good time going to Rome that most of the youngsters who see the picture, along with the families that send them on vacations, will be sure to tell their friends about the show. Miss Carol proves in this lighthearted summer escapade, produced by Jerry Bresler, that her choice to play Gidget is good casting and that the seven years of training in television has been a fine school for this budding young actress . . . The beautiful fashions for grownup gals and teens will ‘send’ both groups.” The winning film has scored 143 per cent of average business in first run showings in key cities. National Screen Council members, who voted it the Award, commented on their ballots in this fashion : Shows Well-Behaved Youth “Gidget Goes to Rome” is a film which shows young people as wholesome and well-behaved individuals. How refreshing and relaxing it is to look at such a film! Gidget’s amusing adventures in Rome, coupled with good performances by the whole cast, make this a merry, entertaining film for the whole family.— Mrs. Roderic B. Thomas, Chairman Texas MP Board of Review, Dallas. “Gidget Goes to Rome” is one of the season’s better teen-age attractions, with good plot, good action and elegant color. — Tom Peck, Charleston Evening Post . . . This was very nicely done and most color ful. Teenagers liked the young stars. — Mrs. Fred Hire, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Indorsers of Photoplays. I’ll give my vote to “Gidget Goes to Rome” only because of its lovely views of Rome.— Mrs. Paul Gebhart, Cleveland Cinema Club. (Well, every ingredient of a picture counts for or against it. And settings on location certainly can add to entertainment values. — V.W.S.) . . . Adults can see the sights of Rome, so I’ll have to go for Gidget. — Helen Bower, Greater Detroit Motion Picture Council. This is a poor list, but I have to choose one so it’s “Gidget Goes to Rome” — which could have been better. — J. Coleman Daniel jr., Spartanburg (S.C.) Fine Films Committee . . . This is the best all-round entertainment from a poor selection this month. — John P. Recher, AMPTO of Maryland, Baltimore. “Gidget Goes to Rome” gets my vote. It offers an eye-filling travelog of Rome. — Mrs. Kenneth C. Wilson, San Francisco MP & TV Council ... Of those I’ve seen on the ballot list, this latest Gidget is the best. — Harold L. Cail, Portland (Me.) Press-Herald & Express. A light, gay comedy like “Gidget Goes to Rome” will entertain teenagers and it has beautiful scenes of Rome that will delight all. — Mrs. Arthur Baumoel, preview chairman, Cleveland MPC . . . This is not too outstanding a picture but the only one I have seen that is for family entertainment. — Brainard Platt, Dayton Journal Herald. JESSIE ROYCE LANDIS AS AUNT ALBERTINA ADDS TO SOME OF THE WACKY INCIDENTS IN THE WINNING FILM CLOWNING BEFORE A CAMERA IN THIS SETTNG WHERE GRACEFUL STATUES LOOK OUT FROM HISTORIC RUINS The Cast Gidget Cindy Carol Jeff James Darren Aunt Albertina Jessie Royce Landis Paolo Cellini Cesare Danova Daniela Serrini Danielle de Metz Judge Joby Baker Libby Trudy Ames Lucy Noreen Corcoran Clay Peter Brooks Anna Cellini Lisa Gastoni Alberto Claudio Gora Russ Lawrence Don Porter Dorothy Lawrence Jeff Donnell Pinchman Joe Kamel 1st Italian Boy Antonio Segurini 2nd Italian Boy Leonardo Botta Mario Umberto Raho Contessa Audrey Fairfax Prince Bianchi Vadim Wolkowsky Fat Woman Edra Gale Lean Woman Irina Vasailchikoff White-Face Poet Charles Borromel Production Staff Produced by Jerry Bresler Directed by Paul Wendkos Original Story by Ruth Brooks Flippen Based on Characters Created by Frederick Kohner Screenplay by Ruth Brooks Flippen, Katherine Eunson, Dale Eunson Assistant Directors Tony Brandt, Milton Feldman Photography Directors Enzo Barboni, Robert J. Bronner, A.S.C. Art Directors Antonio Sarzi-Braga, Robert Peterson Set Decorator Ferdinando Ruffo Film Editor .. William A. Lyon, A.C.E. Production Manager Mara Blasetti Costume Designer Pat Barto Sound Supervisor Cyril Collick Vocal Arrangements Stu Phillips Music by Johnny Williams Lyrics, Music for “Gegetta,” “Big Italian Moon’’ by George David Weiss, Al Kasha Eastman Color by Pathe A DREAM SEQUENCE IN WHICH GIDGET SEES HERSELF AS OUTWITTING HER RIVAL WITH SUCH GLAMOR III III I II 1 1 II I II I III I II 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1 This award is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstanding merit and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, radio and TV film commentators, representatives of better films councils, civic, educational and exhibitor organizations.