MovieChat Forums > Gidget (1965) Discussion > Is it Just Me ...

Is it Just Me ...

posted 10 years ago by Dragon000
4 replies | jump to latest

... Or does anyone else wonder what would be thought of the relationship between Gidget and her father, (especially the theme song and photos) if made today? Would it seem twisted, almost incestuous, even?

I was an infant when this was filmed, but saw it later in re-runs, in the '70s. I didn't think a thing of the overly strong man/daddy theme, as many shows at that time featured strong male figures (That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, Father Knows Best... heck, Samantha and Jeanie even tried to give up magic for men, back then ...)so I was used to it.

But now, being enlightened, liberated, and feeling equal, I am amused by this misogyny. Also, I find the "morals" of many episodes being that women "need to know their place and let men run things" to be hilarious.

Love watching old shows, especially to be reminded of what we wore and how we amused ourselves back then. But I also find myself laughing at/questioning the beliefs and attitudes that prevailed back then.

[–] Rubygirl214 9 years ago

I know this is way late to respond, but the theme song is from Jeff's prospective, not her dad's.

I saw their relationship as more co-dependent than "incestuous". Her mom died, he lost his wife. They needed each other in that way to fill the void her death left.

[–] guyhere 9 years ago

Who's Jeff?

[–] tmaj48 9 years ago

I've always gotten an odd vibe from that opening montage paired with the theme song. For a show that focused on Gidget's personal life, her friends, the surfing,
etc., the opening sequence is strangely devoid of such images and just includes photos of Gidget in poses and expressions that would be adorable for a six-year-old girl, but not a teenager, interspersed with the dad making silly faces. The song seems more suitable for an older generation, the type the father might have listened to a decade before, rather than something Gidget and her friends would care for. The opening ends with Daddy kissing his "little girl" while the song
ends "Gidget is mine!" Is he supposed to be competing with Gidget's boyfriends
for her affections? Or he just wants her to be a Daddy's girl forever?

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] Diamond97 8 years ago

I didn't think a thing of the overly strong man/daddy theme, as many shows at that time featured strong male figures (That Girl, Mary Tyler Moore, Father Knows Best... heck, Samantha and Jeanie even tried to give up magic for men, back then ...)so I was used to it

Darrin wanted Samantha to give up her magic for him.

However, Jeannie never had to give up her magic. Major Nelson was fine with (and sometimes fascinated by) Jeannie's magic.