Tickle Me

While not receiving the same fanfare as some of Elvis' more renowned movies including Viva Las Vegas or Fun in Acapulco, this film is really very underrated and underscores the essence of Elvis flicks. Perhaps because Elvis is not cavorting with a well known star, such as Ann Margaret or Ursula Andress as in the aforementioned vehicles, this picture tends to always get underplayed. Most memorable is the ravishing English star, Ms. Jocelyn Lane, who absolutely lights up the scenery whenever she is around - what a stunner!

Elvis Presley plays the Panhandle Kid, staying busy at a female dude ranch pitching hay, checking out the gamms on the girls while they're exercising, arguing with his female boss (who can't keep her hands off him!) and, of course, singing whenever the movie's pace needs a boost. In an outrageous but silly/enjoyable plot twist, it turns out one of the young ladies is involved with villains who are after her hidden treasure. All this leads Elvis to a ghost town where the bad guys dress up like ghouls and try to scare the sideburns off him. A brainless hoedown with an array of songs from the vault, "Tickle Me" served as Presley's IRS tax-bill movie and he's barely in character. Jocelyn Lane is a sexy cowgirl, while the haunted house finale is something new for a Presley picture. ** from ****

More astonishing than the script for the final 2 reels in the haunted house part of TICKLE ME is the real life fright (to us 40 years later) is the phenomenal success of this Allied Artists film. In Sydney alone TICKLE ME opened at the massive, gorgeous treasure chest State Theatre and filled all 2500 seats for an unprecedented run of 8 weeks. Built in 1929 as a luxury outlet and famed for its Astaire Rogers runs in the 30s, and the Sinatra runs of the 50s, nothing but nothing topped Elvis there in 1965. Even when his films played other major luxury palaces in Sydney before and after TICKLE ME was the winner. As flabbergasted as I am to realize that success was repeated in city after city in every country it played, NOW I realize how well this film saved Allied Artists. This was their last production until 1969. They concentrated on releasing Euro dramas like A MAN AND A WOMAN and in the 70s were responsible for CABARET and PAPILLON. If the rentals in 1965 in the US alone were $3m then you can double that from the rest of the international ticket sales: $6m from a $1.4m investment. They weren't Monogram Pictures once for nothing, were they!

Funny! This is one of my Elvis favorites! Yes, there is nothing serious here but good fun entertainment. Elvis in some really great candid shots and a spooky ghost town. Elvis in the rodeo. I really like this one and hope to see it on DVD. In fact, why isn't the entire Elvis movie collection on DVD??? When I think of all the trash movies that are being sold, why not some good, clean Elvis fun and some great music, too? I have been watching the Elvis movies since I was 6 years old. I love these old fun movies. I have the entire collection on VHS and have bought all that are available on DVD. These films take me right back to my youth. Pop some corn, pour a Pepsi, sit back and relax and recall the good IL' days when Elvis was showing off on the big silver screen.

A very funny film. The soundtrack was composed of old songs from earlier Elvis LPs (to keep the film's budget at a minimum). Elvis looks great and Jocelyn Lane looks incredible. In my opinion (along with many others), Jocelyn was the prettiest costar Elvis ever had. Julie Adams is very attractive as the "older" woman. Practically all of the women in the film are hot (and there are loads of groovy gals). In fact--although not intending to be--"Tickle Me" remains one of the best children's pictures ever. I certainly couldn't get enough of it when it played at the local theater when I was in grade school. I went back to see it again five times! What can I say? Puberty calling!