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!
44 Reviews
The Most Memorable of His Films-you know-the One with "Jocelyn Lane"
aimless-4631 March 2005
Although the Elvis formula films were pretty much the same when they were released, two factors made some significantly more appealing and memorable than others; the actress playing his love interest and the songs that were incorporated into the production.
A third variable, more important 40 years later, is how well each film has held up. Generally the less exotic the setting and the further Elvis is from an ocean, the better they have aged. In this regard "Tickle Me" benefits from its desert ranch and western Ghost Town sets-nothing elaborate and the only water is a rain storm.
And while the song selection in "Tickle Me" is nothing to get excited about, the leading lady is spectacular. Whenever Elvis movies come up in conversation you will find someone asking which one showcased Jocelyn Lane as an exercise instructor, then they get this far away look in their eyes and a dreamy expression on their face.
Lane makes "Tickle Me" the most memorable of the Elvis films for male viewers. I would rank it second, edged out slightly by "Viva Las Vegas" which not only has Ann Margret but a great song selection.
A third variable, more important 40 years later, is how well each film has held up. Generally the less exotic the setting and the further Elvis is from an ocean, the better they have aged. In this regard "Tickle Me" benefits from its desert ranch and western Ghost Town sets-nothing elaborate and the only water is a rain storm.
And while the song selection in "Tickle Me" is nothing to get excited about, the leading lady is spectacular. Whenever Elvis movies come up in conversation you will find someone asking which one showcased Jocelyn Lane as an exercise instructor, then they get this far away look in their eyes and a dreamy expression on their face.
Lane makes "Tickle Me" the most memorable of the Elvis films for male viewers. I would rank it second, edged out slightly by "Viva Las Vegas" which not only has Ann Margret but a great song selection.
Things aren't the same on the ranch.
michaelRokeefe25 June 2003
Elvis Presley plays a singing rodeo cowboy waiting for the rodeo season to open and takes a job at a dude ranch/health spa for models and well-to-do women. The adorable Jocelyn Lane plays the cowboy/handyman's love interest. The ranch manager(Julie Adams) also has eyes for the singing distraction. Hidden treasure in a ghost town causes mild suspense and some slapstick comedy. In order to save money for the production company no new songs were recorded for the movie. Some tunes are almost five years old. The better ditties include:"Night Rider", "Dirty, Dirty Feeling", "Slowly But Surely" and "Easy Question". Some of the background sets are super cheap; the plot kind of flimsy; but the magic between Presley and Lane sizzles and smolders. I think that and the music are worth the price of admission. Also in the cast are: Jack Mullaney, Edward Faulkner and Barbara Werle.
Thin Elvis programmer has inexplicable appeal
pooch-84 August 1999
In Tickle Me (easily one of the great titles of Elvis' illustrious screen career), the King plays -- brace yourself -- a singing rodeo cowboy with a lucrative second job as a handyman at a beauty spa. Naturally, all of the women at the ranch compete for E's attentions, but he's only got eyes for the stunning Jocelyn Lane. The second half of the film gets supremely silly, as the lovers search for a hidden treasure of gold in a haunted house. The horrifyingly awful gags that accompany the climactic sequence belong in a Scooby Doo episode, but are more accurately akin to the Three Stooges -- since writers Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds had put in time for the eye-gouging, hair-pulling, face-slapping nitwits. Tickle Me has a weird appeal to me, however, as it allows Elvis the opportunity to show off his talent for comedy (an under-appreciated aspect of his acting for which he shows remarkable aptitude).
Good music and Jocelyn Lane make this one to watch
rpm1950-631-96659510 January 2010
I have to admit this movie holds a special place in my heart as I saw in with the first girl I ever dated and fell in love with back in 1965. But all that aside, some 45 years later, I still enjoy the movie even if I haven't seen the girl in 40 years. Elvis as a singing rodeo cowboy gets sidetracked working at a dude ranch for young women wishing to look better and hooks up with Jocelyn Lane, possibly the best looking woman on the planet in 1965. The music, taken from some older Elvis LPs, fits fine. The songs "Dirty, Dirty Feeling" and "Slowly But Surely" are great songs on their own as is the opening sequence number, "Long Lonely Highway", which was released as a single. "Such An Easy Question", also released as a single in 65, is more of a romantic ballad and is quite good, tho it sounded better when it was released a couple years earlier on the "Pot Luck" album. They added some background orchestration to the movie version that is totally out of place. Julia Adams and "Wild" Bill Williams head up a stellar supporting cast. A good, solid Elvis movie and remember, these movies were not made to compete for Oscars.
all U fans who saw it just once...I demand U watch it again!
beauzee4 November 2014
Saw this flick when I was 14..was getting old enough to know it was kind of silly and did not really exploit the great talents of the great Big El. (can still hear a Dad in the packed theatre in Union City, NJ, shout out to his kid, "what a movie!" - and he was not frowning).
no character development here for Elvis...but who really cares? his best soundtrack of all, yes, because good tunes were selected from pre-existing releases...although deep fans will enjoy hearing nice horn overdubs and most importantly, a new vocal for I FEEL THAT I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER, a beautiful ballad based upon a Classical melody.
Elvis' comedic talents are all over the place, he has developed great comic timing, and subtle, nuanced reactions to the craziness of his "Jerry Lewis-influenced" buddy (whose name escapes me). in fact, Dean and Jerry could have pulled this one off, in a decade long ago and far away.
and girls..girls...girls...not just barely legal but just shy of middle age squeezes of rich, married guys who use the supposed health spa/ranch for women, to catch a breather.
Three Stooges writers Bernds and Ullman wrote this and the zany antics abound. a few minor tweaks, or edits of some tired sight gags would have been welcome.
check this one out: Elvis' funniest since FOLLOW THAT DREAM. shucks, friends, this here may be his *funniest*!
no character development here for Elvis...but who really cares? his best soundtrack of all, yes, because good tunes were selected from pre-existing releases...although deep fans will enjoy hearing nice horn overdubs and most importantly, a new vocal for I FEEL THAT I'VE KNOWN YOU FOREVER, a beautiful ballad based upon a Classical melody.
Elvis' comedic talents are all over the place, he has developed great comic timing, and subtle, nuanced reactions to the craziness of his "Jerry Lewis-influenced" buddy (whose name escapes me). in fact, Dean and Jerry could have pulled this one off, in a decade long ago and far away.
and girls..girls...girls...not just barely legal but just shy of middle age squeezes of rich, married guys who use the supposed health spa/ranch for women, to catch a breather.
Three Stooges writers Bernds and Ullman wrote this and the zany antics abound. a few minor tweaks, or edits of some tired sight gags would have been welcome.
check this one out: Elvis' funniest since FOLLOW THAT DREAM. shucks, friends, this here may be his *funniest*!
Somebody's trying to scare the sideburns off Elvis!
moonspinner5526 September 2005
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 ****
Some of the best music of any Elvis picture..
Lee-658 April 2019
This is the film that saved Allied Artists from bankruptcy. It is entertaining, because of Elvis' performance and comedic flair, and the shattering beauty of Jocelyn Lane, one of Elvis' sexiest co-stars. Also good to see Merry Anders in her real hair color. She does a fun comedic turn as well, as a gastronomically deprived guest at the ranch. Jack Mullaney, a vastly underrated comedian, does reasonably well in this film with what he has to work with. The soundtrack contains some of Elvis' best recordings, although I wish Norman Taurog had not applied orchestral sweetening, as the tracks are perfect on their own, recorded by the best musicians in Nashville, along with the irreplaceable Jordanaires and soprano Millie Kirkham. It's a fun programmer and, not a bad way to spend a couple of hours (although the haunted hotel part is a bit silly). It also is a feast for the eyes, because it contains some of the most beautiful starlets present in the SAG directory at that time.
A Sure Thing
arsportsltd9 January 2014
Elvis Presely was deemed to be about the only sure thing in movies as a bankable star when Allied Artists paid Elvis the the great salary of one million dollars to star in this film.
Norman Taurog directs this film in a breezy style and the movie while a AA film was produced at nearby Paramount.
Allied Artists was a boutique studio with films such as Love In The Afternoon, Friendly Persuasion, Soldier In the Rain, El Cid, and 55 Days At Peking, etc. AA had a small studio and no TV division and its fates rose and fell with its movies competing with giant studios such as MGM, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. Some of the major film personalities that worked at AA were Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Ava Gardner, David Niven, and Sophia Loren. AA would go on to film Cabaret with Liza Minnelli, Pappillion with McQueen, and The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery. Directors such as William Wyler, John Huston and Billy Wilder contributed to the success of AA.
Norman Taurog directs this film in a breezy style and the movie while a AA film was produced at nearby Paramount.
Allied Artists was a boutique studio with films such as Love In The Afternoon, Friendly Persuasion, Soldier In the Rain, El Cid, and 55 Days At Peking, etc. AA had a small studio and no TV division and its fates rose and fell with its movies competing with giant studios such as MGM, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. Some of the major film personalities that worked at AA were Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen, Ava Gardner, David Niven, and Sophia Loren. AA would go on to film Cabaret with Liza Minnelli, Pappillion with McQueen, and The Man Who Would Be King with Sean Connery. Directors such as William Wyler, John Huston and Billy Wilder contributed to the success of AA.
More of the same, for the most part
Boyo-22 January 2001
Colonel Parker must have been a very dull man in some respects. He is responsible for Elvis doing the same movie over and over and over, without very much to distinguish one from the other. This was an attempt at comedy, as the writers were veterans of The Three Stooges comedies.
You can dismiss this movie except there is one very funny scene when Elvis is singing and he gets interupted by a falling window shade. Its right out of the Stooges, but normally when Elvis is singing a romantic song to the leading lady, they play it for all the romance they can muster, but this time is strictly for laughs and it really works.
Right after this scene was Elvis in a rodeo, and the stuntmen for him was a black guy! Two funny scenes in a row!
You can dismiss this movie except there is one very funny scene when Elvis is singing and he gets interupted by a falling window shade. Its right out of the Stooges, but normally when Elvis is singing a romantic song to the leading lady, they play it for all the romance they can muster, but this time is strictly for laughs and it really works.
Right after this scene was Elvis in a rodeo, and the stuntmen for him was a black guy! Two funny scenes in a row!
Okay for fans of Elvis and Jocelyn Lane if for not much else
TheLittleSongbird14 March 2017
Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.
While in the weaker half of Elvis' films, 'Tickle Me' is not one of his very worst, worse followed and 'Kissin' Cousins' was another lesser effort. It is watchable enough, mostly for Elvis and Jocelyn Lane but doesn't offer much else beyond them. Certainly not one of his best like 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Viva Las Vegas' and 'Loving You'.
As said, Elvis is jovial and charismatic enough and sings beautifully. Lane is one of his best and sexiest leading ladies, full of fun and endearment, and their chemistry sparkles. Julie Adams makes much of her nothing part, bringing much more verve than deserved.
There are some amusing and charming moments, and while not one of his greatest soundtracks (some songs fit better than others) the music fares well in the quality and memorability factors, no classic songs but no disposable ones either. "Dirty Dirty Feeling", "Night Rider" and "It Feels So Right" fare particularly well, and Elvis sings them very well indeed.
On the other hand, Norman Taurog's direction in 'Tickle Me' is muddled and all over the place as are the script and story. The story doesn't feel as overlong or over-stretched as some Elvis films, but still feels structurally flimsy and obvious. Even worse though is that even for an Elvis film it is ridiculously improbable and suffers from a protracted climax that, despite its uniqueness as far as Elvis films go, jars badly with the tone of the rest of the film.
Regarding the writing, the sillier and more improbable the story gets the more tired and lame-brained the gags get. This is especially true in the second half, where even calling the gags something that belongs in bad Scooby Doo or past prime-3 Stooges is insulting. It also hurts the performance of Jack Mullaney, who has very tired material and ends up being out of place and irritating.
In conclusion, okay and watchable but not much great here. 5/10 Bethany Cox
While in the weaker half of Elvis' films, 'Tickle Me' is not one of his very worst, worse followed and 'Kissin' Cousins' was another lesser effort. It is watchable enough, mostly for Elvis and Jocelyn Lane but doesn't offer much else beyond them. Certainly not one of his best like 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Viva Las Vegas' and 'Loving You'.
As said, Elvis is jovial and charismatic enough and sings beautifully. Lane is one of his best and sexiest leading ladies, full of fun and endearment, and their chemistry sparkles. Julie Adams makes much of her nothing part, bringing much more verve than deserved.
There are some amusing and charming moments, and while not one of his greatest soundtracks (some songs fit better than others) the music fares well in the quality and memorability factors, no classic songs but no disposable ones either. "Dirty Dirty Feeling", "Night Rider" and "It Feels So Right" fare particularly well, and Elvis sings them very well indeed.
On the other hand, Norman Taurog's direction in 'Tickle Me' is muddled and all over the place as are the script and story. The story doesn't feel as overlong or over-stretched as some Elvis films, but still feels structurally flimsy and obvious. Even worse though is that even for an Elvis film it is ridiculously improbable and suffers from a protracted climax that, despite its uniqueness as far as Elvis films go, jars badly with the tone of the rest of the film.
Regarding the writing, the sillier and more improbable the story gets the more tired and lame-brained the gags get. This is especially true in the second half, where even calling the gags something that belongs in bad Scooby Doo or past prime-3 Stooges is insulting. It also hurts the performance of Jack Mullaney, who has very tired material and ends up being out of place and irritating.
In conclusion, okay and watchable but not much great here. 5/10 Bethany Cox
I like it very much. No wonder it saved Allied Artists in the 60s.
ptrain818 March 2005
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.
Tickle Me (1965) **1/2
JoeKarlosi25 August 2007
Elvis Presley is a rodeo star/singer who accepts a job working for an older woman (Julie Adams of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON) on her resort ranch -- which happens to be populated by hordes of gorgeous girls getting toned up as actresses and models. One of them (drop-dead gorgeous Jocelyn Lane) is the exercise coordinator who learns that her grandfather stashed a lot of loot in a neighboring ghost town, so this allows Presley to get some "haunted house" time in for the last act.
I used to get a bigger kick out of this Elvis comedy when I saw it on TV a lot as a kid, but revisiting it recently in a loose chronological order along with Presely's many other movies made me have a slight second opinion; for especially when viewed all together, it's painfully obvious precisely at this point how the King of Rock 'n' Roll was being completely sold out. And yet, this movie made a lot of money all the same and saved Allied Artists studio! "Three Stooges" script writers Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds penned this desperately silly and not very amusing offering, so as a result there is an extra dosage of zany slapstick, like Elvis getting knocked over the head several times and playing the Stooge. He is also saddled with a really annoying sidekick in the sniveling Jack Mullaney. This contrived film has a perfunctory and slap-dash feel to it, with Elvis coming across as half-heartedly going through the usual motions. BUT ... the saving graces of TICKLE ME are the many beautiful females on display (beginning with the luscious and big-eyed Jocelyn Lane) and also the decent music soundtrack - this film was so cheaply made that no budget was allowed for new songs to be recorded, so a group of older tunes from four or five years prior were utilized instead. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because among the better ones are "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway", "Dirty Dirty Feeling," "It Feels So Right", and "(Such an) Easy Question". **1/2 out of ****
I used to get a bigger kick out of this Elvis comedy when I saw it on TV a lot as a kid, but revisiting it recently in a loose chronological order along with Presely's many other movies made me have a slight second opinion; for especially when viewed all together, it's painfully obvious precisely at this point how the King of Rock 'n' Roll was being completely sold out. And yet, this movie made a lot of money all the same and saved Allied Artists studio! "Three Stooges" script writers Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds penned this desperately silly and not very amusing offering, so as a result there is an extra dosage of zany slapstick, like Elvis getting knocked over the head several times and playing the Stooge. He is also saddled with a really annoying sidekick in the sniveling Jack Mullaney. This contrived film has a perfunctory and slap-dash feel to it, with Elvis coming across as half-heartedly going through the usual motions. BUT ... the saving graces of TICKLE ME are the many beautiful females on display (beginning with the luscious and big-eyed Jocelyn Lane) and also the decent music soundtrack - this film was so cheaply made that no budget was allowed for new songs to be recorded, so a group of older tunes from four or five years prior were utilized instead. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because among the better ones are "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway", "Dirty Dirty Feeling," "It Feels So Right", and "(Such an) Easy Question". **1/2 out of ****
The Prairie Gigolo
richardchatten21 November 2021
I actually saw the trailer for this film as a kid and vividly recall "the goon with that horrible face" who turns the final third of this film into an episode of 'Scooby Doo' after a conventional first hour with Elvis bursting into song every few minutes. (Which makes Presley Fred, Jocelyn Lane Daphne and Jack Mullaney Shaggy; but sadly there's no Velma.)
The story behind the making of this film (so cheap they didn't even bother to write a new title song when they changed the name from 'Isle of Paradise' to the even more meaningless 'Tickle Me') is probably more interesting than anything that ended up on the screen; but it kept Allied Artists solvent and earned Elvis his only ever award for his film acting - a 1966 Golden Laurel Award for best male performance.
Writers Ellwood Ullman and Edward Bernds' background writing for The Three Stooges shows when the action transfers from a dude ranch to a haunted house with a western spoof along the way. 'B' picture belles Julie Adams and Merry Anders are largely wasted, Alyson Hayes is hardly in it; while Francine York's lines presumably ended up on the cutting room floor since she's visible throughout the film in crowd scenes, but not in the credits.
The story behind the making of this film (so cheap they didn't even bother to write a new title song when they changed the name from 'Isle of Paradise' to the even more meaningless 'Tickle Me') is probably more interesting than anything that ended up on the screen; but it kept Allied Artists solvent and earned Elvis his only ever award for his film acting - a 1966 Golden Laurel Award for best male performance.
Writers Ellwood Ullman and Edward Bernds' background writing for The Three Stooges shows when the action transfers from a dude ranch to a haunted house with a western spoof along the way. 'B' picture belles Julie Adams and Merry Anders are largely wasted, Alyson Hayes is hardly in it; while Francine York's lines presumably ended up on the cutting room floor since she's visible throughout the film in crowd scenes, but not in the credits.
Underrated Elvis Flick
mwmtampa1 September 2003
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 at a Heath Club for Women
Uriah4310 November 2018
This film essentially begins with a singing, rodeo cowboy named "Lonnie Beale" (Elvis Presley) stepping off of a bus in Zuni Wells, Arizona where a friend is supposed to meet him. Unfortunately, when his friend fails to show up-and being completely broke-he takes a job singing in a nightclub to make ends meet. It's then that he meets an attractive woman by the name of "Vera Radford" (Julie Adams) who owns a nearby ranch and offers him a job taking care of the horses. Naturally, since this seems more in line with his lifestyle he accepts. However, when he gets there he discovers that this isn't a usual ranch but rather a health club for young women with horseback riding being a part of the curriculum. And even though they are all on a strict diet and physical regimen it soon becomes obvious that food isn't the only thing that interests them. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an entertaining musical-comedy which incorporated several strange twists and turns along the way. Likewise, having a couple of beautiful actresses like Jocelyn Lane (as "Pam Merritt") along with the aforementioned Julie Adams certainly didn't hurt either. That being said, even though this certainly isn't one of the more popular "Elvis movies" out there I enjoyed it for the most part and for that reason have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
Dismal and unfunny film
geoffm6029517 March 2018
Silly storyline, poor songs and a series of adolescent sketches renders this film strictly for TV's graveyard late night shift. This film was regarded as poor then and is a sharp reminder why Presley's film career was in decline.
This film confirmed that Elvis was caught in a time warp,
This film confirmed that Elvis was caught in a time warp,
For first time at theatre with my father!!!
elo-equipamentos7 March 2019
My father wasn't a proper cinephile like me, but he took me many times on the theatre, this movie has a special meaning, the bus was running down the road and a guy singing on window, was Elvis, this picture l had remembered almost entirely the bus, the saloon, the swimming pool, the fake fights and a lot of girls all around, but the songs were so weak, of course Elvis didn't belong to my generation, could my father likes Elvis, I don't think so, he really likes country music...UGH!! well this turn I'd never forget, because l had a hero, my father who shares me maybe a little bit one of my passion, movies, my regret is just never went on stadium with him to see our beloved Corinthians, sorry father, it's too late, he is already gone forever!!!
PS: Who has a father alives please go with him to everywhere, l didn't have a time enough to discover it when my father was here, don't commit the same mistake like me!!!
Resume:
First watch: 1973 / How many: 2 / Source: Theatre-DVD / Rating: 5.5
PS: Who has a father alives please go with him to everywhere, l didn't have a time enough to discover it when my father was here, don't commit the same mistake like me!!!
Resume:
First watch: 1973 / How many: 2 / Source: Theatre-DVD / Rating: 5.5
The not so fat fat farm.
mark.waltz21 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Julie Adams goes from the black lagoon to becoming the owner of a health club for supposedly well to do matrons who need to lose a few pounds. I don't see any flab on these gals, especially when they start shaking their tushes to Elvis Presley's hip rattling songs. Adams spots Elvis singing at a country dive while waiting for rodeo season to start, and soon he's created tension at the spa, especially with the "strictly business" Jocelyn Lane who obviously has the hots for him, as do the bevy of beauties who pop up to say a line here, bat their eye lashes there, and for the most part, showing that physical beauty doesn't always mean dramatic talent.
While not a great actor, Presley has decent line reading but is basically playing himself. Adams, however, is both beautiful and talented, and makes her "boss lady" commanding, flirtatious, firm (both in temperament and in the physical sense as well), and delightfully funny. Not just a fan of hers for her movies, I found her a great scene stealer on the daytime soap "Capitol" where she took the focus away from the younger actors and made you notice her even when in scenes with the equally commanding Constance Towers, Marj Dusay (who flirted with Elvis in "Clambake"), Ed Nelson and Richard Egan, the star of Elvis's first film, "Love Me Tender". It's too bad she never got to work with Carolyn Jones ("King Creole"), tying Elvis in with 4 of "Capitol's" cast.
The fact that Elvis's character supposedly knows who Jennie Lind was is a far fetched detail, but that leads to a very cartoon like flashback to the past and a ridiculous story involving stolen treasure. The film concludes with a farcial sequence in a haunted house that makes the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show look like Shakespeare. Elvis's songs, too, are mediocre, and he has absolutely zero chemistry with Lane, so it depends on the charm of the cast (which includes veteran character actress Connie Gilchrist and cult actresses Allison Hayes and Merry Anders) to rise above its preposterous story.
While not a great actor, Presley has decent line reading but is basically playing himself. Adams, however, is both beautiful and talented, and makes her "boss lady" commanding, flirtatious, firm (both in temperament and in the physical sense as well), and delightfully funny. Not just a fan of hers for her movies, I found her a great scene stealer on the daytime soap "Capitol" where she took the focus away from the younger actors and made you notice her even when in scenes with the equally commanding Constance Towers, Marj Dusay (who flirted with Elvis in "Clambake"), Ed Nelson and Richard Egan, the star of Elvis's first film, "Love Me Tender". It's too bad she never got to work with Carolyn Jones ("King Creole"), tying Elvis in with 4 of "Capitol's" cast.
The fact that Elvis's character supposedly knows who Jennie Lind was is a far fetched detail, but that leads to a very cartoon like flashback to the past and a ridiculous story involving stolen treasure. The film concludes with a farcial sequence in a haunted house that makes the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show look like Shakespeare. Elvis's songs, too, are mediocre, and he has absolutely zero chemistry with Lane, so it depends on the charm of the cast (which includes veteran character actress Connie Gilchrist and cult actresses Allison Hayes and Merry Anders) to rise above its preposterous story.
If you love Scooby Doo, thank this movie.
jamesbinnola-16 January 2019
Literally every Scooby Doo episode follows this movie's example - haunted locality, a secret treasure and folks dressed up as ghosts and monsters to scare away those nosy/pesky kids - This is my favorite Elvis Presley movie ever and I could watch it over and over again.
One of Presley's Worst!
shepardjessica2 September 2004
This flick is fairly frightening! The plot is beyond explanation, but it does include the beautiful and undervalued Jocelyn Lane (Hell's Belles) and Allison Hayes (Attack of the 50-foot Woman). Not only are all of the songs forgettable, the script was left in the trailer.
A 2 out of 10. Best performance = Jocelyn Lane. Don't go near this one unless you've sat through Schindler's List and need a goofy fix of sterilized nonsense (plenty of pretty girls though). Jack Mullaney is his usual mental defective sidekick and Julie Adams was a decent actress (Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Last Movie), but this one is right there with SPINOUT, CLAMBAKE, and LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE. Sorry Elvis!
A 2 out of 10. Best performance = Jocelyn Lane. Don't go near this one unless you've sat through Schindler's List and need a goofy fix of sterilized nonsense (plenty of pretty girls though). Jack Mullaney is his usual mental defective sidekick and Julie Adams was a decent actress (Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Last Movie), but this one is right there with SPINOUT, CLAMBAKE, and LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE. Sorry Elvis!
8 weeks in a 2500 seater!!
ptb-822 December 2004
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!
An inferior production
atlasmb8 January 2013
Bad acting, bad music, bad fake kissing, bad scenery, really bad writing, uninspired all around. I give it one star--just for some beautiful women. I would gladly watch Elvis dance or sing, but here he gives us none of the energy and electricity that made him an icon. One could watch this film just for laughs--because it is so laughably bad--but there are so many other films worth watching.
The tag line "It's Elvis! And it's Fun! Way Out Wild and Wooly! It's s-p-o-o-k-y! Full of Joy and Jive!" is certainly misleading. It's not fun, wild, woolly, spooky, joyful or full of jive. Elvis could probably make this horrible film watchable if his performance was up to par, but he seems to be sleepwalking through the role, as were most of the other actors.
The tag line "It's Elvis! And it's Fun! Way Out Wild and Wooly! It's s-p-o-o-k-y! Full of Joy and Jive!" is certainly misleading. It's not fun, wild, woolly, spooky, joyful or full of jive. Elvis could probably make this horrible film watchable if his performance was up to par, but he seems to be sleepwalking through the role, as were most of the other actors.
Mindless tripe
debbiemathers9 July 2022
This was the next in a long line of movies Elvis made to feed his corrupt manager's gambling habit. Never mind the rubbish script or the second rate songs. Elvis will sell so put him on and let him go through the motions with hack direction. A pity as Elvis was a moderately good actor and of course a terrific singer whose talent deserved better than to be constantly served up like a piece of meat. If you like infantile scripts, cute girls and slap and tickle (literally!) you might find this entertaining, but this is one for fanatical Elvis Presley fans. Elvis here appears bored out of his mind. The thing is summed up when he takes a dripping wet Jocelyn Lane over his shoulder and slaps her behind bringing the response, 'That wasn't at all necessary!' No, neither was the movie! Seeing stuff like this one is constantly frustrated in imagining what Elvis might've done with the manager who was concerned with his artistic output rather than constantly treating him as a cash cow. The guy might even have had a longer life span.
Playing with Elvis
wes-connors13 January 2013
Arriving in a western town on a Greyhound bus, singing rodeo rider Elvis Presley (as Lonnie Beale) gets a job at a health ranch where attractive young women work on keeping their bodies in shape. You will agree with Mr. Presley about the success of the "Circle Z" ranch; here, the women are in excellent shape. Arousing exercise instructor Jocelyn Lane (as Pam Meritt) is the main attraction. Introduced in a pointedly sexy scene, Ms. Lane is looking for hidden treasure. In all ends up in a western-style ghost town...
"Tickle Me" is unique in Presley's musicals in that he did not record any new songs for the film. They simply went through the Elvis Presley catalog and picked otherwise overlooked material from his early 1960s studio albums. RCA Victor's worldwide record labels started the ball rolling in 1964 with the hits "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" (some of the latter's US potential squandered when it was "covered" by Terry Stafford). Most of the audience had to be unaware of this stunt-work, which reached its peak in 1965...
Surprisingly, every "Tickle Me" song hit the singles charts. Doing best on Billboard was first-released 45 rpm "(Such an) Easy Question" (#11) / "It Feels So Right" (#55). Selling even more copies, and going Top Ten on Cash Box, was "I'm Yours" (#9) / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" (#96). With "Night Rider" leading worldwide airplay, the remaining songs charted collectively as the "Tickle Me EP" (#70 on Billboard). The "older" Presley music now was out-performing the newer soundtrack-related material...
As Presley's roommate, dependable Jack Mullaney (as Stanley "Stan" Potter) is able to navigate the star's level of preparedness nicely; subsequently, he was signed for "Spinout" (1966). Attractively available Julie Adams (as Vera Radford) is a beautiful boss. No competition for Presley, swimming instructor Edward Faulkner (as Brad Bentley) wears bathing trunks up to his rib cage. Presley wisely keeps his shirt on (and his belly belted). The appeal of a Presley film was not, by this time, the star or his music. A Presley movie offered an opportunity to see acres of well-proportioned female flesh. In that respect, "Tickle Me" delivers.
**** Tickle Me (6/30/65) Norman Taurog ~ Elvis Presley, Jocelyn Lane, Jack Mullaney, Julie Adams
"Tickle Me" is unique in Presley's musicals in that he did not record any new songs for the film. They simply went through the Elvis Presley catalog and picked otherwise overlooked material from his early 1960s studio albums. RCA Victor's worldwide record labels started the ball rolling in 1964 with the hits "Kiss Me Quick" and "Suspicion" (some of the latter's US potential squandered when it was "covered" by Terry Stafford). Most of the audience had to be unaware of this stunt-work, which reached its peak in 1965...
Surprisingly, every "Tickle Me" song hit the singles charts. Doing best on Billboard was first-released 45 rpm "(Such an) Easy Question" (#11) / "It Feels So Right" (#55). Selling even more copies, and going Top Ten on Cash Box, was "I'm Yours" (#9) / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" (#96). With "Night Rider" leading worldwide airplay, the remaining songs charted collectively as the "Tickle Me EP" (#70 on Billboard). The "older" Presley music now was out-performing the newer soundtrack-related material...
As Presley's roommate, dependable Jack Mullaney (as Stanley "Stan" Potter) is able to navigate the star's level of preparedness nicely; subsequently, he was signed for "Spinout" (1966). Attractively available Julie Adams (as Vera Radford) is a beautiful boss. No competition for Presley, swimming instructor Edward Faulkner (as Brad Bentley) wears bathing trunks up to his rib cage. Presley wisely keeps his shirt on (and his belly belted). The appeal of a Presley film was not, by this time, the star or his music. A Presley movie offered an opportunity to see acres of well-proportioned female flesh. In that respect, "Tickle Me" delivers.
**** Tickle Me (6/30/65) Norman Taurog ~ Elvis Presley, Jocelyn Lane, Jack Mullaney, Julie Adams
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