Tickle Me
Elvis Movie #18
Allied Artists | 1965

When it was released on May 28, 1965, Tickle Me marked several firsts in the Hollywood career of Elvis Presley. It was the only Presley movie produced by Allied Artists, a studio best known at the time for making “B” comedies and exploitation films. It was one of the few mainstream features released by Allied during the 1960s. Second, Tickle Me was Elvis’ first straight comedy picture. There is nothing resembling a dramatic scene in the film. Finally, it was the first and only Presley film without at least one original song. Its nine musical numbers were all taken from earlier Presley recordings, dating as far back as 1960.

Tickle Me was another step in the direction of low-budget Presley features begun by its predecessor, Metro’s Girl Happy, which was released just six weeks earlier. Tickle Me was shot completely on Allied’s studio lot in just six weeks during October and November of 1964. Some Arizona scenery footage was added for background. The film cost Allied $1,480,000, more than half of which, $750,000, was paid to Elvis.

• Times called Tickle Me silly

By 1965 New York Times writer Howard Thompson, who in the past had given Elvis some of his best film reviews, was clearly losing patience with the frugal direction Presley pictures had taken. His June 24, 1965, review of Tickle Me in the Times was brief and decidedly negative. It read:

“Elvis Presley had better watch his step after 'Tickle Me,' his latest color musical film. This is the silliest, feeblest and dullest vehicle for the Memphis Wonder in a long time. And both Elvis and his sponsors, this time Allied Artists, should know better.

“In such trim packages as ‘Viva Las Vegas’ and ‘Fun in Acapulco,’ the Presley formula—colorful settings, tunes and pretty girls aplenty—took on real, tasty sparkle. But yesterday’s flapdoodle, even weaker than the preceding ‘Girl Happy,’ should strain the indulgence of the most ardent Presley fans. See for yourself, girls. It looks made up as it goes along.”

• Elvis movie a big success for Allied Artists

Tickle Me got off to a good start at the box office. On June 16, 1965, just a month after the film opened nationally, the studio claimed in a Variety advertisement that 5,210 play dates had already been booked. A month later an article in the same publication implied that Tickle Me had actually saved Allied Artists from going under financially. By the end of the year, the movie finished #30 on Variety’s list of “Big Rental Pictures of 1965” with $3.4 million of projected sales.

Variety, which had come to understand that Presley movies were made primarily for Presley fans, predicted in its review of June 16, 1965, that, “The substantial hold that Elvis Presley wields over his public will continue with this Allied Artists production.” The reviewer added that the picture has “more slapstick than Presley usually undertakes. Screenplay by Elwood Ullman and Edward Bernds is wispy thin but allows singer to rock over nine numbers from past albums to good effect … and a wind-up finish, fast and corny, should tickle the palates of his natural audience as well as furnishing a field day for moppet specs.”

• Memories of seeing Tickle Me over 40 years ago

Two principal memories remain from when I first saw Tickle Me as a teenager at Spokane’s State Theater in the spring of 1965. The first is that I laughed more during this movie than at any other Elvis film before or since. The gags, one-liners, and slapstick seemed so funny to me then. On the other hand, Elvis’ musical numbers in Tickle Me were disappointing. Back in those days, the greatest lure of a new Elvis movie for a fan like me was getting to hear Elvis sing a new set of songs. The nine tunes cherry-picked from Presley’s previous albums were all good ones, to be sure, but offered nothing new.

A few of the songs fit into the storyline but most just come out of nowhere. Elvis inexplicably bursts into song a number of times while working as a ranch hand. Of course, scantily clad young women come from all directions to join in each musical number. In one rather silly scene, the last word in the lyrics of the tune “Dirty, Dirty Feeling” is supplied, not by Elvis, but by a horse standing nearby.

In the movie Red West, a long-time member of Presley’s “Memphis Mafia,” reprises his oft-played role of a tough guy who gets punched out by Elvis. It happens after Presley’s first musical number. When Julie Adams, who plays his boss in the film, approaches Elvis after the fight, he tells her with a swagger, “It happens every once-in-a-while.” Fight scenes had long been a staple of Presley films, but director Norman Taurog overloaded Tickle Me with fistfights. Elvis’ character participates in a half dozen brawls, probably a record for Presley movies.

• Elvis’ timing right for comedic roll

In the acting department, Elvis fulfills his responsibilities well. The role is a bit more demanding than it seems at first, considering the campy dialogue and clowning that the screenplay calls for. Variety’s reviewer gave the star a passing grade. “Presley takes his character in stride, giving a performance calculated to appeal particularly to his following … His comedy timing is right for most of slapstick.”

Elvis’ love interest is played by Jocelyn Lane, who is cute as a button but lacks the energetic personality of Ann-Margret or even Shelly Fabares, two of Presley’s recent co-stars at that time. I will say, though, that Miss Lane outshines them all in a bathing suit. The best performance in the supporting cast is provided by Jack Mullaney, who plays bumbling ranch hand Stanley Potter. His quirky character work provides a good portion of the film’s humor.

Variety assessed the supporting cast as follows: “[Elvis] gets good comedy backing from a competent cast and a flock of young beauts cavorting in near-Bikini attire. Romance and sub-plot are offered in the shapely person of Jocelyn Lane … Miss Lane delivers a sharp enactment of the gal Presley falls for, and Julie Adams makes the most of her role as ranch owner. Jack Mullaney shines as a naïve character. Merry Anders is an always-hungry ranch patron, and Edward Faulkner is in for a comedy part as swimming instructor.”

• Elvis low budget film formula would continue

In the end, Tickle Me is a serviceable comedy with lots of good music and pretty girls. Its low budget and high return at the box office convinced the studios to keep things simple with future Presley movies. Ten more like it would follow using the same formula. Only the names and the locales would change. — Alan Hanson | © June 2008

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