Skidoo
Skidoo
R | 19 December 1968 (USA)
Skidoo Trailers

Ex-gangster Tony Banks is called out of retirement by mob kingpin God to carry out a hit on fellow mobster "Blue Chips" Packard. When Banks demurs, God kidnaps his daughter Darlene on his luxury yacht.

Reviews
Claysaba

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

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Afouotos

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

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filippaberry84

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Zandra

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

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ajliccione

I first viewed this movie about 25 years ago on TV. I was nicely buzzed and after the first few minutes my jaw dropped and stayed there. This is a movie chock full of major STARS and produced by Otto Preminger.....a supposed comedy, this film is Ottos take on LSD. This film is not funny...it is like watching a train wreck. Soundtrack by Harry Nielson. Big budget..Grocho Marx last film...the movie is just awful. Upon researching the film a lot of trivia and surprising facts come out. Like Premingers daughter having the film under lock and key until a few years ago.....This is Carol Channings low point.....And if you can watch it to the end......the song Skidoo will stick in your head......Skidoo, Skidoo, between the one and three there is a two. Oy.

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bear1955

If you dig Firesign Theater's late 60's - early 70s' comedy LP's, you may really like this. It would be familiar except for name stars in this movie. (Artistically) they didn't need to put Skidoo on film. Maybe it would be more highly regarded if it remained a work of sound - it could have remained theater of the mind! The cast generally has VERY distinctive voices and I really do mean that this story would be fine as longform comedy LP, requiring a narrator and some excellent foley work. The "Skidoo" story also would have made for a fun off-off Broadway happening! The Firesign Theater connection I notice means I'll need to take another look at Skidoo from DVR'ing on TCM, though there is nothing easily found to show any connection in the making of Skidoo of any Firesign principals; some of their aural devices and trippy plot devices may have been influenced by this movie and the 1968 movie "Head" additionally. "Head" is its' visuals. "Skidoo" is an idea that becomes shortchanged, enhanced, loved and notorious in parts by it's sets, props and the look of the actors. Anyway, I would say if you like either "Skiddoo" or "Head", see the other one!

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amosduncan_2000

Yes, it's a must for bad film fans and fans of the truly odd, but even with the amazing cast it's basically a chore to sit through. Harry Nilsson singing the end credits is perhaps the movies one moment of real charm, but by then everyone had gone home. Groucho is touching at 78, trying harder than he did in "Love Happy," and for a fleeting moment lifts the car out of the ditch. Everyone seems to note how "weird" this was, but in context, I would say not so much. It's an attempt to imitate Terry Southern's hipster humor, which only worked when applied by directors like Kubrick and Richardson with a light, even handed touch. Then again, the jokes are far more obvious than Southern, and the basic situation too absurd. Sad to see so many great stars near the end, but the real question is, how did Harry Nilsson survive this ?

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Michael_Elliott

Skidoo (1968) ** (out of 4) Extremely bizarre comedy has gangster battling hippies in the lovin' 60's. A retired gangster (Jackie Gleason) is asked by the top gangster, God (Groucho Marx) to break into prison and kill a rat (Mickey Rooney). On the outside Gleason's daughter has started dating a hippie and its up to them to try and save her dad. This was a notorious flop when originally released but it has gained a cult following over the years and in the end the film really isn't all that bad. I think the biggest problem is that Preminger simply wasn't the right guy to direct the material. He's got some great comic actors yet he gets very little from them. Most of the comedy comes from politically incorrect stuff or things that weren't meant to be funny but they come off that way. The highlight of the film is when Gleason is in prison and accidentally takes some LSD and has a wild trip afterwards. Marx also smokes some pot, which is somewhat funny but Rooney comes off rather lame. The supporting cast includes Carol Channing, Frankie Avalon, Peter Lawford, Burgess Meredith, George Raft and Cesar Romero. The film eventually runs out of steam in the final act, which again deals with an LSD trip but the jokes plays itself out way before the end.

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