Tickle Me (1965)

Waste of time

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

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

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.

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.

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!