Producer-director Otto Preminger (“Exodus” 1960) put together a different kind of comedy in 1968 called “Skidoo.” The story is about a couple who are involved with an organized crime figure and whose daughter joins a commune of hippies. This very weird comedy, which could also be called a black comedy, was from a screenplay written by Doran William Cannon.
Another factor that makes “Skidoo” interesting is the all-star cast. Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing play the lead roles, with Grouch Marx starring as the mob leader, Alexandra Hay as their daughter, and John Phillip Law as the hippie leader. This would be Marx’s final motion picture appearance, in a career that started in movies in 1921 with his very own Marx Brothers. Co-stars include Frankie Avalon, Peter Lawford, George Raft, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, Slim Pickens, Fred Clark, Frank Gorshin, Michael Constantine, Burgess Meredith, Austin Pendleton, Roman Gabriel, and Harry Nilsson, who composed the picture’s musical score.
One example of the silliness of the film is Jackie Gleason’s remarks concerning hippie John Phillip Law’s get-up: “Who’s your tailor? Sitting Bull?” All part of the fun of “Skidoo,” so bad that it is hilarious and watchable entertainment. “Skidoo” was a massive failure at the box office for Sigma Productions and Paramount Pictures.
Skidoo (1968)
cinema
My Review
Producer-director Otto Preminger (“Exodus” 1960) put together a different kind of comedy in 1968 called “Skidoo.” The story is about a couple who are involved with an organized crime figure and whose daughter joins a commune of hippies. This very weird comedy, which could also be called a black comedy, was from a screenplay written by Doran William Cannon.
Another factor that makes “Skidoo” interesting is the all-star cast. Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing play the lead roles, with Grouch Marx starring as the mob leader, Alexandra Hay as their daughter, and John Phillip Law as the hippie leader. This would be Marx’s final motion picture appearance, in a career that started in movies in 1921 with his very own Marx Brothers. Co-stars include Frankie Avalon, Peter Lawford, George Raft, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, Slim Pickens, Fred Clark, Frank Gorshin, Michael Constantine, Burgess Meredith, Austin Pendleton, Roman Gabriel, and Harry Nilsson, who composed the picture’s musical score.
One example of the silliness of the film is Jackie Gleason’s remarks concerning hippie John Phillip Law’s get-up: “Who’s your tailor? Sitting Bull?” All part of the fun of “Skidoo,” so bad that it is hilarious and watchable entertainment. “Skidoo” was a massive failure at the box office for Sigma Productions and Paramount Pictures.