Skidoo (1968)
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36% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
46% of users liked it
(401 ratings)
Producer and director Otto Preminger reportedly experimented with LSD in the late 60's, which inspired him to make this notorious comedy in which Jackie Gleason plays Tony, a mid-level gangster and former hired killer not very happy with his life. He bickers a lot with his wife Flo (Carol… More Producer and director Otto Preminger reportedly experimented with LSD in the late 60's, which inspired him to make this notorious comedy in which Jackie Gleason plays Tony, a mid-level gangster and former hired killer not very happy with his life. He bickers a lot with his wife Flo (Carol Channing) and isn't sure what to make of his daughter Darlene (Alexandra Hay), especially since she started dating a hippie named Stash (John Phillip Law). Two of Tony's superiors, Angie (Frankie Avalon) and Hechy (Cesar Romero), order him to get arrested, go to prison and once behind bars whack "Blue Chips" Packard (Mickey Rooney). Though he's not pleased with the idea, Tony grudgingly goes along, but once inside, he's accidentally dosed with LSD by counterculture activist the Professor (Austin Pendleton). His consciousness expanded by his trip, Tony leaves his violent lifestyle behind him and with the Professor's help plans an escape after turning the entire prison population on to acid. Certainly your only opportunity to see Groucho Marx play a character named "God," not to mention a supporting cast that includes Slim Pickens, Peter Lawford, George Raft, Frank Gorshin and Arnold Stang, Skidoo is also remembered as the film in which Harry Nilsson sang all the credits. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Otto Preminger
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Dec 19, 1968 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Skidoo patronises young and old alike, which is pretty much like cutting off both legs before a track meet.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Preminger seems unable to invest his film with any lightness or spontaneity.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
The movie, which has the form of comedy, is 98 minutes of disconnected story-conference ideas.
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Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
These Otto Preminger films may not be perfect, but where else can you see trashcans waltzing or a Batman villain dropping the n-word like it's going out of style?
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Alonso Duralde, Movies.com
One of those movies that defies labels like "good" or "bad" or "insane" or "genius," Skidoo conveys the generation gap of the late 1960s in a singularly bizarre way.
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jackie Gleason
as Tony Banks
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Carol Channing
as Flo Banks
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Frankie Avalon
as Angie
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Fred Clark
as Guard
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Michael Constantine
as Leech
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Frank Gorshin
as The Man
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John Phillip Law
as Stash
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Peter Lawford
as Senator
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Burgess Meredith
as Warden
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Cesar Romero
as Hechy
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Mickey Rooney
as Packard
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Groucho Marx
as "God"
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Alexandra Hay
as Darlene Banks
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Luna
as "God's" Mistress
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Doro Merande
as Mayor
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Phil Arnold
as Mayor's Husband
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Slim Pickens
as Switchboard Operator
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Robert Donner
as Switchboard Operator
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Richard Kiel
as Beany
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Tom Law
as Geronimo
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Jaik Rosenstein
as "Eggs" Benedict
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Stacy King
as The
- Renny Roker
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Roman Gabriel
as Prison Guard
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Stone Country
as Themselves
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Austin Pendleton
as The Prof. (Fred)
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George Raft
as Capt. Garbaldo
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Arnold Stang
as Harry
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Harry Nilsson
as Tower Guard
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William Cannon
as Convict
