jadedalex This movie earns a 'two' vote only due to its utter strangeness. This is like 'The Oscar' on mescaline. Throw in five million familiar faces, forget a script, and let a young Harry Nilsson do the music score.It's hard to imagine that the same talented director who made the excellent 'Anatomy of a Murder' was behind this strange acid-trip mixture of hippies, gangsters and prisons. But this film was directed by Otto Preminger.Oddest casting: Carol Channing as Jackie Gleason's wife. A look at Ms. Channing and you may question whether there are but two sexes on this planet. We are indeed treated to the vision of Ms. Channing in see-through bra and brief panties. It is almost an acid trip in itself.But that's really only the beginning. The casting features a very lovely Alexandra Hay, who I believe was a Playboy centerfold (I could be wrong, or dreaming). Luna is gorgeous as Groucho Marx's (who plays 'God', years before George Burns) mistress. I love her in that green thing she's almost wearing.Let's throw in seasoned character actors like Slim Pickens, Fred Clark and Mickey Rooney, too. If that isn't enough, somehow Frankie Avalon appears in the mix. This movie's thorough stupidity made me nostalgic for those brain dead beach flicks!The list goes on. The world's best 'Password' player, Peter Lawford. From the 'Batman' TV show, we throw in Frank Gorshin and Cesar Romero. Thankfully, the unfunny Arnold Stang is bumped off early in the movie.And who do we have as star? None other than comic genius Jackie Gleason. This may be the saddest part of the affair. Gleason was excellent in 'Requiem for a Heavyweight'. This should have been a spring board for Jackie to do serious acting, but his filmography is filled with duds. This has to be the most embarrassing attempt at comedy by a real master. Reginald van Gleason on acid is just not funny. Most of the people behind the scenes must have been stoned while making this.Someone referred to this film as a 'psychedelic gem'. I do agree people need to sit down and watch this film. Drink it in, as they say. This was Hollywood on its last legs. Most of these personalities needed jobs, and they settled for this garbage. Surely someone had to have smelled this movie. Take the money and run.I'm a big fan of Nilsson, and it is amusing to see his take as the 'tower guard' who is tripping on acid. The best part of the movie is the final credits, which are jocularly all sung by Harry. His song 'Skidoo', however, is a real 'stinkeroo', and in yet another odd turn, the title song is sung by Carol Channing in George Washington drag. Read that sentence again.Aside from Harry's song about garbage cans, and the spectacle of neon strobe lit garbage cans with people inside them dancing, I found no other highlights in this piece of cinema.Oh, I forgot, George Raft plays 'The Skipper'.Now if anyone thinks this movie is 'good' in any way...you are deluding yourself. As strange Hollywood cinema, 'Skidoo' is worse than 'The Oscar' and possibly just as strange as Ed Wood's 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'.But there's a big difference between an artless, wannabe director with a very limited budget and a respected Hollywood director with a roster of some talented personalities and millions to spend. Frankly, I prefer the quaint ineptness of Ed Wood to the nonsensical treacle that Preminger has created here.Having said nothing much good about this film, I do agree. You sit down. You watch this movie. I dare you to make it all the way through. I did, with a couple of cigarette breaks. This may be one of the worst Hollywood productions of all time.

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!

Martin Onassis I'm 43 and I had fun seeing all these old A-list actors in this severely screwed-up film. I'm not sure I could say the same for my cousins in their 20s however. There are some great sets and costumes, as well as music. The film is far from a cult classic and it is pretty amateurish at parts, especially some terribly done slapstick split-screen at the start, but the general plot is interesting and twisted, the combination of actors is bizarre, and the weird plot that takes Jackie Gleason through a prison acid-trip on his way to confront an old mafia boss is often amusing. Not long after, the entire prison starts tripping, including Burgess Meredith, Peter Lawford, Slim Pickens, and Jack Lord? You really get the sense that these guys were partying as much as anyone. I cant believe a studio released money for this, although the quality of the film and the lighting at times make it clear the budget was low or a fine director like Premminger was not matched by his director of photography. It's shot like a TV show, but I'm probably seeing a 4x duped print. I bet the originals are long gone.Its a historical artifact if nothing else, and there are some truly innovative psychedelic film sequences. The film starts terribly in establishing its preposterous plot, but seems to smooth out more over time towards the end. There's a certain loose sexuality coming through from the time period 1968, and I think this movie was trying to be Candy if nothing else. It's definitely a B-movie, but with the surprising A-listers from Jackie Gleason to Frankie Avalon and Burgess Meredith, and the historic aspect, I think its as good as lots of time-wasting indie movies. At least its not gratuitously morose. Its gratuitously asinine. I'd totally own it on DVD.

wes-connors The one film for which "Jackie Gleason on Acid" serves as both a literal and figurative description...Director Otto Preminger's tasteless, insulting, offensive, embarrassing, and (most significantly) humorless exercise in 1960s psychedelic, "Skidoo" is even more notable for its tireless waste of resources. Mr. Preminger's direction aside, star Jackie Gleason (as "Tough" Tony Banks) appears as if he needs a drink. Obviously, Mr. Gleason's knack for comedy ("The Honeymooners") and drama ("The Hustler") doesn't translate into satire... The film is a colossally misdirected Acid Bomb...Despite delivering a colorless performance, Gleason is in possession of the film's highlight: it's the "acid trip" he has while in jail; in isolation, it accidentally succeeds. The later Fred Clark and Harry Nilsson "acid trip" is a runner-up; and, Mr. Nilsson's musical interludes are pleasant. Stoned-looking Groucho Marx and Frank Gorshin are painful to watch. Michael Constantine matches Gleason's level of wit. Troupers Carol Channing and Mickey Rooney give it their best shot, at least...Frankie Avalon (as Angie) should be proud, as his characterization stands out amongst such disappointing mediocrity. A star for Mr. Avalon, and a star for Nilsson. Everyone should receive light to heavy paddling, with a well-worn copy of Tom Wolfe's "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test".** Skidoo (1968) Otto Preminger ~ Jackie Gleason, Frankie Avalon, Carol Channing