Longtime followers of this here blog will recall discussions of Otto Preminger's utterly gonzo 1968 movie, Skidoo, which starred (to their eternal shame) Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Peter Lawford, Carol Channing, Frankie Avalon, most of the actors who played recurring villains on Batman, George Raft and — in his final screen appearance — Groucho Marx in the role of God. I will not claim this movie is good or bad or even that it's so bad it's good. It's just very, very strange. To watch it is to have your jaw at half-mast and to wonder aloud, "What the hell were they thinking?"
Skidoo has never been released officially on home video. Bootlegs abound but the Preminger Estate, which apparently controls the rights, seems to be trying to salvage a little of Otto's reputation by denying it a formal release. It is still eligible for theatrical exhibition however, and those of you in Los Angeles will have two opportunities next month to view it in 35mm on a big screen and with a live audience that will doubtlessly replicate the best scene in The Producers. It's all part of The Mods & Rockers Film Festival which ricochets between the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood and the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. As you'll see, they're showing a lot of odd movies. Skidoo is July 14 at the Egyptian and then on July 29, it's part of a double-bill at the Aero along with The Party, starring Peter Sellers. Blake Edwards, who directed The Party, will be present for that event.
As it happens, I won't be able to attend either screening but if you do, I'd welcome a report…especially on the audience response. My thanks to Peter Avellino, Scott Lovrine and Will Harris, all of whom wrote to alert me to this rare opportunity.
Wait a minute. What's that you say? You can't believe Skidoo is as bizarre as I say? Then just watch this scene — in which Jackie Gleason takes an L.S.D. trip — and tell me that again. This'll teach you not to doubt me.
