vehicle would keep the studio solvent. On the suggestion of Colonel Parker, instead of recording a new soundtrack, previously issued LP tracks were used instead to save costs; this had not been done on any of Presley's earlier films. The film was originally called Isle of Paradise. It was written by Edward Bernds and Elwood Ullman, who had written for The Three Stooges and the Bowery Boys. Presley was paid $600,000 plus $150,000 in expenses and was allocated 50% of the profits. The below-the-line costs were estimated at $399,750; it went $6,650 over budget and finished at $406,400. This made Tickle Me the cheapest of Presley's films to date. Although produced by Allied Artists, the film was actually made at Paramount Pictures Studios, which Allied hired for the duration of the shoot. It was shot over 23 days in October–November 1964, plus two days of second-unit photography. Reception Howard Thompson of The New York Times called the film "the silliest, feeblest and dullest vehicle for the Memphis Wonder in a long time. And both Elvis and his sponsors, the time Allied Artists, should know better." Variety noted that the screenplay was "wispy thin" but allowed Presley to "rock over nine numbers from past albums to good effect." Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the film had "lousy color, cheap sets, hunks of stock footage, painted scenery and unconvincing process work. But who's to quibble when the movie is so much fun?" The Monthly Film Bulletin called it an "Exceptionally routine Presley vehicle" with "uninspired songs." The film was popular at the box office, making over $3 million in the US and $5 million worldwide. It became the third highest-grossing film in the history of Allied Artists and saved the studio from bankruptcy. Soundtrack Awards Presley won a 1966 Golden Laurel Award for best male performance in a musical film. This was the only acting award that he received during his film career. Home media The film was first released in the VHS format in the early 1980s in a limited version from Allied Artists Home Video. The film was released on videocassette by Key Video in February 1985 as part of the release of 11 videos to mark the 50th anniversary of Presley's birth. It was issued again by CBS/Fox Video in 1987 and 1992, and by Warner Home Video in 1997. In 2007, Tickle Me was