The Girl Can’t Help It Movie Review
Jayne Mansfield is the very definition of a bombshell. And very funny. In this movie, Tom Miller (Tom Ewell) is a talent agent. He’s not had much luck lately when he gets a call from a mobster, Fats Murdock (Edmond O’Brien). Fats wants his girlfriend Jerri Jordan (Jayne Mansfield) to make the big time so he can have a big-time girlfriend. Fats wants her to be a star, but she likes to cook and wants a family. “Don’t I look maternal?” she asks Tom while leaning over, her 40 inches almost in his face. Tom falls for Jerri of course. The Girl Can’t Help It is an enjoyable, but not great, movie, if a bit schizophrenic.
For some reason, this movie has lots of Rock ‘n’ Roll stars in it. They have nothing to do with the story, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to see Little Richard, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps, Eddie Cochran, The Platters, and a Rock ‘n’ Roll band with an accordion, all in living Technicolor. I love the over-bright film used in the 1950s.
Who is Tom Ewell and how did he get to star opposite both Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield? There are better comedians, more romantic leading men, better looking actors, but he gets these plum movies. Well he was a Broadway star, and was in the Broadway version of The Seven Year Itch. And he followed his short movie career with a long television career.
The DVD has a Biography Channel documentary on Jayne Mansfield. She had a 40-inch bust and loved attention, especially from men. She married a Mr. Universe, Mickey Hargitay. She claimed to have an IQ of 163, but scholastic evidence is lacking though she could speak five languages.
The Girl Can’t Help It, 1956. Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, Edmond O’Brien. Directed by Frank Tashlin. 99 minutes.
The photos below include the iconic shot of Jayne holding two bottles of milk.
3 Responses “The Girl Can’t Help It Movie Review”
She seems to have been completely overshadowed by Marilyn Monroe. It is strange how similar the two of them looked. No doubt another very interesting character.
.-= Joseph Condron´s last blog ..About The Cicada: Master Of Time And Numbers =-.
Great pics, gotta love jayne Mansfield
Yes, she’s great. Believe it or not, this was the first time I’d seen a Mansfield movie.