The inimitable writer-director Frank Tashlin once more aims his satiric barbs at modern culture (modern 1950s culture, that is) in The Girl Can't Help It. Much of the film is dominated by Edmond O'Brien as mob boss Murdock, who while serving a term in federal prison becomes a singing sensation with his hit tune Rock Around the .. Read more
| Starring | Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmund O'Brien, Ray Anthony |
|---|---|
| Director | Frank Tashlin |
| Genres | Comedy |
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The inimitable writer-director Frank Tashlin once more aims his satiric barbs at modern culture (modern 1950s culture, that is) in The Girl Can't Help It. Much of the film is dominated by Edmond O'Brien as mob boss Murdock, who while serving a term in federal prison becomes a singing sensation with his hit tune Rock Around the Rock Pile. Once he's sprung, Murdock hires impoverished agent Tom Miller (Tom Ewell), not to promote his own career, but to turn his curvaceous lady friend Jerri Jordan (Jayne Mansfield) into a star. Alas, Jerri has no singing or acting talent whatsoever, a fact that she's eager and willing to admit. A domestic type at heart, all Jerri really wants out of life is to marry Murdock, so that she can clean his house, cook his meals and raise his children. When Murdock refuses to grant her wishes, Jerri falls in love with Tom instead. Every so often, director Tashlin takes time out from the plot to poke fun at such technical marvels as CinemaScope and Technicolor, and to lampoon the American male's fixation on female bosoms and bottoms (at one point, Jayne Mansfield leans towards the camera, her cleavage exposed as far as the censors will allow, and plaintively asks Tom Ewell if he believes that she's equipped for motherhood). While much of the humor in the film is dated, The Girl Can't Help It is an invaluable record of the pop-music scene of the 1950s, featuring such guest artists as Julie London (playing Tom Ewell's dream girl), Ray Anthony, Fats Domino, The Platters, Little Richard and his Band, Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps, the Treniers, Eddie Fontaine, Abbey Lincoln and Eddie Cochran.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmund O'Brien, Ray Anthony, Henry Jones, Julie London, Barry Gordon |
|---|---|
| Director | Frank Tashlin |
| Studio | SECOND SIGHT FILMS LTD. |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 33 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1956 To Rent: DVD: 06 Sep 2004 |
Scatty, garish pop scene spoof with a plot borrowed from Born Yesterday and a lot of jokes about its new star's superstructure. Some scenes are funny, and it puts the first rock and roll stars in pickle for all time.
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One of the best Rock Films ever
Completely misses the whole point of Rock and Roll, but it has Little Richard screaming, Gene Vincent looking scary, Julie London looking and sounding fantastic... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
[Highly rated reviewer]
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Early Daze of Rock
I first saw this as a very young lad when it first came out and despite the pneumatic charms of Jayne Mansfield, it was the music that knocked me out - and it ... read more »
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The girl can't help it but others might've
Editing has removed from this film the best part: an opening sequence I still remember after 50 years or so - in which a spotlight drops with a drum-roll on one... read more »
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Good rock and roll
The film is a bit boring, but the music is great. Good light entertainment. If you like the music watch this film.
The producers of Factory Girl, which opens in cinemas this Friday, did one smart thing. They found a genuine twenty-first century It Girl (Sienna 'Drugs are f*** loads of fun' Miller) to play a 1960s variety (Edie 'Sex and speed. Wow' Sedgwick). But what is 'It', and who else has got 'It'? Sienna herself is not much help ('I've never understood the definition,' she told a USA Today reporter recently.) But then neither was Clara Bow, the original It Girl back in 1927, who also claimed not to... Read more
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