The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Frank Tashlin (writer) and
Herbert Baker (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

BABY, IT'S THE GREATEST! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Gangster hires down-and-out press agent to make his blonde bimbo girlfriend a singing star.

Plot Keywords:

Star | Gangster | Talent Agent | Promotion | Marriage

Cast

Tom Ewell	...	Tom Miller
Jayne Mansfield	...	Jerri Jordan
Edmond O'Brien	...	Marty 'Fats' Murdock
Julie London	...	Herself
Ray Anthony	...	Himself
Barry Gordon	...	Barry the paperboy
Henry Jones	...	Mousie
John Emery	...	Wheeler
Juanita Moore	...	Hilda
Fats Domino	...	Himself
Herb Reed	...	Himself (as The Platters)
David Lynch	...	Himself (as The Platters)
Tony Williams	...	Himself (as The Platters)
Paul Robi	...	Himself (as The Platters)
Zola Taylor	...	Herself (as The Platters)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This was the first of two comedies that Frank Tashlin wrote and directed which starred Jayne Mansfield. Tashlin once said, "There's nothing in the world to me that's funnier than big breasts."

Goofs:

Factual errors: In Toby Miller's commentary in the 2006 DVD release of "The Girl Can't Help It", he erroneously says that Little Richard is singing the song "The Girl Can't Help It" in his appearance with his band *in the nightclub scene*. Little Richard is actually singing his hit titled "Ready Teddy" in that scene.

Quotes:

Barry the paperboy: [after Jerri Jordan walks by] If that's a girl, then I don't know what my sister is!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Rockin' Is Our Business

Uproarious Showbiz Send Up

One of the just plain funniest satires. Frank Tashlin has fun with and merrily tears apart our obsession with big boobs, celebrity, gangster films, the aburdity of Cinemascope and just about anything else in the line of fire. I avoided this film for years, thinking it would be trash. It is instead a very smart film about our love of trash. Tom Ewell is just great as the erst-while agent, literally scared for his life. Jayne Maynesfield is Jayne Maynesfield and, believe me, it is acting. Edmund O'Brien gives one of the most hilarious, over-the-top performances ever. A perfect farce performance of some one who thinks he is much better and important than he is. And the rock numbers in it are priceless. If you are fan of early real rock, see this film. The REAL rock 'n roll.