The Girl Can't Help It

Extremely amusing piece of hokum about press agent Ewell's attempt to make mobster O'Brien's girlfriend Mansfield a star. Great rock 'n roll performances, particularly from Chuck Berry and Eddie Cochran.

I have now decided that I'll watch any film John Waters recommends. I like the idea that Jayne Mansfield would much rather be a housewife than a famous singer. Women could only have one or the other in the 1950s. This film looks amazing.

A loving portrait of the era's music with a memorable performance from Mansfield and a few cheeky jokes.

Whether its rather progressive messages are intentional or not, they're still there & they make it a pretty darn enjoyable watch. Tom Ewell is fantastic, as is Edmond O'Brien in his gleefully over the top role played completely straight. Jayne Mansfield is the clear star of the show, though, which is only strange because she's not featured as much as those two in the grand scheme. Still, she turns in a great performance & makes good use of her singing voice. Speaking of, plenty of good music.

Lighthearted romantic comedy promoting the ideals of the time- an attractive woman who wants to get married and keep house. Memorable for its soundtrack.

Star Rating: ★★★★★

comic, but i despise the gender stereotypes too much to truly enjoy this

Mais uma pérola do Tashlin e com uma trilha sonora espetacular!

It's pretty much like Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter with all-around duller edges. Still charming, and the colors are absolutely ravishing, but the romantic plot is sort of played too straight and sentimental for what it is (Mansfield as a bombshell who loves to cook and clean? Seriously?). There are some compelling moments of off-kilter delirium (like the Julie London dream sequence), and some good early rock'n'roll performances if you're into that sort of thing (i'm not all that much).

Okay.

watched: 2013, 2022

A fun movie with sharp writing and all around strong comedic performances. I never found it outright hilarious and it goes around in circles a bit, but had a good time from start to finish.

I had no idea this was a rock 'n' roll movie. It's almost certainly the best rock 'n' roll movie, too. Jayne Mansfield is superb, Tom Ewell is surprisingly good (considering how bad he was in Seven-Year Itch) and Edmond O'Brien is hilarious. It's hard not to smile through the whole thing and it's a true visual treat, too.

Kicking off with a fourth-wall shattering intro that apes FANTASIA, THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT proves a continuous delight to watch: Frank Tashlin's endlessly inventive direction and sharp, goofily touching script (co-written with Herbert Baker) are matched by the actors: Tom Ewell is the perfect scheming nebbish, Jayne Mansfield is winning (and gorgeous), and Edmond O'Brien attacks his role as the gangster-cum-songwriter with relish. Great rock soundtrack, brilliant use of color throughout.

Relentlessly enjoyable romp loaded with terrific gags and coated in candy colors. As a celebration of rock n' roll, it can hardly be matched, with fantastic performances that vibrates with infectious electricity. Mansfield transcends her bombshell status and turns in a nuanced performance, with awesome support from the rest of the cast. The film threatens to bust out of the frame (literally!) with energy, and not a dull moment to be had. I couldn't help smiling through the whole thing.

a good collection of early rock and roll music, but plot wise it's bare and only partially interesting. the intro is hilarious, and ewell can pull out something decent every once in a while. hardly noteworthy except for it's video recordings of some of the old greats.

Mansfield provides the former cartoon director with a useful, cocktail-napkin figure of a woman; and the view of early rock-and-roll, at its sharpest, combines an almost anthropological aloofness and a xenophobic revulsion. It all goes soft during the obligatory "guest" spots for Little Richard, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, et al.

Not all *that* witty. One good line: "Don't shoot him, sign him! He's got talent!"