Pawsome Pet Pictures: Jayne Mansfield

In keeping with the theme of Battle of the Blondes this month...

here is Jayne again with some more of her lovable pets

"Battle Of The Blondes": Marilyn Monroe VS Jayne Mansfield.

This month TCM, is Spotlighting a feature they call, "Battle of the Blondes". First in the ring is: Marilyn Monroe VS Jayne Mansfield:

Marilyn Monroe(June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962). Her performances in the films, The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950), launched her acting career. By 1953, Monroe had moved on to leading roles in the films, Niagara (1953)and Some Like It Hot (1959).



Niagara(1953)

 Please click here to read movie review for the film, Niagara(1953).

Some Like It Hot (1958)

Please click here to read movie review for the film, Some Like it Hot (1959)

Jayne Mansfield (April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967), was one of the leading blonde sex symbols of the 1950s, Mansfield starred in many films that showcased her platinum-blonde hair, hourglass figure and she could also play the violin.

While Mansfield's film career was short-lived, she had several box office successes and won the Theatre World Award, a Golden Globe and a Golden Laurel.

Mansfield, maybe best known for her comedy films: The Girl Can't Help It (1956) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957). As the demand for blonde bombshells began to fade in 1960s, Mansfield remained a popular celebrity.

The Girl Can't Help It (1956).

The Girl Can't Help It(1956). Comedy/musical, starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, and Edmond O'Brien. It was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin.

The music score, a song performed by Little Richard, was by Bobby Troup, with an additional credit to Ray Anthony for the tune "Big Band Boogie".

Down on his luck gangster Marty Murdock, wants his girlfriend, Jerri Jordan, to become a famous singing star. He hires press agent, Tom Miller to take Jordan, around to the most popular night clubs. It does not take long before Jordan, is offered many contracts. Unfortunately, all Jordan, really wants to be a wife and mother. Because, her singing is so bad Murdock, suggests that Jordan would be perfect for the part of a train whistle in his new song. Miller, records Jordan performing the song and he travels to Chicago to promote it to Wheeler, a mob rival of Murdock.

Suspicious, of Miller's reasons of promoting Jordan, Murdock has Mousie, listen to their phone call. Mousie, decides to tell Murdoch, that their relationship is strictly business, but.. is it?

Fun Fact:

When the film reached Liverpool, England in the early summer of 1957. It featured cameo performances of early rock 'n' roll stars: Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent and His Bluecaps. Which impressed a 16-year-old John Lennon and he was then inspired to follow his own rock and roll dreams. On July 6, 1957, 15-year-old Paul McCartney, was introduced to Lennon, after he had performed at a village church garden party with his group, The Quarrymen. McCartney, performed the song, "Twenty Flight Rock", for Lennon, the way he had seen it played by Eddie Cochran in the film, The Girl Can't Help It. McCartney, also talks about this movie in the documentary series, The Beatles Anthology.



What fun it is to watch... Little Richard, Gene Vincent, The Platters and Fats Domino perform their songs in 1956. Jayne Mansfied, is at her sexiest, wittiest best? Also, check out the cars.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

Please click here to read movie review for the film, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?(1957).

Jayne Mansfield, was often referred to as the “poor man’s Marilyn Monroe” although she did not have the same level of onscreen presence as Monroe did.  Rivals, from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, both were underestimated and both died very young.

Monroe and Mansfield.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957).

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957). Cast:Jayne Mansfield, Tony Randall, Betsy Drake, Joan Blondell, John Williams, Henry Jones, Lili Gentle, Mickey Hargitay, and a cameo by Groucho Marx. It was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, who also wrote the original screenplay. The Broadway play ran from 1955–1956 and also starred Jayne Mansfield as Rita.

The film has many references to several of Jayne Mansfield's other roles: The Girl Can't Help It, Kiss Them for Me, and The Wayward Bus. The book Mansfield reads in the bathtub scene is, Peyton Place by Grace Metalious, which became a movie and a popular TV series, that is one of the first prime time soap operas.

The story begins when, a advertising agency is about to lose a very important account, Stay Put Lipstick. Rock comes up with the idea to get the most famous actress with the "oh so kissable lips", Rita Marlowe. But... to get Rita to endorse the lipstick, Rock has to pretend to be her new boyfriend to make her real boyfriend, Bobo Branigansky , the star of a TV Tarzan show, jealous. Bobo leaks the news of Rita's new romance to the tabloids and Rock Hunter, now becomes known as Marlowe's, "Lover Doll".

It does not take long before Marlowe, thinks she is falling in love with Hunter, but.. her true love is, George Schmidlap. Not being able to find Schmidlap, she goes after Hunter, even though her Secretary Vi, warns her that she is playing a dangerous game.

After Rock, becomes the company president, he quickly finds it is not what he really wants and goes back to his fiancee.

As Rita Marlowe opens her television spot for Stay Put Lipstick, she is surprised by the shows "surprise" guest star, George Schmidlap. Hunter, now free decides to become a chicken farmer, living happily ever after.

Tony Randall, was wonderful playing the everyman. Mansfield, is hilarious with her little high-pitched squeal, it's very cute and always funny. The supporting cast is also wonderful, especially Joan Blondell, who.. I absolutely love.

Fun Facts:

The name of Jayne Mansfield's character, "Rita Marlowe", is a combination of  Rita Hayworth, Jean Harlow, and Marilyn Monroe.

Rita Marlowe's screen credits - "The Girl Can't Help It", "Kiss Them For Me" and "The Wayward Bus" - have the same titles as three of Jayne Mansfield's films - The Girl Can't Help It, Kiss Them for Me and The Wayward Bus.

Rita's poodle is named "Shamroy," a reference to long-time Fox cinematographer Leon Shamroy - who, ironically, did NOT photograph this picture!

Adapted from a Broadway play that also starred Jayne Mansfield. "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" opened on Oct. 13, 1955 at the Belasco Theatre in New York and ran for 444 performances. The original Broadway cast included Orson Bean, Walter Matthau and Jayne Mansfield. Tina Louise and Tom Poston were replacement cast members.

Mamie Van Doren turned down the role of Rita Marlowe.

Jayne Mansfield (April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) . One of the leading blond sex symbols of the 1950s, Mansfield starred in several popular Hollywood films that emphasized her platinum-blond hair and figure.

While Mansfield's film career was short-lived, she had several box office successes. She won the Theatre World Award, a Golden Globe and a Golden Laurel. She's well-known for her starring roles in, The Girl Can't Help It (1956) and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957).

As the demand for blond bombshells declined in the 1960s, Mansfield performed in low-budget film dramas and comedies, but remained a popular celebrity. She is best known for the romantic-comedy, Promises! Promises!(1963), in which she appeared nude.

In her later career she continued to attract large crowds in foreign countries and in nightclubs. Mansfield had been a Playboy Playmate of the Month and appeared in the magazine several times.

Happy Birthday: Jayne Mansfield!

Jayne Mansfield (April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967). In 1950, Vera Jayne Palmer married Paul Mansfield, becoming Jayne Mansfield and the couple moved to Austin, Texas. Where she studied dramatics at the University of Dallas and the University of Texas at Austin. Her acting career were temporarily put on hold when she gave birth to her first child, Jayne Marie Mansfield, on November 8, 1950, Mansfield was 17 at he time. After the birth of her baby the family spent a year at Camp Gordon, Georgia, while Paul Mansfield served in the United States Army. Her husband, Paul Mansfield, hoped the birth of their child would change her mind about acting. In 1954, they moved to Los Angeles and she studied dramatics at UCLA. Working as a candy vendor at a movie theatre, she attended UCLA during the summer, and then went back to Texas for the fall quarter at Southern Methodist University. She posed nude for the February 1955 issue of Playboy, which helped launch Mansfield's career.

Mansfield's first movie role was as a dancer in the film, Hell on Frisco Bay, a drama starring Alan Ladd and Fay Wray. Her next film role was as a extra in the newest Jane Russell film, Underwater!. She then played Candy Price, a supporting role in, The Female Jungle. In early 1955, Jayne was noticed by Warner Brothers and signed to a six month contract. She was signed by the studio after one of its talent scouts discovered her in a production at the, Pasadena Playhouse. Mansfield was then given a bit part in, Pete Kelly's Blues, which starred Jack Webb. In 1955, Paul Wendkos offered her the role in, The Burglar. She made one more movie  as Angel O'Hara, with Edward G. Robinson in the film, Illegal.

In 1955, she performed on Broadway then returning to Hollywood on May 3, 1956 she signed a six-year contract with 20th Century Fox and was then given her first role as Jerri Jordan in the film, The Girl Can't Help It (1956).



Jayne then went on to play a dramatic role in the film, The Wayward Bus (1957). In this film, she wanted to establish herself as a serious actress. She won a Golden Globe in 1957 for New Star Of The Year Actress, beating Carroll Baker and Natalie Wood, for her performance in the fim, The Wayward. Mansfield reprised her role of Rita Marlowe in the movie, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?(1957).

Mansfield's fourth starring role was in the film, Kiss Them for Me (1957) with Cary Grant. Kiss Them for Me, was to be her final starring role in film.



Mansfield was offered a part opposite Jack Lemmon in the film, Bell, Book and Candle, but had to turn it down due to pregnancy. Next, Fox gave her the lead role as Kate opposite Kenneth More in the western, The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw(1958). Despite the publicity and her public popularity, good film roles dried up for Mansfield after 1959.

Fun Facts:

Had five children.

Turned down the role of Ginger Grant in "Gilligan's Island" (1964).

Spoke five languages.

Was a classically trained pianist and violinist.

Claimed to have an IQ of 163, though she didn't have exceptional grades in school.

Her character in the film The George Raft Story (1961) is based on 1940s Betty Grable.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Jayne Mansfield