The Girl Can't Help It (1956) Review

Title: The Girl Can't Help It
Year: 1956
Director: Frank Tashlin
Country: US
Language: English

Currently Netflix's Blonde (2022), a biography about Marilyn Monroe, is roused in controversy due to the exploitative nature of its content. While I love the blonde bombshell. particularly in Some Like It Hot (1959) I felt like watching another film starring an equally talented Playboy Playmate; the stunning Jayne Mansfield. Her film, The Girl Can't Help It (1956), is a remarkable window into the late 50's. 

A gangster  (Edmond O'Brien) hires a down-and-out press agent (Tom Miller) to make his airheaded girlfriend (Jayne Mansfield) a singing star.

The Girl Can't Help It is a beautiful time capsule of 1950's pop culture. It is both a critique and a celebration of the era's manic teeny bopper capitalism. The colours are as brash and bold, vibrant and pop as much as the musical acts featuring Little Richard and and the Platters. Much of the double entendre visuals, which include Mansfield holding a pair of jugs, push the envelope of what was acceptable in Cinema. 

Jayne Mansfield is presented as a huge star. Her Va-Va-Voom figure rivals Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) Only the magic of cinema could produce a woman so mesmerizing. Hired by Fox as a counterpart to Monroe; Mansfield was a once in a lifetime actress who excelled in comedic and dramatic roles. 

The Girl Can't Help It is a fun comedy that is filled with smart insight, clever visual gags and entracing writing. The music itself would be a standout in any film and, while the numbers somewhat interrupt the flow of the picture, make for good re-watch viewing.