The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Frank Tashlin (writer) and
Herbert Baker (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Cult Favorite | Talent Agent | Singer | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Tom Ewell	...	Tom Miller
Jayne Mansfield	...	Jerri Jordan
Edmond O'Brien	...	Marty (Fatso) 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:

Referenced in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Be Bop A Lula

Ultimate look at classic rock in a spoofy, campy funny musical

Wanna see when Little Richard(She's Got It-Ready-Teddy & Girl Can't Help It), Gene Vincent(BeBop A Lula),The Platters(You'll Never Know), and Fats Domino(Blue Monday)perform their hits live as the actually sang them in 1956? Wanna see campy Jayne Mansfied at her sexiest, wittiest best? Paradoies, sight gags and clever writing make the rocker musical an even better comedy, which has stood the test of time. Jayne bubbles over, while Tom(Ewell) bubbles under and somehow in the end they both bubble up to the surface and find happiness, kids.......... If this isn't enough Calander Girl Julie London does a sultry. teasing version of her hit Cry Me A River that will drive any man to drink. Check the cars out, I once owned one of those. See this movie twice to fully appreciate the music and catch all the gags, clever lines and parodies.