The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

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

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Frank Tashlin (screenplay), Herbert Baker (screenplay),

Stars:

Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmond O'Brien

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
The Platters	...	Themselves
Little Richard and His Band	...	Themselves
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps	...	Themselves
The Treniers	...	Themselves
Eddie Fontaine	...	Himself

Storyline

A down-and-out gangster hires an alcoholic press agent to make his blonde bombshell girlfriend a recording star in 6 weeks. But what is he going to do when he finds out that she has no talent? And what is going to happen when the two fall in love?

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | star | blonde bombshell | alcoholic | cult film | 

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Taglines:

Rock yourself into your happiest time with THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schlagerpiraten

Filming Locations:

Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producers wanted Elvis Presley to perform in the movie, but Tom Parker demanded too much money for Elvis to sing one song.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

"My Idea of Love"
(uncredited)
Performed by Johnny Olenn & The Jokers

User Reviews

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.