The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

A gangster hires a down-and-out press agent to make his airheaded girlfriend a singing star.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Frank Tashlin (screenplay), Herbert Baker (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmond O'Brien

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

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 (as Little Richard and his Band)
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps	...	Themselves (as Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps)
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:

singer | based on novel | psychotronic film | cult favorite | laundry drying on a clothesline | 

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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:

Westward Beach - Westward Beach Road, Malibu, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some reference sources and websites erroneously suggest that Bill Haley and the Comets appear in this film. They do not.

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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

Jerri Jordan: Pretty is just how good you apply your base.

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Alternate Versions

A black and white print of the film has also been shown on television.

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Connections

Featured in 20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years (1997)

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Soundtracks

She's Got It
(uncredited)
Written by Little Richard and John Marascalco
Performed by Little Richard and The Upsetters

User Reviews

PASSABLE COMEDY, VISUALLY OUTSTANDING MUSICAL ACTS

I saw this film when it was released in 1956. It was the first production for mainstream audiences to feature top R&B and R&R acts in color. My contemporaries were particularly delighted to see Little Richard, Fats Domino and The Platters on screen in color for the first time. I made a VHS copy from a cable TV screening, but later purchased a legal VHS release, only to find that the cable screening used a better copy, both audio and video wise.

The only complaint I have about the film is that every one of the musical acts is interrupted by dialog.

Despite that, especially for nostalgia buffs, it's still well-worth getting.