Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

To save his career, a writer for television advertising wants a famous actress to endorse a lipstick. In return, he has to pretend to be her new lover.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Frank Tashlin (screen story and screenplay), George Axelrod (play)

Stars:

Tony Randall, Jayne Mansfield, Betsy Drake

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tony Randall	...	Rockwell P. Hunter
Jayne Mansfield	...	Rita Marlowe
Betsy Drake	...	Jenny Wells
Joan Blondell	...	Violet
John Williams	...	Irving La Salle Jr.
Henry Jones	...	Henry Rufus
Lili Gentle	...	April Hunter
Mickey Hargitay	...	Bobo Branigansky
Georgia Carr	...	Calypso Number
Dick Whittinghill	...	T.V. Interviewer
Ann McCrea	...	Gladys
Alberto Morin	...	Frenchman
Louis Mercier	...	Frenchman

Storyline

In this spoof of the TV advertising industry, Rockwell Hunter is the low man on the totem pole at the advertising company where he works. That is, until he finds the perfect spokes model for Stay-Put lipstick, the famous actress with the oh-so-kissable lips, Rita Marlowe. Unfortunately, in exchange, Rock has to act publicly as Rita's "Loverdoll", and Rock's fiancée Jenny isn't too happy about it either.

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Plot Keywords:

advertising | publicity stunt | cosmetic | endorsement | dream girl | 

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Taglines:

Jayne throws you a curve when you ask the leading question!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is based on a 1955 play by George Axelrod, but the film story is totally different, having been rewritten by director Frank Tashlin. The play had no Rock Hunter and Rita Marlowe only had a minor role; it was a Faust story with Hollywood about George McCauley, a writer who sells his soul to a producer for success.

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Goofs

The airplane window behind Jayne Mansfield's bed is large and square shaped, but when the plane is shown landing, all the windows on it are small and round.

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Quotes

Rita Marlowe: George, how come you never tried to kiss me before?
George Schmidlap: I never could get close enough.
[turns his head to the camera and raises his eyebrows up and down]

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Crazy Credits

Tony Randall plays the 20th Century Fox fanfare when the logo appears, saying it was in his contract to do so. He then introduces the film, but forgets the title and tries to remember it. Finally, his three female co-stars appear to announce the film's correct title.

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Connections

Referenced in My Three Sons: Will Success Spoil Chip Douglas? (1964)

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Soundtracks

You Got It Made
by Bobby Troup
Performed by Georgia Carr (uncredited)
Also sung by an off-screen vocal group

User Reviews

Jayne shines

A lightweight comedy famous as Mansfield's next big film after 'The Girl Can't Help It'. This was again produced by Frank Tashlin and satirises Jayne's public persona: a busty star of little apparent talent who will do anything for publicity.

Here Jayne plays Rita Marlowe who teams with advertising exec Rock Hunter (Tony Randall) for mutual gain. The film seems wordy at times. It mixes send-ups of the Hollywood publicity machine, the climb up the corporate ladder, and the introduction of television though the anti-TV jokes seem dated.

But anyone watching will be watching for Jayne and she's great. All her too-brief scenes are funny and she plays well with Joan Blondell, who is excellent as Rita's wise companion-assistant. Other enjoyable performers in the cast are John Williams of Hitchcock's 'To Catch a Thief' and 'Dial 'M' For Murder', and Henry Jones, the supercilious coroner in 'Vertigo'.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

August 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

Filming Locations:

Stage 8, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1