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The Girl Can't Help It

Play trailer Poster for The Girl Can't Help It 1956 1h 39m Musical Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Hefty hoodlum Marty Fats Murdock (Edmond O'Brien) employs has-been agent Tom Miller (Tom Ewell) to transform his girlfriend, Jerri Jordan (Jayne Mansfield), into a singing star because he trusts Tom not to make a pass at her. However, the more time Tom spends with the stunning blonde, the more smitten he becomes. His troubles multiply when he realizes that Jerri can't sing a note, is not in love with Murdock and wants to settle down with a nice man like himself.

Critics Reviews

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Eric Henderson Slant Magazine Criterion’s set for The Girl Can’t Help It is going to look awfully smart on the shelf next to their forthcoming release of Pink Flamingos. May 11, 2022 Full Review J. Hoberman Village Voice A veritable Parthenon of vulgarity and a supremely unfunny comedy that is pure eau de Fifty-Six. Aug 22, 2006 Full Review Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine Years before Kenneth Anger, Frank Tashlin located the decadent Babylon in Hollywood and found it not that different from the splashy Looney Tunes bonanzas he used to fashion during his salad days as an animator. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 8, 2006 Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk delightfully weird in trying to straddle multiple generations, genres, and tones Rated: 3/4 May 24, 2022 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies While aspects are certainly cartoonish, The Girl Can't Help It changed musical history as we know it and we're all the better for it. Rated: 4.5/5 May 9, 2022 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Many parodies have unsheathed their blades to skewer the world of showbiz, but this one uses a corkscrew! Rated: 4/4 Apr 23, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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S R A bizarre vehicle for Mansfield that had little plot and a lot of showcasing music. She did have her appeal though! Saw it since it was on the NYT 1000 list. SLC DVD. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review Doggyman 1 I know the goofy, surreal charm is lost on all but the fast-fading Pepsi Generation. Still, anyone interested in mid-20th century pop culture generally, and early rock n' roll in particular needs to watch The Girl Can't Help It. Enjoy it in CinemaScope and Color by Deluxe! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/14/23 Full Review CJ S It's of its time with some rampant misogyny, but if one can overlook that, the overacting and farce makes this a pretty a fun time with a cracking soundtrack. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review gregory b Jayne Mansfield is wonderful.In real life, she had a IQ of 160.Her dumb blonde personna was all an act. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The Girl Can't Help It is a corny yet loveable film about a woman who can't help but just wanting a simple life. The film has hilarious moments where you can get a laugh or so. The beautiful Jayne Mansfield puts on a wonderful and hilarious performance. The costume designs were pretty nuanced especially for Jayne Mansfield's outfits. The costumes she wore had so much symbolism. White for purity, red for desirable, navy blue for trustworthy, and yellow for joy. Overall, Jayne Mansfield is the girl who can't help it but be loveable, beautiful, and put on a good show. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review steve d Entertaining but it has been done to death with better results. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Girl Can't Help It

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Cast & Crew

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Frank Tashlin

Director

Tom Ewell

Tom Miller

Jayne Mansfield

Jerri Jordan

Edmond O'Brien

Marty "Fatso" Murdock

Julie London

Self

Henry Jones

Mousie

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The Girl Can't Help It

The Girl Can't Help It (1956) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Hefty hoodlum Marty Fats Murdock (Edmond O'Brien) employs has-been agent Tom Miller (Tom Ewell) to transform his girlfriend, Jerri Jordan (Jayne Mansfield), into a singing star because he trusts Tom not to make a pass at her. However, the more time Tom spends with the stunning blonde, the more smitten he becomes. His troubles multiply when he realizes that Jerri can't sing a note, is not in love with Murdock and wants to settle down with a nice man like himself.
Director
Frank Tashlin
Producer
Frank Tashlin
Screenwriter
Garson Kanin, Frank Tashlin, Herbert Baker
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Fox, Key Video
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Genre
Musical, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 1, 1956, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 8, 2006
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)