Jayne Mansfield, nee Vera Jayne Palmer was a versatile American movie, television, and theater actress hailed as a noted tinsel town sex symbol during her time. Apart from acting, she also excelled as a singer and nightclub entertainer and was one of the earliest models to feature as center-spread in ‘Playboy’. Her initial auditions and screenings for film roles were unsuccessful but eventually her career got off to a limping start when she debuted on small screen in an episode of the CBS series, ‘Lux Video Theater’.
Jayne landed her first big screen role in the movie, ‘Female Jungle’ in 1955. It was followed by bit parts in the films, ‘Pete Kelly’s Blues’, ‘Illegal’ and ‘Hell on Frisco Bay’. She savored success by assuming the nom-de-plume, Rita Marlowe for her appearances in the theatrical and film adaptations of ‘Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?’  Jayne starred in a string of successful movies, despite being professionally active for only 14 years (from 1954-1967).Â
Some of her best roles have been in the films, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’, ‘Too Hot to Handle’, ‘The Wayward Bus’ and ‘The Burglar’. Her career was cut short abruptly and cataclysmically when she died at the age of 34, in an accident.
The Wayward Bus is a drama film which tells the story of three strangers, a stripper, a traveling salesman and an alcoholic, who are traveling on the same bus. As the road presents several challenges, each character tries to face his/her shortcomings.
Pete Kelly, the leader of a jazz band in Kansas City Speakeasy, unexpectedly finds himself paying protection money to a local gangster Fran McCarg. He also has to accept Fran McCarg’s girl Rose Hopkins as a singer. However, when things go beyond a limit, Pete decides to stand up and take action.
A French reporter who is working on a steamy story about the secret strip joints in Soho district in London, soon gets involved in the lives of the owners.
The George Raft Story is a biographical drama film which revolves around the life of George Raft, former Hollywood film star. Before making it big in Hollywood, he got involved with the criminal underworld, and also had conflicts with a gangster boss named Frank Donatella. However, his life took a turning point after he won a role in the popular film ‘Scarface’.
Female Jungle is a crime drama mystery film, which revolves around the murder of a beautiful actress. Several people, including a neurotic detective, are suspected to be the murderer.
A businessman needs to lose half a million dollars legitimately, to solve his tax problems. Therefore, he decides to finance a film version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. His idea is to make the film so terrible that it is considered a flop. When the film is shown at the Venice Film Festival, things get complicated as it is considered a witty parody and is awarded a Golden Lion.
This romantic comedy film tells the story of two women who get drunk on a cruise ship, and shortly after, they both get pregnant. However, things get quite complicated since they don’t know who the fathers are.
Jayne Mansfield is in Italy to present a documentary about mating rituals and customs from around the world.
When Hercules is away, the king of Ecalia kills his people as well as his wife. In order to take revenge, Hercules sets off to Ecalia, but after arriving, he learns that the king is dead, and Queen Dianira is the new ruler. He soon finds himself attracted to Dianira.
A mostly-deserted island, which is believed by many to be the home to the fountain of youth, is visited by several people for a scavenger hunt. However, instead, they spend almost half of their time singing and dancing on the beach.
Hell on Frisco Bay is a crime drama film, which tells the story of a San Francisco police officer who gets out of prison, and starts looking for the mobsters who framed him for manslaughter.
Jayne Mansfield Awards
| The Girl Can't Help It | Most Promising Newcomer - Female | 1957 |
