Jayne Mansfield recreated her starmaking stage role in this film adaptation of George Axelrod's Broadway comedy. Mansfield plays a Monroe-like movie queen whom adman Tony Randall hopes to sign for a product endorsement. Through a fluke, the press believes that Randall is having an affair with Mansfield; she eagerly pounces on the attendant publicity, much to the dismay of her body-builder beau (Mickey Hargitay, then married to Mansfield). At the behest of his ad agency, Randall is forced to
propose to Mansfield on a coast-to-coast TV show, which breaks the heart of his true love (Betsy Drake). Both Randall and Mansfield are saved from a marriage neither one wants by the last-minute arrival of Mansfield's hometown boy friend (Groucho Marx). Director Frank Tashlin uses Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter as an excuse to take satirical potshots at everything from TV commercials to the unwieldiness of CinemaScope. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Tashlin had a huge stylistic impact on the New Wave. Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, his greatest film, is the template for Godard's bold use of primary colors and 'Scope in the 60s.
Frank Tashlin never could harmonize his celebratory/critical impulses toward American pop culture, so it comes as no surprise that this is both his funniest and most despairing picture.
The not inconsiderable charms of Jayne Mansfield are much to the fore, but it's Randall's performance as timid advertising executive Rockwell Hunter that holds the whole thing together.
Witty, entertaining comedy starring Tony Randall and Jayne Mansfield in the role that made her famous.
July 1, 2011
Pete Skeris
Tony Randall steals the show here, and camp queen Jayne Mansfield is a bit annoying (she's used to better effect in "The Girl Can't Help It," but this is still a classy, first class comedy.
No quotes approved yet for Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. Logged in users can submit quotes.
Submit a Quote from 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?'
A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.
Example:
Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try. Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
Top Critic
