This rock ‘n’ roll comedy starring Tom Ewell and the pneumatic Jayne Mansfield is witty, stylish, clever and (by today’s standards) extraordinarily sexist.
Tom Miller (Ewell), a small-time theatrical agent, is given the task of turning glamorous Jerri Jordan (Mansfield in her first film) into a top rock ‘n’ roll personality.
The problem is that Jerri doesn’t want to be a star, Tom is falling for her and her boyfriend, Fats Murdock (Edmond O’Brien) happens to be an ex-gangster.
Jerri marries her agent and Fats makes it as a star with a #1 hit entitled Rocking Around The Rockpile – although Murdock suggests a number of alternate titles such as No Lights On The Christmas Tree, Mother – They’re Using The Electric Chair Tonight and I’ll Get No Good Behavior Baby, If I Keep Thinking Of You.
The film features more than a dozen major music acts, including Little Richard (who wrote the title song), Eddie Cochran (singing Twenty Flight Rock), Fats Domino (Blue Monday), and Gene Vincent singing Be Bop a Lula.
But director Frank Tashlin’s viewpoint is pure acid, and only balladeer Julie London is filmed without cynicism.
The use of CinemaScope is exemplary, and the movie is a perfect 1950s piece.
But the question still remains, how did Mr Average himself, Tom Ewell, get to co-star with such bombshells as Marilyn Monroe, Sheree North and Jayne Mansfield?
Tom Miller
Tom Ewell Jerri Jordan
Jayne Mansfield Marty ‘Fats’ Murdock
Edmond O’Brien Mousie
Henry Jones Wheeler
John Emery Hilda
Juanita Moore Julie London
Julie London Fats Domino
Fats Domino The Platters
The Platters Eddie Cochran
Eddie Cochran Little Richard
Little Richard Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps The Treniers
The Treniers The Chuckles
The Chuckles
