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Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

By Patrick Samuel • May 22nd, 2011
Static Mass Rating: 3/5
WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER? (Blu-ray)
Eureka 

Release date: October 25th 2010
Certificate (UK): U
Running time: 92 minutes

Year of production: 1957

Director: Frank Tashlin

Cast: Tony Randall, Jayne Mansfield, Betsy Drake, Joan Blondell, Mickey Hargitay, Groucho Marx

In the fickle world of advertising where today’s trends were last week’s slogans, Rockwell Hunter (Tony Randall) is desperate to move himself up the company ladder before they throw him out the door.

He’s so desperate that he’ll just about do anything to secure movie star Rita Marlowe (Jayne Mansfield) as the face of his Stay-Put lipstick campaign.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

In return, Rita wants a small favour. Rock has to pose as her latest lover in a bid to make her real boyfriend, Bobo Branigansky (Mickey Hargitay), the star of a TV Tarzan show, jealous. What they don’t plan on is Bobo leaking the story of Rita’s new love to the press and soon Rock has all eyes on him and is able to make a killing with his campaign.

The only problem is Rock’s fiancee Jenny (Betsy Drake) who’s unhappy about the whole arrangement and even more so when she sees him proposing to Rita live on television!

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? is the perfect pairing for Tony Randall and Jayne Mansfield. As Randall continuously finds himself in sticky situations, Mansfield never loses her cool, in fact, she always manages to look hot; whether she’s in a bubble bath reading Grace Metalious’ Peyton Place, having a massage or relaxing in bed, there’s never an opportunity missed to show off those curves or get her to coo like a little bird.

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?

Based on the stage play by George Axelrod, which also starred Mansfield, this light farce struggles to keep moving at times. Watching Randall squirming starts to wear a little thin, but overall it’s an enjoyable film that pokes fun at the world of show business, especially with Mansfield playing a parody of Hollywood’s hottest item and the real deal, Marylyn Monroe.

SPECIAL FEATURES: 

  • Video introduction by Joe Dante
  • Vintage Movietone short
  • Alternate music & effects track
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Optional English SDH subtitles
  • 44-page booklet

Eureka’s Blu-ray release restores much of the film’s colour and flesh tones as a result look very warm and natural. There’s a fair amount of grain as you would expect in such a transfer but overall it looks very good.

As for special features, you’ll find a short piece with director Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Burbs and Inner Space) talking about Frank Tashlin. The Vintage Movietone short is really short, just 1 minute long and it shows Mansfield on a bus tour to promote the film. I wish there had been more, but the 44 page booklet is a nice supplement with two new essays by film writer David Cairns, and an with Tony Randall.

Patrick Samuel

Patrick Samuel

The founder of Static Mass Emporium and one of its Editors in Chief is an emerging artist with a philosophy degree, working primarily with pastels and graphite pencils, but he also enjoys experimenting with water colours, acrylics, glass and oil paints.

Being on the autistic spectrum with Asperger’s Syndrome, he is stimulated by bold, contrasting colours, intricate details, multiple textures, and varying shades of light and dark. Patrick's work extends to sound and video, and when not drawing or painting, he can be found working on projects he shares online with his followers.

Patrick returned to drawing and painting after a prolonged break in December 2016 as part of his daily art therapy, and is now making the transition to being a full-time artist. As a spokesperson for autism awareness, he also gives talks and presentations on the benefits of creative therapy.

Static Mass is where he lives his passion for film and writing about it. A fan of film classics, documentaries and science fiction, Patrick prefers films with an impeccable way of storytelling that reflect on the human condition.

Patrick Samuel ¦ Asperger Artist

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