The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980)

Outstanding!

This was an EXCELLENT & true-to-life portayal of the life of Jayne Mansfield. Loni Anderson played the role better than anybody else could. March 17, 2008

Excellent TV-Movie

This is just what I wanted. The only small thing is that it is not close-captioned for the hearing-impaired. This is really worth having if you are an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan. Thanks so much. March 15, 2008

Jayne deserved much better than that...

Of all the movies made about movie-stars,this one would have to be one of the worst.
I find that the disrespect that Jayne Mansfield suffered from during her short life is showing again in this film.
The costumes that Loni wears were obviously done on the ''cheap'',and her acting abilities are just as low as anything else she has done.Incredibly,Arnold is much more credible as the ''mimbo'' Mickey Hargitay was.
The only scene that i found interesting is when Jayne learns that Marilyn has died.According to my research,she really believed that this was a chance for her to finally get the roles that she could not get when Monroe was still alive.Only problem was,Jayne was (in 1962) an has-been,with a drinking-problem,and was perceived by Hollywood as a loose-cannon,a mess,and someone that belonged in the yellow-press of the time.The only reason she continued accepting roles after 1959,was to keep up with her high overhead,and lifestyle.The Jayne Mansfield Story in his treatment and el-cheapo production values is an insult to the legacy that Miss Mansfield has left us with.If you are interested by Jayne,you would be much better off purchasing 'The Girl Can't help it' or 'Will success spoil Rock Hunter'(in her best,and biggest budget films),and to see the contrast in her career,get 'Promises,Promises'(1963),and finally 'Single Room Furnished'(1966,but released in 1968) to see what Hollywood,and all that over-exposure did to her,and her spirit.
I am not saying that The Jayne Mansfiel Story is mean-spirited,I am sure they meant well,but it is so incomplete,and cheaply-made,that it does not deserve to be called HER Story.
Jayne Mansfield deserved MUCH more than a made-for-TV movie,and we might see it ...eventually.My suggestion for the role of Jayne ? ANNA NICOLE SMITH who is basically doing the same schitck...50 years later.She would be FABULOUSSSSSSSS as Jayne,hopefully with some $$$ spent on a wardrobe deserving of Jayne (Let's not forget that in 1956,35,000$ was spent on Jayne's wardrobe in 'The Girl Can't Help It' alone.Translate this to 2006 dollars,please) June 7, 2006

THE OTHER BLONDE BOMBSHELL...

This film recounts the life of Jayne Mansfield and her transformation from a blooming Dallas high schooler to a platinum blonde bombshell who rose to prominence in the Hollywood of the 1950s. Starring Loni Anderson as Jayne and Arnold Schwartzenegger as her one time husband and true love, Mickey Hargitay, a former Mr. Universe and bodybuilder turned business man, the film is mildly entertaining. Her story unfolds through his eyes.

Hers is the sad story of an intelligent, beautiful woman who initially chose to be viewed as a dumb blonde sex object in order to jump start her career as a film star, but who would later want to be given the opportunity to be considered as a serious actress. In her heyday in the 1950s, Ms. Mansfield was the toast of the town with fans up the wazoo.

Unfortunately, that was to be somewhat short-lived. Jayne Mansfield was never able to get over her stereotypic portrayal of a bimbo, so Hollywood never gave her serious consideration as an actress. In the battle of the dumb blondes, Ms. Mansfield ran a distant second to Marilyn Monroe. This relegation to the back of the pack would always stick in Ms. Mansfield's craw.

By the time the 1960s arrived, she, instead, courted cheap publicity, drank too much, and ended up a faded, buxom has been, as well as a divorcee with three children to whom she was a devoted mother. She was now a relic from a bygone time, as tastes changed with the advent of The Beatles and a new, exciting pop culture was emerging. With Marilyn Monroe already having met her maker, Ms. Mansfield's death from a tragic car accident, at thirty six, was to herald the end of an era.

Loni Anderson does an excellent job in the starring role, imbuing the role with enough intelligence, as well as pathos, to be compelling, though somewhat predictable . Surprisingly enough, Arnold Schwartzenegger does a credible job as Mickey Hargitay, painting a sympathetic portrait of Jayne's much beleaguered, one time husband and father to her two boys. Ray Butenika, as Ms. Mansfield's long time agent, Bob, gives a good performance. All in all, the film has an excellent cast that does its best with the somewhat mediocre script and is, at least, worth a rental.

I actually remember seeing Jayne Mansfield, when I was a young girl. In those days, theatres in Manhattan, such as the RKO, would often times showcase films in which the star of the film would make a guest appearance. The theatre would literally role out the red carpet and oftentimes a band, as well as a host of majorettes (of which I was one), twirling batons in unison, would greet the star as she stepped out of her limousine, larger than life. The star would also to be met by a throng of cheering fans outside the theatre. Then, she would be whisked away to the theatre, where she would go on stage and say a few words, only to disappear as quickly as she had arrived. This practice has now been consigned to the darkest recesses of the memories of those who participated in these theatrical welcome wagons. June 5, 2006

Entertaining, sad true story of Jayne Mansfield!

I have watched this movie many times on TV, Im so happy they finally put it on DVD, the quality is excellent. The casting couldnt have been more perfect Loni Anderson as Jayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the handsome Mickey Hargitay, what a perfect couple they were. The movie starts with Jayne as a young single mother and Hollywood starlet. Her "blonde bombsell" looks, Playboy and publicity stunts become her ticket to stardom. Jayne in reality was no dumb blonde at all. Jayne lands a big part in a broadway play "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter". Then Jayne stars in several big movies, and becomes sterotype as a ditzy blonde and the studios answer to the next Marilyn Monroe, but as Marilyn, Jayne also longs for more serious roles. But she becomes trapped by the Hollywood system and the blonde over the top image she so masterfully created. Along the way she falls in love with a young handsome body builder nice guy named Mickey, who struggles to make Jayne happy. They have 3 children together and live in a beautiful pink palace. But as Jaynes career slides into mismanagement and cheaply made B- movies, she turns to comfort in a bottle and their relationship crumbles. The 1960's hippy culture has little room left for a 50's blonde tease pin up girl. Jayne ends up touring clubs with a comedy stage act just before her tragic death in a car accident on June 30th 1967 , she was 34 years old. My favorite line in the movie is when Jayne tells the press "Micky has a 53 inch chest and mine is 42 inch, our arms are short so it makes dancing very difficult" lol!! In my opinion Jayne was a great comedian, a wonderful mother, and animal lover, a lover of life, truely a lady with a big heart. If she had lived she would have still been a legend of the 50's and played Vegas! I wish she had never left Mickey, he really loved her and I believe many of the other men in her life used her. It is also stated in the Jayne bio book by her good friend May Mann, that Jayne only went to the church of Satan as a gag & publicty stunt, knowing Jayne that sounds like her lol. She was a Christain woman by all accounts. To see the best of Jaynes movies I would recommend the great comedy 1956 "The Girl Can't Help IT" and 1957 "Will Sucess Spoil Rock Hunter". And the last film "Guide to a married Man", small part but very funny. May 26, 2006

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