Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) – Nostalgia Central

TV commercial writer Rockwell P. Hunter (Tony Randall) is the lowest man on the totem pole at the advertising company where he works. That changes when he finds the perfect spokesmodel for Stay-Put lipstick – the famous Hollywood siren with the oh-so-kissable lips, Rita Marlowe (Jayne Mansfield).

Unfortunately, in exchange, Rock has to publicly act as Rita’s “Loverdoll” to provoke the jealousy of her former lover, a Tarzan-like chap named Bobo (Mickey Hargitay, soon to be Mansfield’s real-life husband #2), who jilted the starlet.

Rock’s fiancée, Jenny (Betsy Drake), is not happy about the situation and walks out on him.

Jayne Mansfield has plenty of opportunities to display her ample physical assets and even the occasional opportunity to display some talent . Surprisingly, she manages the latter quite neatly.

Watch out for Groucho Marx in a brief cameo appearance.

The genuinely laugh-out-loud film was based on George Axelrod’s successful stage play, which ran for a long time on Broadway, though there is little resemblance, beyond the title and the shapely female star.

Rockwell P. Hunter
Tony Randall
Rita Marlowe
Jayne Mansfield
Jenny Wells
Betsy Drake
Violet
Joan Blondell
Irving La Salle Jr.
John Williams
Henry Rufus
Henry Jones
April Hunter
Lili Gentle
Bobo Branigansky
Mickey Hargitay
Gladys
Ann McCrea
TV Interviewer
Dick Whittinghill
Calypso Singer
Georgia Carr

Director
Frank Tashlin

Video