La storia di Jayne Mansfield

Cconsidering that this is a 1980 TV movie, it's not all that bad. And since this is the ONLY movie about the life of Jayne Mansfield that was ever made, I had to rate this a "10".

Sure, a lot of Jayne's life is compressed into a short movie, and many details are either blurred or overlooked in favor of moving the plot line along. But Loni Anderson tears down the scenery in some scenes, and in other scenes Loni IS the scenery. My favorite line in the movie is "Carol Sue where's the vodka?" It's sounds like a line that might have escaped from another great movie, "Valley of the Dolls".

The costumes here are fabulous (the white gown, the pink gown, the red gown...) and the hairdo's are very accurate, right down to the over-lacquered crispness to Jayne's deep-fried and highly over-bleached tresses.

The only positive thing that can be said about Arnold Schwarzenegger portraying Mickey Hargitay is that Arnold was probably the only bodybuilder with an accent in Hollywood when they cast this movie, so who else could they get to play the part? Actually, he's not bad, if you like your actors as wooden as Popsicle sticks. (Inside joke: Jayne once had a pair of chihuahuas named Popsicle and Momsicle!)

This movie may not be Jayne Mansfield's epitaph, but it's definitely Loni Anderson's shining moment.

Jayne Mansfield created herself as a star with an undeniable sex appeal. She became part of a cultural style during a certain time period in a certain geographical region. The transformation from a human being to an icon and a public property was effectuated with a cheerful formal consistency that seems unique. This makes Jayne Mansfield interesting to me.

The movie is a success as far as the making of the public figure and its decline is concerned. The viewers meet a young, determined and optimistic woman who will do anything to get on the screen. The creation of herself as a platinum blonde bombshell, it seems to be of her own making, is presented in an interesting and convincing way. The movie shows how she gets there and how she realises that the air is very thin up there (despite a reported I.Q. of 136 she apparently didn't see that coming). How that bombshell persona sticks to her like the blonde wig that looks more and more seedy as time passes. How good parts elude her, how she becomes aware that the radius of action is small and pitiful (Another Playboy centerfold? Another run of Rock Hunter?). As cynical as it may sound, the tragic but fast and probably almost painless death comes as a relief. Furthermore, it cements the reputation of the icon. Loni Anderson would have deserved an award for her performance. She must have studied the original very carefully and gives a convincing and touching performance.

The idea to put the relation between Mansfield and her second husband Mickey Hargitay at the center of the narrative, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Hargitay telling and commenting different events in Mansfield's life from Hargitay's viewpoint in a voice-over, was not a good one (except you can accept Arnie's really heavy accent as a comic relief). At the best times of their relationship Hargitay seems to have been a loving, loyal, reliable (and patient) backup to his wife, but he apparently never had any influence on Mansfield's activities. He appears to be a „kept husband" (and that is another story). Some questions that came up while watching this movie (Why this insane fixation on Marilyn Monroe who was an entirely different person? Why this inability to see the contradiction between playing a star, accepting and exploiting Hollywood's studio system and the urge to be taken as a serious, versatile actress?) are left unanswered. In this aspect I think a chance was missed.

The locations, the set design and the wardrobe are just fine. There is a romantic scene between Jayne and Mickey in front of a big, gloomy palace hotel with a gorgeous park (looks like Northern Italy), apparently in the Catskills. Interesting place.

This is one of the best campy biopic ever made. Most are pretty bad but this takes the cake,

Loni Anderson is Loni Anderson, but like, on acid, IF she took acid. In one scene during makeup whoopie, he clearly shoves his tongue into Loni's mouth. I've never seen that, not even on reality TV.

Bonus is Ahhnuld playing Hargitay.

I saw this movie years ago in high school in my drama class. Thats when I came to know Jayne Mansfield. Like a lot of people I only was familar with the Marilyn legacy. If Loni ever became a character in a movie this was the one. The effect of this movie made me a huge Jayne Mansfield fan. If this movie ever repeats on tv its a must see! I wish I could buy it. I would give it a 10 but it has Arnold you know who in it! It could have done without him. 1-10 (9) Z.

The main characters were annoying that is because of their acting not because of who there were as it is based on true story. Arnold was actually the worst part of the movie. The mannerism were a bit contrived but since I never met Jayne in person I cannot say if she was squealing the same way. The movie shows a woman who is determined well-mannered rooted but not ruthless. Very different then Marylin and It was quite tragic loss just like Marylin's. The movie also shows the ruthlessness of the business and the senseless adoration on a level of a worship of the hollywood money-making machines. They all have the perfect relationship, one offers money, one loves the money, and a lots of it.