Between the Pages

This 1956 comedy stars Tom Ewell as showbiz agent Tom Miller. He is approached by ‘Fats’ Murdock (Edmund O’Brien), a gangster who wants Miller to turn Murdock’s girlfriend, Jerri Jordan (Jayne Mansfield) into a singing star. There’s just a couple of problems – Jerri can’t sing, and she doesn’t actually want to be a star. And then there’s the growing attraction between her and Tom…

This film is basically a light-hearted comedy, with plenty of great rock ‘n’ roll music thrown in. In truth, the plot is pretty thin – it’s really just an excuse to showcase some songs from the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, The Platters and more.

I quite enjoyed it, but it’s not a film I would rush to watch again. Tom Ewell is actually more sympathetic in this role than in The Seven Year Itch, where he starred opposite Marilyn Monroe, although The Girl Can’t Help It is nowhere near as entertaining as that film, which was released just a year before this one. Jayne Mansfield is fine – and actually very funny – as Jerri Jordan, and her figure in a tight red dress that she wears in the film has to be seen to be believed! However, I found Edmund O’Brien quite irritating; he was just very shouty and over-the-top. I accept that this is a comedy and the character is supposed to be something of a stereotype, but he grated on my nerves after a (short) while.

Nonetheless, this is quite an entertaining caper, with a predicatable ending, and some great music. Worth watching once, especially for fans of the rock ‘n’ roll genre.

Year of release: 1956

Director: Frank Tashlin

Writers: Garson Kanin (book), Frank Tashlin, Herbert Baker

Main cast: Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmund O’Brien