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She filed for separation from Paul Mansfield that January. She acted in one more movie for Warner Brothers—another small, but significant role opposite Edward G. Robinson in the courtroom-drama Illegal She accepted the part while working with producer Louis W. It was released two years later, when Mansfield's fame was at its peak. She was successful in this straight dramatic role, though most of her subsequent film appearances were either comedic or capitalized on her sex appeal.
Twentieth Century-Fox signed Jayne to a six-year contract on May 3, , in their New York office to mold her as a successor to the increasingly difficult Marilyn Monroe, [58] their resident blonde bombshell, who had just completed the very difficult Bus Stop at the time. Mansfield next played a dramatic role in 's The Wayward Bus , an adaptation of John Steinbeck 's novel of the same name. With this film, she attempted to move away from her "blonde bombshell" image and establish herself as a serious actress. The film enjoyed moderate box office success, and Mansfield won a Golden Globe in for New Star of the Year, beating Carroll Baker and Natalie Wood for her performance as a "wistful derelict".
It was "generally conceded to have been her best acting", according to The New York Times , in a fitful career hampered by her flamboyant image, distinctive voice "a soft-voiced coo punctuated with squeals" , voluptuous figure, and limited acting range. Fox launched their new blonde bombshell with a North American tour and a forty-day, sixteen-country tour of Europe for the studio.
She attended the premiere of the film released as Oh! Mansfield's fourth starring role in a Hollywood film was in Kiss Them for Me , for which she received prominent billing alongside Cary Grant. However, in the film itself she is little more than comic relief; Grant's character prefers a sleek, demure redhead played by fashion model Suzy Parker.
The film was described as "vapid" and "ill-advised", was a critical and box office flop, [69] and marked one of the last attempts by 20th Century-Fox to publicize Mansfield. The continuing publicity surrounding her physical appearance failed to sustain her career. In the film Mansfield sang three songs, but the studio had her voice dubbed by singer Connie Francis.
Fox released the film in the United States in ; it was Mansfield's last mainstream film success. Columbia Pictures offered her a part opposite James Stewart and Jack Lemmon in the romantic comedy Bell, Book and Candle , but she had to turn it down because she was pregnant. With decreased demand for big-breasted, blonde bombshells, and an increasing negative backlash against her excessive publicity, Mansfield became a box-office has-been by the early s, [40] but she remained a popular celebrity, continuing to attract large crowds outside the United States by way of lucrative and successful nightclub acts.
Despite the publicity and her popularity, Mansfield had no quality film roles after She was also unable to fulfill a third of her contract with Fox because of repeated pregnancies. Fox stopped viewing her as major Hollywood star material, and started loaning her out to foreign productions until the end of her contract in She was first loaned out to English studios and then to Italian studios for a series of low-budget films, many of them obscure, and some considered lost.
In , Fox cast her in two independent gangster films shot in the United Kingdom: The Challenge and Too Hot to Handle. Both films were low-budget, and their American releases were delayed. The Challenge was released in as It Takes a Thief. In the United States, censors objected to a scene in Too Hot to Handle where Mansfield, wearing silver netting with sequins painted over her nipples, appears nearly nude.
She received first billing above the title, but appeared in only a supporting role. It Happened in Athens starred Trax Colton , a handsome newcomer and an unknown Fox was trying to mold into a heartthrob. This Olympic Games-based film was shot in Greece in fall , but was not released until June It was a box office failure, and 20th Century-Fox dropped Mansfield's contract.
Starring Ray Danton as Raft, the film showcased Mansfield in a small part as a glamorous film star. Over the next few years she appeared primarily in low-budget foreign films such as Heimweh nach St. In , Tommy Noonan persuaded Mansfield to become the first mainstream American actress to appear nude in a starring role in the film Promises! Playboy published nude photographs of Mansfield on the set in the June issue, resulting in obscenity charges against Hugh Hefner in Chicago Municipal court. As a result of the film's success, Mansfield landed on the Top 10 list of box-office attractions for that year.
Soon after her success in Promises! Mansfield was chosen from many other actresses to replace the recently deceased Marilyn Monroe in Kiss Me, Stupid , a romantic comedy that would co-star Dean Martin.
She turned down the role because of her pregnancy with daughter Mariska Hargitay , and was replaced by Kim Novak. That same year, Mansfield appeared in a salacious-for-its-time, pinup book called Jayne Mansfield for President: The film required Mansfield to portray three different characters, and was her first starring, dramatic role in several years. It was released briefly in , but did not enjoy a full release until , almost a year after her death.
It was her first country and western film, and she promoted it through a day tour of major U. Before filming began, Mansfield said she would not "share any screen time with the drive-in's answer to Marilyn Monroe", meaning Van Doren. Though their characters do share one scene, Mansfield and Van Doren filmed their parts at different times; they were later edited together.
Mansfield's wardrobe relied on the shapeless styles of the s to hide her weight gain after the birth of her fifth child. In early , Mansfield filmed her last role: The opening credits list Mansfield as one of the technical advisers, along with other popular stars. It was her first major stage performance, garnering her critical attention—although not always positive—and public popularity. Her wardrobe, namely a bath-towel, caused a sensation. Both co-starred Mickey Hargitay and were well-reviewed. Her wardrobe for the shows at Tropicana and Dunes featured a gold mesh dress with sequins to cover her nipples and pubic region.
Her nightclub career became inspirations for films, documentaries, and a musical album. Mansfield strips and sings "Promise Her Anything" from the film Promises! In her later career she was busier on stage, performing and making appearances with her nightclub acts, club engagements, and performance tours. She performed in a number of variety shows including The Jack Benny Program on which she played violin , The Steve Allen Show and The Jackie Gleason Show during the mids, when the show was the second-highest-rated program in the U.
Momma and Dallas see the Ed Sullivan show! Although her acting roles were becoming marginalized, Mansfield rejected the part as it epitomized the stereotype she wished to rid herself of.
A widespread rumor that Mansfield had a breast-flashing dress mishap at the Academy Awards was found baseless by Academy researchers. As late as the mids, Mansfield remained one of the biggest television draws. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Mansfield had classical training in piano and violin. She sang in film soundtracks, on stage for her theatrical and nightclub performances, and had singles and albums released. After her death, Mansfield became an inspiration for punk-rock musicians.
In , an orchestra was recorded for the 31st Academy Awards ceremony with Jack Benny on first violin, Mansfield on violin, Dick Powell on trumpet, Robert Mitchum on woodwind, Fred Astaire on drums and Jerry Lewis as conductor; however, the performance was canceled. The album cover depicted a bouffant -coiffed Mansfield with lips pursed and breasts barely covered by a fur stole, posing between busts of Tchaikovsky and Shakespeare. The reviewer went on to remark that "Miss Mansfield is a lady with apparent charms, but reading poetry is not one of them.
In , film critic and exploitation movie expert Whitney Williams wrote of Mansfield in Variety: Mansfield was allegedly intimately involved with many men, including Claude Terrail owner of the Paris restaurant Tour d'Argent , [] Robert F.
Kennedy , [] John F. She met John F. Kennedy through his brother-in-law Peter Lawford in Palm Springs, California, in , before he had his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe, but their alleged affair did not last. She had a daughter with her first husband, public relations professional Paul Mansfield. She also had a son with her third husband, film director Matt Cimber.
At the time of their marriage, Jayne was 17 and three months pregnant; Paul was Paul Mansfield hoped the birth of their child would discourage her interest in acting.
When it did not, he agreed to move to Los Angeles in late to help further her career. Her life became easier with Paul's army allotment. After a series of marital rows around Jayne's ambitions, infidelity, and animals, they decided to dissolve the marriage. In February , Jayne filed for separate maintenance, and in August , Paul filed for custody of their daughter, Jayne Marie.
Following her 18th birthday, Jayne Marie complained that she had not received her inheritance from the Mansfield estate or heard from her father since her mother's death. Mansfield met her second husband, Mickey Hargitay, at the Latin Quarter nightclub in New York City on May 13, , where he was performing as a member of the chorus line in Mae West 's show. Universe competition in The unique glass chapel made public and press viewing of the wedding easy.
They were also popular for their personal appearances on television shows such as Bob Hope Christmas Specials. The book also contained 32 pages of black-and-white photographs from the film printed on glossy paper. In , she had a well-publicized affair with Enrico Bomba, the Italian producer and production manager of her film Panic Button. On November 23, , Mansfield's son Zoltan made news when a lion named Sammy attacked him and bit his neck while he and his mother were visiting the theme park Jungleland USA in Thousand Oaks, California.
He suffered from severe head trauma, underwent three surgeries at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California , including a six-hour brain surgery, and contracted meningitis. After their divorce, Mansfield discovered she was pregnant.
I am looking for a man for a friendly relationship and more. It was her first major stage performance, garnering her critical attention—although not always positive—and public popularity. Playboy published nude photographs of Mansfield on the set in the June issue, resulting in obscenity charges against Hugh Hefner in Chicago Municipal court. The Love Affairs of America's Presidents. The First Reality Star? Palmer, was from the largely Cornish area of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania , [9] where he was involved with the slate industry. The children, asleep in the rear seat, survived with minor injuries.
Since being an unwed mother would have endangered her career, Mansfield and Hargitay announced they were still married. Mariska Hargitay was born January 23, , after the actual divorce, but before California ruled it valid.
After her birth, Mansfield sued to get the Juarez divorce declared legal and won. The divorce was recognized in the United States on August 26, Mansfield became involved with Matt Cimber a. The couple separated on July 11, , and filed for divorce on July 20, At the time, Mansfield had degenerated into alcoholism, drunken brawls, and performing at cheap burlesque shows.
Sam's wife, Beverly Brody, filed a divorce suit naming Mansfield the "41st other woman" in Sam's life.