Little Richard: The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

THE SONG:

"The Girl Can't Help It" is the title song to the film The Girl Can't Help It, with words and music by songwriter Bobby Troup. It was performed by Little Richard and was released in December 1956 (see 1956 in music). In the US, the song peaked at #49 on the Billboard Top 100 singles chart and #7 on the R&B Best Sellers Chart.

Overseas, "The Girl Can't Help It" peaked at #9 in the UK. It was included on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #413. Originally, Fats Domino was lined up to record the track, which was not written as a rock song.

THE MOVIE:

The Girl Can't Help It is a 1956 musical comedy starring Jayne Mansfield in the titular role, Tom Ewell, Edmond O'Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London.

The picture was produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, with a screenplay adapted by Tashlin and Herbert Baker from an uncredited 1955 novel, Do Re Mi by Garson Kanin.
Filmed in DeLuxe Color, the production was originally intended as a vehicle for the American sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, with a satirical subplot involving teenagers and rock 'n' roll music.

The unintended result has been called the "most potent" celebration of rock music ever captured on film.

[stevengallanter]

Perhaps Little Richard's finest moment. Jayne Mansfield is sometimes dismissed as a Marilyn Monroe wannabe but her very evident kindness to the young boy and her knowing grin walking doen the street shows that Ms. Mansfield was much more.

[goteamdefense]

I can’t believe Bobby Troup wrote this.

[nicholaskelly]

Without Any Doubt The Most Sexually Charged stroll along the sidewalk and up a flight of stairs in Cinema history!
Miss Jayne Mansfield is unbelievable in her navy blue suit and matching hat.
Everyone involved in 'The Girl Can't Help It' Did their very best to Stick Two Fingers up to the Hayes Code!
Doing A Excellent Job. Just look at the various antics involving "Milk Bottles" and the Wet Ice Man!
Also it should never be forgotten that Miss Mansfield had a truly stellar IQ. Being Far From a mere "Blond Bimbo"!
But for the viscous sexism that prevailed in 1950's America she could have been so very much more.
(It is often overlooked that institutions like Harvard enrolled black male students decades before they allowed any sort of women enter their hallowed halls)
Also when you watch Mariska Hargitay you realise what her mother could have been if only she had been allowed to.