''The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield'' is a 1968 mondo

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

chronicling the travels of actress

Jayne Mansfield Jayne Mansfield (born Vera Jayne Palmer; April 19, 1933 – June 29, 1967) was an American actress, ''Playboy'' Playmate, and sex symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was known for her numerous publicity stunts and open personal life. He ...

. It was directed by Charles W. Broun, Jr., Joel Holt and Arthur Knight.

Synopsis

''The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield'' began production in 1964 and continued shooting sporadically through 1967 as the budget was limited. The film consists of Mansfield visiting various locations throughout Europe and the United States. The European footage, shot in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, features Mansfield observing Italian roadside

prostitutes Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-p ...

, running from the

paparazzi Paparazzi (singular form paparazzo) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people, such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities who go about their daily life routines. Paparazzi are known f ...

and attending the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

. She is also filmed visiting "unusual" European locations such as a French

naturist community A naturist resort or nudist resort is an establishment that provides accommodation (or at least camping space) and other amenities for guests in a context where they are invited to practice naturism – that is, a lifestyle of non-sexual socia ...

strip club A strip club (also known as a strip joint, striptease bar, peeler bar, gentlemen's club, among others) is a venue where strippers provide adult entertainment, predominantly in the form of striptease and other erotic dances including lap dances. St ...

s, a

gay bar A gay bar is a Bar (establishment), drinking establishment that caters to an exclusively or predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ+) clientele; the term ''gay'' is used as a broadly inclusive concept for LGBTQ+ communi ...

and a

massage parlor A massage parlor (American English), or massage parlour (Canadian/British English), or massage salon is a place where massage services are provided. Some massage parlors are front organizations for prostitution and the term "massage parlor" has ...

. The footage shot in the United States features Mansfield judging a

transvestite Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes traditionally or stereotypically associated with a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and express onesel ...

beauty pageant in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

along with footage of dancers at a

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

topless bar. Musical performances by the all-girl topless band The Ladybirds( es) and Rocky Roberts & The Airedales (to which Mansfield does the Twist) are also included. Rounding out the film are clips of Mansfield's nude scenes from the 1963 sex comedy ''

Promises! Promises! ''Promises! Promises!'' is a 1963 American sex comedy film directed by King Donovan and starring Tommy Noonan (who also served as cowriter and coproducer) and Jayne Mansfield. Released at the end of the Production Code era and before the MPAA ...

'', the 1964 Italian film ''Primitive Love'', and shots of her ''

Playboy ''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...

'' magazine pictorial. Production ceased after Mansfield died in a car accident in June 1967. Upon her death, the film's producers added news footage about her death and photographs from the scene of her fatal car accident. The film concludes with a tour of Mansfield's Los Angeles home, the Pink Palace, given by her ex-husband

Mickey Hargitay Miklós Károly "Mickey" Hargitay (January 6, 1926 – September 14, 2006) was a Hungarian-American actor and bodybuilder. Born in Budapest, Hargitay moved to the United States in 1947 and eventually became an American citizen. He was married ...

and a video tribute.

Production notes

Working titles for the film include ''Jayne Mansfield Reports'', ''Mansfield Reports Europe'' and ''Mansfield By Night''. As the film was edited and released after Mansfield's death, actress

Carolyn De Fonseca Carolyn De Fonseca (25 May 1929 – May 2009) was an American actress based in Rome. She worked extensively as a voice actress for the English-language dubbing of several hundred foreign (mostly Italian) films from the early 1960s and onwards. She ...

(who was Mansfield's official voice dubber for European productions) was hired to mimic Mansfield's voice for the narration. Distributed by Blue Ribbons Pictures, ''The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield'' premiered on April 18, 1968 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was released with an

X rating An X rating is a film rating that indicates that the film contains content that is considered to be suitable only for adults. Films with an X rating may have scenes of graphic violence or explicit sexual acts that may be disturbing or offensive ...

("for adults only") due to its adult content and nudity.

Home media

In September 2003,

Something Weird Video Something Weird Video is an American film distributor company based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation B to Z films, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman and Herschell Gordon Lewis. ...

released ''The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield'' along with another mondo film, ''The Labyrinth Of Sex'', on Region 1 DVD.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wild Wild World of Jane Mansfield 1968 films 1968 documentary films American documentary films Documentary films about actors Films shot in Los Angeles Films shot in Paris Films shot in Rome French documentary films German documentary films Mondo films West German films Jayne Mansfield 1960s English-language films 1960s American films 1960s French films 1960s German films English-language French films English-language German films English-language documentary films

Synopsis

Production notes

Home media

See also

References

External links