The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

How do companies sell goods to the masses? Advertising. This profession was at its height in the 50s and 60s when ads were considered an art form and there was something special that went into the trade. A show like Mad Men captures that vibe and impact of the industry in that era. With such a prominent profession at that time, you would not be surprised to find out that advertisers were made the leads of plenty of comedies and romance films at the time. One such film arrived in theaters back in 1957, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? 

What makes this film stand out amongst so many similar films of that era? You know from the opening credits, there is something a little bit different regarding Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? The inclusion of a bunch of ads and sales people throughout the credits with this minimalist background just screams 1950s. There is plenty of energy and personality injected into this sequence and it sells the vibes of director Frank Tashlin’s film. There are plenty of other 50s visuals from all the office architecture and design. The colors are so vibrant and bring a brightness and energy to the film. Tashlin captures a perfect tone that is silly, campy, and charming. There are real human themes and aspirations, but Tashlin never forgets to keep this film spry, light, and fun. There are some fantastic sequences as well that bring some added creativity and personality to the table as well. There is a moment where our protagonist, Rockwell Hunter, gets a chance to celebrate and there are some fun and unexpected visual flairs thrown in for a little bit of spice. The film has a light and infectious vibe that is welcoming and fun.

 Does the story deliver in an interesting way? This is certainly a wild and fresh concept for a romantic comedy. You have Rockwell who is desperately trying to find the right campaign to save his job. But his meteoric rise begins when he decides to shoot his shot with a recently single movie star who accepts the offer. But she has a catch…quid pro quo. Rita Marlowe (Jayne Mansfield) needs a new beau for the cameras and after an unexpected kiss, she has her man…Rockwell Hunter. There are plenty of moving pieces along the way with Rockwell’s Marlowe obsessed niece, Rita’s aging assistant, Rockwell’s bosses and mentors at work. He even has himself a lovely woman in his life already. The story’s conflicts are relatively small and get resolved in easier means than you might expect. The tension of the drama is lesser as a result but at least the central love triangle delivers enough material to engage. We can get behind Rock as he tries to rise at work and balance all the hijinks of this journey along the way. This might be the central narrative driving forward but there are some other engaging elements including Rita’s own journey of self-discovery, another unexpected romance, and Rock’s evolving relationship with his boss.

Does the cast rise up to this high energy affair? Tony Randall is the perfect protagonist who delivers rubber-faced expressions and empathetic self-loathing that fits nicely into this silly tone. His unique presence and performance makes him a unique leading man for a romantic comedy. Mansfield is drop dead gorgeous, charming, slightly irritating, and empathetic rolled up into one fantastic leading lady. Her smile really does light up the room. The charming duo of Rock’s boss (Henry Jones) and Rita’s secretary (Joan Blandell) have their own unique and engaging chemistry together. John Williams is a fun addition as the enigmatic leader of Rock’s firm who has some surprising depth> There is even one legendary cameo at the end of the film that is incredibly exciting. 

Does Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? deliver a hilarious and charming romp? This film certainly does. There might be a lot going on for sure and it can be a bit muddled narratively, but the electric pacing and energy makes this silly romp charming enough to overcome said shortcomings. Randall makes for a fun character actor turned lead as the empathetic and kind of pathetic titular protagonist. Mansfield is a strikingly gorgeous leading lady and fits perfectly into a 50s era romance. Ads and romance and laughs. Oh my. 

Special thanks to Patrice Downing for nominating Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?