Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 8, 2021

"The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the disc include remastered trailer for the film; video interview with Blanche Barton; and the documentary film "The Wild, Weird, Wonderful Italians". In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

This is life. Embrace it, or step aside.

Have you seen any of the restored Cinerama films that are part of Flicker Alley’s catalog? What makes these films attractive? The most obvious answer is the correct one -- the unique nature of their visuals. They were shot with multiple specific cameras whose content was then projected on a massive screen with three strategically curved panels. In the 1950s, and a few of the decades that followed, Cinerama films provided the ultimate immersive experience. (As good as they look, however, the restorations that were completed for Flicker Alley’s releases actually do not reveal the native strength of the Cinerama visuals. In an ideal world, they would have much higher resolution and entirely different ranges of colors, which even 4K Blu-ray could struggle to accommodate). But there is something else that makes the Cinerama films attractive as well. The majority of them are fascinating travelogues that visit exotic or famous areas of the world and ‘see’ them from a very particular, and often rather unexpected, angle. As a result, you can learn quite a lot from them even if you have already been to some of these areas.

Believe it or not, even though The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield isn’t a Cinerama film, it is exactly the same kind of fascinating and illuminating travelogue. It gathers content shot by three different directors -- Joel Holt, Arthur Knight, and Charles W. Broun Jr. -- who followed Mansfield while in 1964 she roamed the streets of Rome, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. She was doing a lot of the same exploratory sightseeing the Cinerama films did, but while mixing business with pleasure. For example, early into the film, after a quick visit to the Colosseum, Mansfield, who does virtually all of the narration, explains that while the gladiator games were simply barbarous entertainment on a grand scale, the orgies that happened after them were actually incredibly exciting and even beneficial. They were like therapeutic sessions for the Romans, Mansfield clarifies, because it is where they released the negative energy and emotions that had brought them to the games. While marveling the famous Via Veneto, Mansfield then spends some time explaining the purpose of the old Italian tradition of booty-pinching, which Italian men were fond of and she was happy to experience. In Paris, Mansfield is seen visiting the Eiffel Tower and an aging dermatologist who works with sun lamps to make the skin of stars like her glow before the camera. She also gets a taste of the famous Parisian night life at the notorious striptease club Le Sexy, as well as a private lesson in exotic dancing to see how Sophia Loren might have prepared for her famous seduction scene in Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. In New York City, Mansfield then spends some time at a not so legal beauty contest for lady boys whose wild outfits leave a lasting impression on her. And in Hollywood, she visits a couple of other skin clubs before proudly confessing that her big breats are in fact her greatest asset.

The final ten or so minutes of the film are still illuminating but in a very different way. They produce raw archival footage that was taken after Mansfield’s tragic death -- she died in an awful car accident at the age of 33 -- and a few unusually candid observations about her image as “one of the most publicized, most photographed sex symbols the world has ever known”. A calm male voice also clarifies that Mansfield was known as “the symbol of the dumb blonde” but few people knew that she had a degree from University of Texas and IQ of 163, which at the time was among the top 5% in the nation. A few trims from private home videos then complete her profile while insisting that she was a great mother and wife of the kind Hollywood rarely, if ever, sees.

If the above summation of The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield reads like a disjointed description of an oddly surreal vintage documentary with a sad finale it is because this film really is a mish-mash of ideas that starts at one place and while constantly adjusting its identity eventually arrives at a completely different place. It is very, very strange, but it is also a tremendous time capsule that rather successfully captures the zeitgeist of an era whose appreciation of freedom seems almost impossible to rationalize now. For that alone, it truly is an unmissable film.

*Also included as a bonus feature on this release is The Wild, Weird, Wonderful Italians, an equally strange and illuminating documentary produced by Pasquale Prunas in 1963. It focuses on such classic Italian ‘obsessions’ as football (soccer), sex, religion, and food.

The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

This release was produced in cooperation with Something Weird Video, which supplied a 35mm print that was used to produce a new 4K master. Official credits that are included with the release state that the 35mm is the only one Something Weird Video had in its vaults, but I am unsure if it is the best surviving element for the film.

Obviously, the technical presentation isn't optimal. (This is the exact reason why an SD transfer of the film is included as a bonus feature as well). There are different density and clarity fluctuations, plus numerous shifts in terms of delineation and depth that cannot be linked to the original cinematography. The color scheme also lacks proper color values. Plenty of scratches, marks, and spots can be seen as well. So, there are different types of notable source limitations. However, as presented here the film still has plenty of decent and even good organic qualities. How so? Well, the entire film has a dated theatrical appearance of the type that you would get from an aged 35mm print. Given that a lot of the footage has a documentary quality, I was not at all bothered by the different types of fluctuations and age-related imperfections. The less than optimal color scheme is really where the presentation suffers the most because a few quick looks at the SD transfer immediately make it painfully obvious that this film is supposed to be very beautiful, with plenty of lush colors that compliment its wild footage. But if the 35mm print truly is the only element that could be used, then I am afraid that the 4K master really does pull out everything it can from it. To sum it all up, the technical presentation is rough, but the entire film still has fine aged organic qualities and looks like film. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless can be a bit uneven at times because the film incorporates quite a lot of raw organic footage, but clarity is very good. Some minor pops and light buzz remain, but there are no distortions, dropouts, or other similar distracting anomalies. The narration is very easy to follow. So, the bottom line is this: there is some room for cosmetic improvements, but the lossless audio makes it very easy to enjoy the film.

The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Standard Definition Presentation - Severin Films offer a standard definition presentation of The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield which was previously used for the DVD release of the film. What is the value of this presentation? You get a general ideal of how vibrant and beautiful the film should look with proper color values. In English, not subtitled. (90 min, 480/60i).

• The Devil + Jayne - in this video interview, Blanche Barton discusses Jayne Mansfield's flirtations with prominent satanist Anton La Vey and how she used them to advance her career. Also, there are some very interesting comments about the star's abusive relationship with her attorney, Sam Brody. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• The Wild, Weird, Wonderful Italians - this equally strange and illuminating documentary was produced by Pasquale Prunas in 1963. It focuses on such classic Italian 'obsessions' as football (soccer), sex, religion, and food. It features a soundtrack by Pasquale Prunas (Padre Padrone). In English, not subtitled. (77 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield. Remastered. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I have always had a spot in my library for The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield because I think that it is a tremendous time capsule. It sees life in four of the greatest cities in the West from such an unusual angle that I don't know how it can be disliked. Yes, its notorious star often fills up the screen, but examine what happens around her and you should quickly realize that there is some true gold in it. I honestly think that it is a total waste of time to pay attention to folks who have argued in the past that The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield is one of the worst films ever made because obviously they can't even begin to detect the illuminating sense of freedom that defines it. Severin's release is sourced from a rough but pleasing 4K master. It also features the equally unusual and very entertaining documentary The Wild, Weird, Wonderful Italians. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (If you enjoy The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield, research some of the documentaries and feature films in the BFI's Flipside series).