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Boston Globe

In ‘My Mom Jayne,' Mariska Hargitay makes peace with the mother she never knew

Hargitay admits to having problems with her mother's public image. Mansfield was primarily known as a blonde bombshell, a more buxom answer to Marilyn Monroe. She appeared in films like the massively entertaining 1956 Frank Tashlin comedy, 'The Girl Can't Help It' and was the first Hollywood studio actor to do a nude scene (in 1963's 'Promises, Promises'). She reprised her role in the Broadway hit 'Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter' for Tashlin's 1957 big screen adaptation. She also made promotional appearances, dressing in tight outfits and speaking in the squeaky voice she used to highlight her image as 'America's smartest dumb blonde.' Mariska Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield in 'My Mom Jayne.' Allan Grant/WB 'My Mom Jayne' informs the viewer that Mansfield was smarter than her Hollywood persona portrayed — she spoke five languages and was a classically trained violinist who also played piano. Hargitay provides clips of her mother playing the violin on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' where she's treated respectfully, and on 'The Jack Paar Show,' where she is not. Sullivan provides her with a five-piece backup orchestra, while Paar interrupts her violin playing to sexually harass her on camera. Advertisement Mansfield wasn't just a comic actor and singer. In Paul Wendkos' film noir 'The Burglar,' she held her own against Dan Duryea in a rare dramatic role. Though she proved herself a versatile actor on stage, Hollywood's inability to cast her as anything but a stereotype led her into depression and alcoholism. Her numerous relationships also generated ruthless Hollywood gossip. Hargitay chronicles all this information for those unfamiliar with Mansfield's career. But 'My Mom Jayne' is mostly about its director's reckoning with her unresolved maternal issues. She admits that this is the first time she and her siblings sat down to discuss their mother, and they're doing it on camera. Being the oldest, Jayne Marie provides the clearest picture of Mansfield, while the brothers recall what Hargitay was like as a child. From Zoltan, we learn that he inadvertently saved Mariska's life. Both of them were in the car on June 28, 1967, when the accident that claimed Mansfield's life occurred. After being rescued, Zoltan asked 'where's Maria?' (Hargitay was known as Maria at the time), which led to the rescuers discovering her trapped under a seat in the car. Mariska Hargitay in 'My Mom Jayne.' WB Plenty of scandalous books were written about Mansfield after her death, and Mickey Hargitay advised his daughter not to read any of them. Perhaps he had another reason for that warning. Mansfield's press agent, Raymond 'Rusty' Strait, appears in a few scenes to discuss working with his famous client. Strait is 99 years old and the author of a 1992 book that alleged that singer Nelson Sardelli was actually Mariska's father. Advertisement 'My Mom Jayne' confirms this, and also reveals that Hargitay discovered the truth before Strait wrote his book. In the film's angriest moment, she confronts Strait, asking him if he had the right to reveal this information in his book. Though the film gives Jayne Mansfield her much-deserved due, it far too often feels like we're flies on the wall during a slew of therapy sessions. The viewer is kept at a distance, simply because there's no entry point for us in this story. 'My Mom Jayne' is so personal that the only conclusion gleaned is that Hargitay had a more emotionally fulfilling time making this documentary than you will have watching it. MY MOM JAYNE Directed by Mariska Hargitay. On HBO. Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.