P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes helped explore the various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's classic THE SHINING by executive producing the documentary ROOM 237, and now they have teamed up to direct MANSFIELD 66/67, a documentary that delves into actress / Playboy Playmate Jayne Mansfield's supposed connection to the Church of Satan during the final year of her life.
Who could resist cheering for Jayne Mansfield — the punk Marilyn Monroe and the ultimate atomic-era sex-positive kitten-gone-berserk — as she navigates the cultural and spiritual landscape of a quickly changing world?
Welcome to Mansfield 66/67, a true story based on rumor and hearsay, where classic documentary interviews and archival materials are blended with dance numbers, performance art, and animation — elevating a tabloid tale of a fallen Hollywood idol into a celebration of the mythical proportions of a true original we can’t help but live to love more each day.
It is certain that Mansfield visited the Church of Satan in 1966 and was named High Priestess by founder Anton LaVey, but any further connection to the church and LaVey is where the "rumors and hearsay" part comes in.
Regardless of whether or not Mansfield was a practicing Satanist or if she had a relationship with LaVey, this documentary sounds interesting and stylish enough to be worth a watch.
Celebrities featured in the documentary include John Waters, Mary Woronov, Tippi Hedren, Mamie Van Doren, and of course LaVey and Mansfield.
MANSFIELD 66/67 will have a special premiere at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 25th, with talent in attendance. The documentary will then be screening at the theatre as of October 27th, programmed with some of Mansfield's classic films, like THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT and WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER? To find out where and when you can see the movie outside of L.A., check the official site.