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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ClassyCo" data-source="post: 195770" data-attributes="member: 7">Mansfield was recruited in 1960 to star in 20th Century-Fox's comedy called It Happened in Athens. It was first film for the studio in almost two years because she had been overseas doing loan out productions as a result of Fox failure to properly utilize her potential as a star. It Happened in Athens had all the makings of being a spectacular production. It was going to be shot on location in Greece, filmed in Technicolor and CinemaScope, and was going to give Mansfield her first role in an A-list Hollywood film since 1958. Mansfield was particularly eager, but her dreams were somewhat shattered when she learned that the film was going to be tailored as a vehicle for Fox's promising male star, newcomer Trax Colton. The story concerns the first Olympic Games in Greece back in 1896. A shepherd, by name of Spiridon Loues (Colton, in a fictionalized but sometimes accurate portrayal of water-carrier Spyridon Louis), decides to enter the 26-mile marathon. Once in Greece, he crosses paths with Christina, a young girl he knows from his home town, whose working as a live-in maid for famous actress Eleni Costa (Mansfield). A love triangle ensues as Eleni sets her eye on Spiridon, although she eventually gives him up because she knows Christina is the woman meant for him. Mansfield's role is entirely centered around her body, and her flirtation with the men of the cast, particularly Colton. She's quite the eye candy here, but she's slightly "thicker" than she was in her earlier Fox movies. (I mean, she had given birth to two more children by this phase in her life.) She wears a lot of tight, provocative, and showy outfits. There's even a scene where she undresses in her room and reveals herself in a sexy negligee, the outfit she tries to seduce a shirtless Colton in. Jayne's the only "star" of the movie, and that term is used as a description of her name value and public celebrity, even though in the film itself she is merely a secondary character whose scantily-clad wardrobe was quite daring for the time, I'm sure. Outside of her romance with the men of the cast, her character has little to do with moving forward of the movie's plot. It Happened in Athens was filmed in the fall of 1960, but for what ever reason, Fox decided to sit on the property for two years, not releasing it until June 1962. Ironically, the film received positive notices upon its premiere, particularly from columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, who singled out the movie as a fine comedy, and touted newcomer Trax Colton as having potential of emerging as the newest matinee idol. It Happened in Athens wasn't a box office success, however. It performed poorly in theaters, and wounded up loosing almost $200,000 for Fox. For the studio, this was the last straw for Mansfield. In their theory, she hadn't proven herself worthy of the publicity they had generated for her because her films were loosing money, and they decided to drop her contract. As for newcomer Trax Colton, this was his first and only leading movie role, after-which he returned to his former career as a used car salesman. This marked the final attempt by 20th Century-Fox to publicize Mansfield, but they finally gave up on her career and she was no longer viewed as mainstream movie star material. This was also her last top role in a major Hollywood motion picture. Afterwards, she eased into a downward spiral of low-budget oversea flicks, few of which generated any substantial attention in the States. It Happened in Athens isn't necessarily a bad movie, it's just bland. [ATTACH=full]19234[/ATTACH]Trax Colton (born Louis A. Morelli) gave up on his shot at stardom after this movie. [ATTACH=full]19235[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

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