My Mom Jayne on HBO Max

[d.anders]

What an incredible viewing experience. I had heard some years ago that Jayne Mansfield was Mariska Hargitay's mother. I did find that info fascinating, because I was a faithful watcher of Law and Order for decades, and during my childhood, Marylin Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were big deals. Watching this documentary, the revelations are much deeper, more painful layers of this very complicated life story. What a triumph for the folks involved.

The film was briefly mentioned in another thread, but I thought it deserved its own. This one is a must watch.

[SirBillybob]

I knew of Hartigay from awards shows but don’t watch cable TV serial dramas. And very cursory knowledge of Mansfield, who as it turns out was talented across a variety of traditional central art forms

The documentary is superb. Make sure you catch a bittersweet family scene near the end where a family member cracks up the others present, rich comic relief.

Edited June 30 by SirBillybob

[Manhattan]

I thought it was very well done. There's such a glut of documentaries now and most of them have no point of view. When I watch a documentary, I want more than a Biography Channel overview and this one really delivered. 
 

That piano though - hideous. 

[Rod Hagen]

I'm sure EVERY time she tells someone who her mom was, they look at her chest.

“Here they are, Jayne Mansfield!”

xHamster

XHAMSTER.COM

 

[BSR]

I think people are surprised when they find out they’re mother-daughter because of the contrast between blonde bombshell Mansfield and dark brunette Hargitay.  But if you focus on just their faces, the similarity is uncanny.

[Rod Hagen]

11 hours ago, BSR said:

But if you focus on just their faces, the similarity is uncanny.

My eyes are up here :-)

[Njguy2]

On 7/9/2025 at 1:33 AM, Manhattan said:

 That piano though - hideous. 

How true about that Piano, glad she was able to recover it though.   Was truly surprised how talented Jayne was musically and a good actress, since I was only 5 years old when she died I wasn't aware of her until decades later.  Too bad she got shoe-horned into playing a "type" by the studios.  Her siblings seem to be down to earth and I think benefited as well from the documentary being made.