Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
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98% of critics liked it
(45 reviews) -
91% of users liked it
(6,201 ratings)
Ernest Lehman drew upon his experiences as a Broadway press agent to write the devastating a clef short story "Tell Me About Tomorrow." This in turn was adapted by Lehman and Clifford Odets into the sharp-edged, penetrating feature film Sweet Smell of Success. Burt Lancaster stars as J. J.… More Ernest Lehman drew upon his experiences as a Broadway press agent to write the devastating a clef short story "Tell Me About Tomorrow." This in turn was adapted by Lehman and Clifford Odets into the sharp-edged, penetrating feature film Sweet Smell of Success. Burt Lancaster stars as J. J. Hunsecker, a Walter Winchell-style columnist who wields his power like a club, steamrolling friends and enemies alike. Tony Curtis co-stars as Sidney Falco, a sycophantic press agent who'd sell his grandmother to get an item into Hunsecker's popular newspaper column. Hunsecker enlists Falco's aid in ruining the reputation of jazz guitarist Steve Dallas (Martin Milner), who has had the temerity to court Hunsecker's sister Susan (Susan Harrison). Falco contrives to plant marijuana on Dallas, then summons corrupt, sadistic NYPD officer Harry Kello (Emile Meyer), who owes Hunsecker several favors, to arrest the innocent singer. The real Walter Winchell, no longer as powerful as he'd been in the 1940s but still a man to be reckoned with, went after Ernest Lehman with both barrels upon the release of Sweet Smell of Success. Winchell was not so much offended by the unflattering portrait of himself as by the dredging up of an unpleasant domestic incident from his past. While Success was not a success at the box office, it is now regarded as a model of street-smart cinematic cynicism. The electric performances of the stars are matched by the taut direction of Alex MacKendrick, the driving jazz score of Elmer Bernstein, and the evocative nocturnal camerawork of James Wong Howe. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alexander Mackendrick
- Written By
- Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
- In Theaters
- Jun 27, 1957 Wide
- Studio
- United Artists
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
Sweet Smell, which could have been offal, is raised to considerable dramatic heights by intense acting, taut direction (by Alexander Mackendrick), [and] superb camera work (by James Wong Howe).
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Mackendrick's nighthawk landscape is compellingly, poetically bleak.
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Variety Staff, Variety
James Hill's production, locationed in Manhattan, captures the feel of Broadway and environs after dark.
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, Time Out
The screen was rarely so dark or cruel.
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Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
A lean, mean amorality tale that still goes down like a cookie laced with arsenic.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Burt Lancaster
as J.J. Hunsecker
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Tony Curtis
as Sidney Falco
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Susan Harrison
as Susan Hunsecker
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Martin Milner
as Steve Dallas
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Sam Levene
as Frank D'Angelo
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Barbara Nichols
as Rita
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Jeff Donnell
as Sally
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Joseph Leon
as Robard
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Edith Atwater
as Mary
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Emile G. Meyer
as Harry Kello
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Joe Frisco
as Herbie Temple
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David White
as Otis Elwell
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Lawrence Dobkin
as Leo Bartha
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Lurene Tuttle
as Mrs. Bartha
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Queenie Smith
as Mildred Tam
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Autumn Russell
as Linda
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Jay Adler
as Manny Davis
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Lewis Charles
as Al Evans
- Chico Hamilton
- The Chico Hamilton Quintet
