Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Powerful but unethical Broadway columnist J.J. Hunsecker coerces unscrupulous press agent Sidney Falco into breaking up his sister's romance with a jazz musician.

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Clifford Odets (screenplay), Ernest Lehman (screenplay)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	J.J. Hunsecker
Tony Curtis	...	Sidney Falco
Susan Harrison	...	Susan Hunsecker
Martin Milner	...	Steve Dallas (as Marty Milner)
Jeff Donnell	...	Sally
Sam Levene	...	Frank D' Angelo
Joe Frisco	...	Herbie Temple
Barbara Nichols	...	Rita
Emile Meyer	...	Lt. Harry Kello
Edith Atwater	...	Mary
The Chico Hamilton Quintet	...	The Chico Hamilton Quintet

Storyline

J.J. Hunsecker, the most powerful newspaper columnist in New York, is determined to prevent his sister from marrying Steve Dallas, a jazz musician. He therefore covertly employs Sidney Falco, a sleazy and unscrupulous press agent, to break up the affair by any means possible.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | press agent | power | newspaper columnist | gossip columnist | 

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Taglines:

The almighty J.J. ...the columnist with sixty million believers ...his wrath is feared by the great and near great who worship the sweet smell of success!

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dein Schicksal in meiner Hand

Filming Locations:

Soundstage 6, Goldwyn Studios, Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions, Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

When Sidney is trying to see the column in advance, the position of the secretary changes. This is when she moves the copy from one side of the desk to the other.

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Quotes

Sidney Falco: The cat's in the bag and the bag's in the river.

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Connections

References The Mountain (1956)

User Reviews

Gripping and powerful, amazing cast and dialog

This film really brings an air of nostalgia when you compare it to current productions. There are no special effects or noisy music, but nevertheless you are riveted to your chair form beginning to end thanks to a wonderful cast, dialogue, direction and very nice Jazz music. Burt Lancaster gives again an unbelievable performance and Tony Curtis is perfect in the role of the ambitious small time thug that cannot get rid of his own contradictions. I only wish the studios would stop focusing on the teen market today and get inspired by films like this one.