Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Ernest Lehman (novel)
Clifford Odets (writer) ...

Release Date:

27 June 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

They know him - and they shiver - the big names of Broadway, Hollywood and Capitol Hill. They know J.J.- the world-famed columnist whose gossip is gospel to sixty million readers! They know the venom that flickers in those eyes behind the glasses - and they fawn - like Sid Falco, the kid who wanted "in" so much, he'd sell out his own girl to stand up there with J.J., sucking in the sweet smell of success! This is J.J.'s story - but not the way he would have liked it told!

Plot:

A biting look at the ruthless world of a powerful and evil New York columnist.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Marijuana | Suicide Attempt | Journalist | Psychopath

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 26

10:15 PM

TCM

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	...	Themselves

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:TV-PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #18585)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Curtleigh Productions

Trivia:

Hunsecker's apartment building is actually the show-business office tower at 1619 Broadway, also known as the Brill Bldg., a famous part of Tin Pan Alley.

Goofs:

Continuity: In opening sequence, when Sydney buys a newspaper, then lays it out on luncheonette counter to read it, configuration of stories and graphics on page don't match newspaper seen in closeup.

Quotes:

Mary: You're an amusing boy, but you haven't got a drop of respect for anything in human life.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cop Land (1997)

The sharpest ever dissection of the lure of fame.

There are many unbeatable things about this splendid film, but more than anything else there is the dialogue - dialogue as sharp as the suits and as bleak as the slate grey cinematography. Lancaster and Curtis have never been better and the American fim industry never produced a more enjoyably bitter film.