Synopsis for
The Smell of Success (2009) More at IMDbPro »

From Initiate Productions comes a decidedly irreverent satire about the wages of greed and an enchanting comic adventure that riffs on an iconic theme the American salesman with a twist. For this tale of door-to-door marketers takes place in a world heretofore never seen on screen: that of 1960s manure salesmen, AKA the Men of Manure. Having brought to life an original assortment of American misfits and dreamers, with The Smell of Success now turns an unabashedly comic eye to the wonders of the American wasteland . . . literally.

It all begins when a tragic fan accident ends the life of Mr. Roses, the scientific genius behind Roses Manure Company, forcing his cosmetics salesgirl daughter Rosemary (TÉA LEONI) to take control of the company. Rosemary isnt sure if she has a nose for the family business, but when she discovers the company is about to go under, she is determined to find a way to turn the foul into financial profits. To do so, shes going to need the help of her fathers best salesmen -- led by the steely-eyed; silver tongued Patrick Fitzpatrick (BILLY BOB THORNTON) for whom bull is not just a product but an art form even if they dont exactly trust a lady in charge.

But the times, they are a changing and so is the business. When the suspiciously clean-cut Jimmy St. James (KYLE MACLACHAN) and his band of slick salesmen drop into town ready to take over with their newfangled fertilizer and fancy marketing techniques, it becomes clear that Rosemarys quest is no longer simply about selling as much crap as she can. Its all-out war.