The Smell of Success (2009)

A comedy about manure salesmen in 1960s heartland America.

Director:

Michael Polish (as Larry Smith)

Writers:

Mark Polish, Michael Polish

Stars:

Billy Bob Thornton, Téa Leoni, Mark Polish

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Patrick
Téa Leoni	...	Rosemary Rose
Mark Polish	...	Thaddeus Young
Ed Helms	...	Chet Pigford
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Jimmy St. James
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Cleveland Clod
Frances Conroy	...	Agnes May
Jon Gries	...	Early Dunchamp
Richard Edson	...	Nelly the Nose
D.W. Moffett	...	Agent Chestnut
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Mr. Diehl
Patrick Bauchau	...	Mr. Rose
Aria Alpert Adjani	...	Mrs. Smith (as Aria Alpert)
David A. Cooper	...	Miracle Worker #1
Erin O'Shaughnessy	...	Mrs. Diehl

Storyline

When a tragic accident ends the life of Mr. Rose, the genius behind Rose's Manure Company, the livelihood of its loyal fleet of salesmen threatens to go, as they say, into the toilet. Enter estranged daughter Rosemary, a high-class- cosmetics salesgirl, who steps in to take control. She is not sure she has a nose for the family business, but she is determined to make foul into profit. Little does she know that a ruthless, slick-talking fertilizer rep is plotting a takeover. Whether she likes it or not, she must trust her top salesman, Patrick Fitzpatrick, to devise a plan to regain Rose's rightful position on top of the heap.

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Plot Keywords:

manure | salesman | female business owner | year 1963 | 

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Taglines:

Don't Hold Your Breath!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and a drug situation

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Agent Chestnut: [switches on recorder] Agent Chestnut, Federal Trade Commission interview. Please state your full name.
Patrick: Patrick Fitzpatrick.
Agent Chestnut: Mr. Fitzpatrick, were you aware of the financial difficulties at Rose's manure?
Patrick: No.
Agent Chestnut: Really? Because by all accounts and sales records, Mr. Rose considered *you* his Number 2. And you want me to believe Mr. Rose never mentioned it?
Patrick: Never.
Agent Chestnut: Well, you will not be allowed to operate or sell anything until I have competed my investigation.

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Soundtracks

Nice 'n' Easy
Written and Performed by Eddie Cochran

User Reviews

Unbelievable

If you like realism, pass this one. If you like explosions, likewise. If your favorite film is Notting Hill, forget it. But if you like the unexpected, if you like being surprised by well-known actors in improbable roles, if you appreciate the second and third degrees of humor and things going a bit strange, this is definitely a film to see. Do not expect sanity or anything to do with down-to-earth. This is Delicatessen in Kansas, it's the Wizard of Oz without wizards and just one monkey. It's insane, it's incredible, and it is simply delicious. A review is supposed to be ten lines long, but that is an arbitrary limit imposed by functionaries that cannot comprehend that sometimes art cannot be described in a predetermined format.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Manure

Filming Locations:

Melody Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Initiate Productions, Stander Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1