Sweet Smell of Success

Genre: psychological drama (in black and white)

With: Tony Curtis (Sidney Falco), Burt Lancaster (J.J. Hunsecker), Susan Harrison (Susan, J.J.’s sister), Martin Milner (Steve Dallas), Sam Levene (Frank D’Angelo, Steve’s manager), Barbara Nichols (Rita), Jeff Donnell (Sally, Sidney’s secretary), Emile G. Meyer (Harry Kello), Joe Frisco (Herbie Temple), David White (Otis Elwell), Autumn Russell (Linda) and Chico Hamilton

Director: Alexander Mackendrick

Screenplay: Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman and Alexander Mackendrick (based on Lehman’s novel)

Release: 1957

Studio: Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions et al.

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.6/10

A Sweet Smell to Them but a Stench to Most of Us

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Story-line: Sidney Falco, an ambitious young publicist, hopes to make it big on Broadway with the support of columnist J.J. Hunsecker… even though he’ll have to do J.J.’s dirty work to obtain it.    

Pluses: a complicated and well-structured screenplay that raises serious issues, top-notch direction, scathing dialogues laced with innuendo. The acting, moreover, is outstanding: Tony Curtis carries the movie as the despicable Falco, Burt Lancaster shines as a despot who crushes everything he can’t conquer (‟I love this dirty town”, says J.J.), Susan Harrison’s decency rises above the dreck and Martin Milner (of Route 66 fame) plays very credibly also.  

Minuses: none really.

Comments: great movies can be noble, symbolic, poetic or weighty… but this one distinguishes itself by its unflinching depiction of a sordid little world. Don’t expect much daintiness from Falco and Hunsecker…these infuriating fellows are thoroughly blinded by notoriety. I’ve read somewhere that J.J.’s character is partly based on Walter Winchell (1897-1972), the influential gossip columnist who famously said ‟I usually get my stuff from people who promised somebody else that they would keep it a secret.” Fortunately for us, there’s nothing secret about SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. Pass the word…   

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