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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
27 June 1957 (USA)
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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! more
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Press Agent
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Jazz
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Musician
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Newspaper Columnist
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Power
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Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.
Another 1 win
&
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: An overwhelming study of life and illusion
(From t5m.com. 21 August 2009, 8:26 AM, PDT)
Famed Screenwriter Lehman Dead at 89
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 6 July 2005)
(From t5m.com. 21 August 2009, 8:26 AM, PDT)
Famed Screenwriter Lehman Dead at 89
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 6 July 2005)
User Comments:
Oh, Those GREAT NY Scenes!
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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 | ... | Themselves |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
USA:TV-PG |
West Germany:16 (f) |
UK:A (original rating) |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:PG |
USA:Approved (PCA #18585)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The character of J.J. Hunsecker is based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell.
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Goofs:
Continuity: In first scene in Sydney's office, secretary picks up a stack of magazines and newspapers, that change position and height of stack from shot to shot.
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Quotes:
J.J. Hunsecker:
Son, I don't relish shooting a mosquito with an elephant gun, so why don't you just shuffle along?
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Dying Breed: The Making of 'The Leopard' (2004) (V)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (81 total)
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Another poster "stole" the one line summary I wanted to use: "Match me, Sidney." Damn. It's one of the best lines in the movie. Oh, well.
"Sweet Smell of Success" is a great, wildly entertaining movie. It reminds me of "Dangerous Liasons" in both it's subject ("bad" people making life worse for more decent folk) and how swiftly and imaginatively directed it is. It's juicy from beginning to end. Burt Lancaster is once again terrific as J.J. Hunsecker, Walter Winchell-esque writer of a "society" column which is more of a tool of destruction for those who cross his path.
But it's Tony Curtis who holds the movie together. Always scheming and plotting and never letting a decent human emotion take precedence over his drive to succeed at any cost. He's Marvelous and was never again to achieve what he did here.
But there's a third star to this production and it's New York City itself. The on location photography is stunning. What is amazing is that at the time the movie was made (1957) on location filming was just becoming "in vogue". For a film like this, it HAD to filmed on location or else it's power would be substantially diluted. I work in Manhattan near where a lot of this film was made (J.J. lives in the Brill Building which is on Broadway between 49th and 50th Streets, right around the corner from me). To see what the neighborhood looked like over 40 years ago is amazing. Surprisingly, it's the astonishing on site photography that prevents the film from really feeling dated. Also, the themes in the film are timeless as well.
"Sweet Smell of Success" is a classic from top to bottom.