Sweet Smell of Success

Movie

1957

1h 37m

Approved

English

Drama

User Score:

7.9

Critic Score:

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Sweet Smell of Success

Approved

Movie

1957

1h 37m

English

Drama

Play Trailer

Watch on fuboTV

New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.

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7.9

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

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Cast

Sidney Falco

J.J. Hunsecker

Susan Hunsecker

Steve Dallas

Sally

Frank D' Angelo

Herbie Temple

Rita

Lt. Harry Kello

Mary

Manny Davis (uncredited)

Mary Bayless

Bar Patron (uncredited)

Nicky Blair

Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Nick Borgani

Waiter (uncredited)

Ralph Brooks

Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Brad Brown

Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Steve Carruthers

Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Robert Carson

Lou (Toots Shor's Headwaiter) (uncr...

Lewis Charles

Al Evans (uncredited)

Dick Cherney

Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Buddy Clark

Chico Hamilton Quintet Bassist (unc...

Paul Cristo

Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Joe Di Reda

Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Lawrence Dobkin

Leo Bartha (uncredited)

Tom Ferrandini

Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Directed By: Alexander Mackendrick

Written By: Ernest Lehman (Novel), Clifford Odets (Screenplay)

Featured Comments/Tips

chris337 says...

3 years ago

The scintillating dialogue is the primary attraction, delivered with crisp pace by Curtis & Lancaster. The bright neon night city of New York also provides a gorgeous backdrop in the exteriors.

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Juliosoft says...

5 years ago

Great movie with great interpretations, try to ascend as is and above anyone. Show the others who are trying to climb, that you are up, above them

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KurtMoney says...

8 years ago

Got the Criterion blu-ray of this without seeing it, I just loved the cover design so much. Turns out it was a good investment because this movie was pretty great. The cinematography is striking and beautiful. But what really takes the cake is the dialog. Every line is great but here are a few of my favorites: "Cats in the bag and the bag's in the river" "I'd hate to take a bite out of you. You're a cookie full of arsenic." "Susie, that fish is four days old. I'm not buyin'." Great! That first line is also the name of two episodes of Breaking Bad. Pumped now that I get the ref.

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soonertbone says...

one year ago

This movie was _dirty_, it was _slimy_, and I think I loved it. Really crackling screenplay, even if Tony Curtis wasn’t always quite up to the task of delivering. (I find him a tad manic at times.) But he did convey a sense of desperation that i appreciated, and the changes of fortune throughout were fun to watch him navigate. Lots of beautiful shots of on-location NYC as well.

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Featured User Reviews

Nutshell

4 years ago

A better title might be The Sad Stench of Desperation. Was Burt Lancaster ever better
than in this riveting late-fifties noir from director Alexander Mackendrick? That's a tough
question. But it's a no-brainer that Tony Curtis' performance here is top-level craft at its
best (as in The Boston More

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