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Sweet Smell of Success
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.
1957 · Directed by Alexander Mackendrick · 97 min · Drama · Screenplay in the scene database · 18 frames
Tagline
Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!
Plot
Up-and-coming Manhattan press agent Sidney Falco scans the New York Globe for the column of J.J. Hunsecker, a media kingpin whose journalism and radio show dominate the entertainment world. For the fifth day, J.J. has not publicized any of Sidney's clients, as he is protective of his 19-year-old sister Susan and has asked Sidney to end her affair with jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Sidney has been unsuccessful.
Steve is performing at the Elysian Room with his group as Sidney argues with his uncle Frank D’Angelo (who is Steve's manager), who has promised Steve and Susan will part. Steve learns from Rita, cigarette girl, that Susan is waiting for Steve behind the club, he interrupts them. Steve accuses him of "scratching for information like a dog." Rita asks Sidney to help her keep her job, at risk because she refused to sleep with J.J.’s competitor, Leo Bartha. Sidney secures a date with Rita. Questioned by Susan, he reassures her that J.J. is a close friend. J.J. greets his informer Harry Kello, a corrupt NYPD lieutenant indebted to J.J. for saving his job after Kello beat a suspect. J.J. gives Sidney an ultimatum to destroy Steve and Susan's relationship.
Sidney attempts to blackmail Leo, threatening to expose his affair with Rita unless Leo prints a gossip item that Steve is a Communist who smokes cannabis. Leo chooses his journalistic integrity, which his wife Loretta praises as his first decent act in years. Sidney bribes another columnist, Otis Elwell, with the promise of a sexual favor from an "available" woman. Rita initially objects, but ultimately assents to Sidney's plan in order to stay employed. The smear appears in Otis's column and the quintet is fired.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Screenplay: Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
- Cinematography: James Wong Howe
- Edited by: Alan Crosland, Jr.
- Music: Elmer Bernstein
- Produced by: James Hill
Cast
- Burt Lancaster as J.J. Hunsecker
- Tony Curtis as Sidney Falco
- Susan Harrison as Susan Hunsecker
- Martin Milner as Steve Dallas
- Jeff Donnell as Sally
- Sam Levene as Frank D' Angelo
- Joe Frisco as Herbie Temple
- Barbara Nichols as Rita
- Emile Meyer as Lt. Harry Kello
- Edith Atwater as Mary
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, United Artists, Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions
- Budget: $3,400,000
- Box office: $2,500,000
- Themes: media tycoon, new york city, newspaper, sibling relationship, jazz singer or musician, film noir, black and white, gossip columnist
More by Alexander Mackendrick
On this film
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