- Actors: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner, Jeff Donnell
- Directors: Alexander Mackendrick
- Writers: Alexander Mackendrick, Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
- Producers: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Harold Hecht, James Hill
- Language English
- Classification: PG
- Studio: MGM
- VHS Release Date: 7 April 2000
- Run Time: 96 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CNR1
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 13,260 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A classic of the late 1950s, Sweet Smell of Success looks at the string-pulling behind-the-scenes action between desperate press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) and the ultimate power broker in that long-ago show-biz Manhattan: gossip columnist JJ Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster). Written by Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets (who based the Hunsecker character on the similarly brutal and power-mad Walter Winchell), the film follows Falco's attempts to promote a client through Hunsecker's column--until he is forced to make a deal with the devil and help Hunsecker ruin a jazz musician who has the nerve to date Hunsecker's sister. Director Alexander MacKendrick and cinematographer James Wong Howe, shooting on location mostly at night, capture this New York demimonde in silky black and white, in which neon and shadows share a scarily symbiotic relationship--a near-match for the poisonous give-and-take between the edgy Curtis and the dismissive Lancaster. --Marshall Fine
Amazon.co.uk Review
A classic from the late 1950s, The Sweet Smell of Success looks at the string-pulling behind-the-scenes action between desperate press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) and the ultimate power broker in that long-ago showbiz Manhattan, gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster).
Written by Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets (who based the Hunsecker character on the similarly brutal and power-mad Walter Winchell), the film follows Falco's attempts to promote a client through Hunsecker's column--until he is forced to make a deal with the devil and help Hunsecker ruin a jazz musician who has the nerve to date Hunsecker's sister.
Shooting on location, mostly at night, director Alexander MacKendrick and cinematographer James Wong Howe capture this New York demi-monde in silky black and white, in which neon and shadows share a scarily symbiotic relationship--a near-match for the poisonous give-and-take between the edgy Curtis and the dismissive Lancaster. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Fifties New York. A few night hours in the life of a parasitic press agent, Sidney Falco (Curtis) and the monster he feeds off, big-time showbiz columnist JJ Hunsecker (Lancaster).
Falco willingly submits to JJ's humiliations because he needs the scraps of publicity JJ deigns to throw Falco's clients in his daily column.
But now JJ needs a favour; will Falco destroy the lives of two innocent people just to stay JJ's favoured pet?
The two leads are brilliant. Curtis is nervous, cynical and strangely beautiful. By turns disgusted at the squalid lapdog he has become and thrilled by the reflected power of JJ.
Lancaster as JJ is as monumental a screen presence as Kane or Kurtz; the ground shakes and the air hums when he gets angry.
The scene where a Senator is paying court to JJ with Falco hovering between revulsion and reverence is near perfect: machine-gun dialogue with each bullet carefully dipped in venom.
You could cut yourself on the sharp black and white night photography and the music adds to the jittery atmosphere.
Sure, some of the lesser characters pale against the screen presence of Lancaster and Curtis, and the plot takes over a bit too much toward the end, but this is a riveting essay on power and self-loathing.
A word about the director: nothing in the prevoius work of Alexander Mackendrick prepares you for this. He directed some equally wonderful but very different films (The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, Whisky Galore! ) and is sadly neglected in some quarters. This a dark and brutal masterpiece.
"Match me, Sidney. "
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
'Sweet Smell of Success'? I doubt it. More like the rancid stench of social climbing and the perversion of good intent. The movie boasts an intensely stylised dialogue, with wonderful performances from Burt Lancaster as JJ Hunsecker, and Tony Curtis as a Hunsecker wannabe. Lancaster is positively reptilian as the all-powerful gossip columnist, whilst Curtis, as the furtive go-getter Sidney attempts to ingratiate himself by despoiling possibly the only loving relationship in the movie, between that of Hunsecker's sister and her jazz guitarist boyfriend. The noirish cinematography and the inspired direction by Brit Alexander MacKendrick, combined with the waspish and highly ornate dialogue make for a potent piece of cinema. The plot twists and the skewed ending of the movie make this a rivetting masterpiece that lingers long after the final credits roll. The sort of film where almost all of the characters have no redeeming qualities, 'Sweet Smell...' is nonetheless one of the truly great movies of the nineteen-fifties.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This movie is noir, but with a little more edge than the classic LA set Chandleresque noirs that are the usual Noir benchmark. This film is set in New York, and because of it the pace and style is less laid back than typical Noirs, but its setting and its story captures the essence perfectly. The Odetts screenplay is cynical, worldly and downright memorable, it oozes cool. The dark b&w photography suits the mood of the picture perfectly and the finest performance of Tony Curtis' career just falls out of him as if he knows that sort of character so well. It doesn't aim too high in movie terms, it just deals with its tight little story, while saying alot about the world the main characters inhabit and then finishes without too much of a bang. It is neat, classical noir delivered beautifully. Unfornunately its relative modesty, and an uncommonly good year for movies meant it picked up no major award from Hollywood, but you can't watch this and say it's unnoticable. One of those slightly smaller Hollywood movies that seems to get more worthy as the years go by, and earns its classic status better than many of the bigger more celebrated films of the era. That screenplay and that New York vibe make sure of that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
sharp and scarey
Ok I actually didn't like it much, but it's very good. Lancaster is extraordinary. he scares you. Curtis is effectively greasy. The love interest is suitably gorgeous and brooding. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Bertie
It's the works
I never particularly warmed to the work of Burt Lancaster or Tony Curtis prior to this but, here their acting is the works...sheer brilliance from both actors. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Glyn C. Smith
Black Glass
One of the great cult movies, directed by a genius, written by one of America's finest, photographed by a master, acted by legends, produced by a giant - the score ain't half bad... Read more
Published 13 months ago by scribbler
Curtisy Cad
There are certain actors who never get taken seriously throughout their career. Some don't really care, whilst others begrudge never getting the kudos they think they deserve. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sam
"Sweet Smell of Success (1957) ... Alexander Mackendrick ... Criterion...
The Criterion Collection presents "SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS" (27 June 1957) (96 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Burt Lancaster stars as J. J. Read more
Published 17 months ago by J. Lovins
Citizen Falco
If proof were needed that the Oscar system has ever and always been as flawed as a fake diamond, the fact that this American classic gained not one nomination should provide it. Read more
Published 22 months ago by GlynLuke
This film has everything
Incredible performances from Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster make this a classic of the film noir genre. Read more
Published on 29 April 2010 by Michael Lavocah
Gripping
This was I think the film which showed what an accomplished actor Tony Curtis had become. Along with Burt Lancaster and great jazz soundtrack featuring Chico Hamilton , who also... Read more
Published on 15 July 2009 by Colin Bentley
The Sweet Smell Of Success [DVD] [1957]
Purchased this item to a retired friend of mine, and he felt nostalgic watching it again, remembering old days remembering old days, good memories and good times. Thank you
Published on 26 Jun 2009 by M. Emin Tarim
Not so sweet
A wonderful slice of not so sweet life, with Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster putting in sublime performances. Read more
Published on 30 April 2005 by Mrs. A. Bond
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