Sweet Smell of Success
Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!
1957 | 97m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | Alexander Mackendrick |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman |
| Staring: |
| 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. | |
| Release Date: | Jul 04, 1957 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Alexander Mackendrick |
| Writer: | Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman |
| Genres: | Drama |
| Keywords | newspaper, film noir, media tycoon, sibling relationship, gossip columnist, new york city, jazz singer or musician |
| Production Companies | United Artists, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, Curtleigh Productions, Norma Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $2,500,000
Budget: $3,400,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Burt Lancaster | J.J. Hunsecker |
| Tony Curtis | Sidney Falco |
| Susan Harrison | Susan Hunsecker |
| Martin Milner | Steve Dallas |
| Jeff Donnell | Sally |
| Sam Levene | Frank D' Angelo |
| Joe Frisco | Herbie Temple |
| Barbara Nichols | Rita |
| Emile Meyer | Lt. Harry Kello |
| Edith Atwater | Mary |
| Chico Hamilton | The Chico Hamilton Quintet |
| Paul Horn | The Chico Hamilton Quintet |
| Fred Katz | The Chico Hamilton Quintet |
| Buddy Clark | The Chico Hamilton Quintet |
| Jay Adler | 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) (uncredited) |
| Lewis Charles | Al Evans (uncredited) |
| Dick Cherney | Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited) |
| 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) |
| John Fiedler | Hot Dog Stand Counterman (uncredited) |
| Bess Flowers | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| William Forrest | Sen. Harvey Walker (uncredited) |
| Joseph Forte | Toots Shor's Waiter (uncredited) |
| Raoul Freeman | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Kay Garrett | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| Joe Gray | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| Marion Gray | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| James Hill | Man Outside Theatre (uncredited) |
| Charles Jordan | Man at Hot Dog Stand (uncredited) |
| Colin Kenny | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| Joseph La Cava | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Mike Lally | Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited) |
| Joseph Leon | Joe Robard (uncredited) |
| King Lockwood | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| Thomas Martin | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Hans Moebus | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| King Mojave | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Sol Murgi | Waiter (uncredited) |
| Forbes Murray | Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited) |
| George Nardelli | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| William H. O'Brien | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Clifford Odets | Man Outside Theatre (uncredited) |
| Charles Perry | Stage Hand (uncredited) |
| Bill Raisch | Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited) |
| Waclaw Rekwart | Waiter at 21 (uncredited) |
| Edward Rickard | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| Jane Ross | Woman (uncredited) |
| Autumn Russell | Linda James (uncredited) |
| Charles Sherlock | Toots Shor's Bartender (uncredited) |
| Carson Smith | Self (uncredited) |
| Queenie Smith | Mildred Tam (uncredited) |
| Bert Stevens | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| Arthur Tovey | Elysian Club Patron (uncredited) |
| James Turley | Check Man (uncredited) |
| Lurene Tuttle | Loretta Bartha (uncredited) |
| Harry Tyler | Coffee Shop Counter Man (uncredited) |
| Philip Van Zandt | Radio Program Director (uncredited) |
| George Washburn | Patron at 21 (uncredited) |
| David White | Otis Elwell (uncredited) |
| H.M. Wynant | Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Alexander Mackendrick | Additional Writing, Director |
| Clifford Odets | Screenplay |
| Ernest Lehman | Screenplay, Novel |
| Elmer Bernstein | Conductor, Original Music Composer |
| James Wong Howe | Director of Photography |
| Alan Crosland, Jr. | Editorial Coordinator, Editor |
| Edward G. Boyle | Set Decoration |
| Mary Grant | Costume Design |
| Robert G. Carlisle | Sound Effects Editor |
| Richard McWhorter | Production Manager |
| Homer Plannette | Gaffer |
| Edward Carrere | Art Direction |
| Robert J. Schiffer | Makeup Artist |
| Jack Solomon | Sound Recordist |
| Richard Maybery | Assistant Director |
| Lloyd Young | Music Editor |
| John Pisano | Musician |
| Ethmer Roten | Musician |
| Thom Conroy | Dialogue Coach |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Burt Lancaster | Executive Producer |
| James Hill | Producer |
| Harold Hecht | Executive Producer |
| Tony Curtis | Executive Producer |
| Janet Leigh | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Actress | Bette Davis | Won |
| Golden Globes | Best Supporting Actor | Tony Curtis | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Director | Alexander Mackendrick | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 14 | 28 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 9 |
| 2024 | 8 | 14 | 35 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 | 13 | 24 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 13 | 23 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 | 12 | 24 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 901 | 934 |
nutshell
N/A
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 St ... angler). The supporting cast also turns in some beautiful work, notably Susan Harrison and Martin Milner. This uncomfortable story breaks many rules and comes out the better for it. The jazzy score is perfect, setting the film's nervous tone and fitting the period like a glove. A totally unique and daring film-noir for the period, and one of my all time favorites.
Jun 23, 2021