Drama

Sweet Smell of Success

- Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!

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 : 1957-07-04

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hecht-Hill-Lancaster ProductionsUnited ArtistsNorma ProductionsCurtleigh Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : J.J. Hunsecker

Original Name : Burt Lancaster

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sidney Falco

Original Name : Tony Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Susan Hunsecker

Original Name : Susan Harrison

Gender : Female

Character Name : Steve Dallas

Original Name : Martin Milner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sally

Original Name : Jeff Donnell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank D' Angelo

Original Name : Sam Levene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Herbie Temple

Original Name : Joe Frisco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rita

Original Name : Barbara Nichols

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lt. Harry Kello

Original Name : Emile Meyer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary

Original Name : Edith Atwater

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Chico Hamilton Quintet

Original Name : Chico Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Chico Hamilton Quintet

Original Name : Paul Horn

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Chico Hamilton Quintet

Original Name : Fred Katz

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Chico Hamilton Quintet

Original Name : Buddy Clark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Manny Davis (uncredited)

Original Name : Jay Adler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Bayless

Gender : Female

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Nicky Blair

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Borgani

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Brooks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Brad Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Carruthers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lou (Toots Shor's Headwaiter) (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Carson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Al Evans (uncredited)

Original Name : Lewis Charles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Cherney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Cristo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Di Reda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leo Bartha (uncredited)

Original Name : Lawrence Dobkin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Ferrandini

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hot Dog Stand Counterman (uncredited)

Original Name : John Fiedler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sen. Harvey Walker (uncredited)

Original Name : William Forrest

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Forte

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Raoul Freeman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Kay Garrett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Gray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Marion Gray

Gender : Female

Character Name : Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)

Original Name : James Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man at Hot Dog Stand (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Jordan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Colin Kenny

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph La Cava

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Lally

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Robard (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Leon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : King Lockwood

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Thomas Martin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Hans Moebus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : King Mojave

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Sol Murgi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Forbes Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : George Nardelli

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : William H. O'Brien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)

Original Name : Clifford Odets

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stage Hand (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Perry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Raisch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Waclaw Rekwart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bar Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Rickard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jane Ross

Gender : Male

Character Name : Linda James (uncredited)

Original Name : Autumn Russell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Toots Shor's Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Sherlock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self (uncredited)

Original Name : Carson Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mildred Tam (uncredited)

Original Name : Queenie Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : Bert Stevens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elysian Club Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Tovey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Check Man (uncredited)

Original Name : James Turley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Loretta Bartha (uncredited)

Original Name : Lurene Tuttle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Coffee Shop Counter Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Tyler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Radio Program Director (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Van Zandt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Patron at 21 (uncredited)

Original Name : George Washburn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Otis Elwell (uncredited)

Original Name : David White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : H.M. Wynant

Gender : Male

Reviews

Nutshell

@nutshell

2021-06-23

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 Stangler). 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.