Sweet Smell of Success( 1957)

TV-MADrama

76%

User
Score

Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!

Overview

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.

Top Billed Cast

Tony Curtis
Sidney Falco
Burt Lancaster
J.J. Hunsecker
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
Jay Adler
Manny Davis (uncredited)
Mary Bayless
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Nicky Blair
Toots Shor's Patron (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)
Buddy Clark
Chico Hamilton Quintet Bassist (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)
Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton Quintet Drummer & Leader (uncredited)
James Hill
Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Paul Horn
Chico Hamilton Quintet Woodwind Player (uncredited)
Charles Jordan
Man at Hot Dog Stand (uncredited)
Fred Katz
Chico Hamilton Quintet Cellist (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)

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Review 1Discussion

A review by Nutshell

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Written by Nutshell on Mon May 25 2020

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 an...