sweet smell of success

Theatrical poster Directed by Alexander Mackendrick Produced by James Hill Written by Ernest Lehman (novelette)

Clifford Odets

Ernest Lehman Starring Burt Lancaster

Tony Curtis Music by Elmer Bernstein Cinematography James Wong Howe Editing by Alan Crosland Jr. Distributed by United Artists Release date(s) June 27, 1957 Running time 96 minutes Country USA Language English IMDb • Allmovie

Sweet Smell of Success is a 1957 American film noir made by Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions and released by United Artists. It was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and stars Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison and Martin Milner. The screenplay was by Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman and Alexander Mackendrick from the novelette by Lehman. The film tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist named J.J. Hunsecker (Lancaster) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems inappropriate. Lancaster's role is based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell.

In 1993, Sweet Smell of Success was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2002, Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical was created by Marvin Hamlisch, Craig Carnelia and John Guare. In 2003, the AFI named J.J. Hunsecker number 35 of the top 50 movie villains of all time. Contents [hide] 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4.1 Legacy 5 References 5.1 Bibliography 6 External links //

Plot

Press agent Sidney Falco (Curtis) has been unable to get his clients a mention in J.J. Hunsecker's (Lancaster) influential newspaper column because he has been unable to make good on his promise to break up the romance between Hunsecker's younger sister Susan (Harrison) and Steve Dallas (Milner), an up-and-coming jazz guitarist. Falco decides to spread false rumors that Dallas is a dope-smoking Communist in a rival column, then to encourage Hunsecker to rescue Dallas's reputation and make Dallas choose between his integrity and owing something to Hunsecker, for whom he has no respect. The plan works, in a way; Dallas insults Hunsecker, and Susan breaks up with Dallas in order to protect him from her brother. Hunsecker, however, deciding to leave nothing to chance, and against Falco's advice, orders Falco to plant reefers on the musician and have him arrested and roughed up by Harry Kello (Meyer), a corrupt police officer.

Falco is summoned to Hunsecker's penthouse apartment by a message apparently from Hunsecker, only to find Susan about to attempt suicide. He saves her just as her brother walks in; Hunsecker, encouraged by Susan's silence, accuses him of trying to rape ["make time with"] Susan. In a climactic confrontation with Hunsecker, Falco reveals in front of Susan that her brother had told him to destroy Dallas' reputation. Hunsecker tells Kello to arrest Falco for planting the reefer on Dallas. Susan admits