Sweet Smell of Success
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Movie Reviews of Sweet Smell of Success
Movie Review: Two Great Shows of Ruthlessness
Summary: 4 Stars
Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is a ruthlessly ambitious publicist in New York City of 1957. He relies upon the city's most powerful gossip columnist, J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) to print items that publicize his clients. But it's a game of give and take. Hunsecker expects something in return for his contributions to Falco's livelihood. As it happens, Hunsecker's younger sister Susie (Susan Harrison) has fallen in love with an up-and-coming jazz musician named Steve Dallas (Martin Milner), much to her brother's displeasure. Falco accepts the task of breaking up the relationship in exchange for Hunsecker's publicity,but even Sidney Falco doesn't imagine how far he might be willing to go to satisfy his ambitions."Sweet Smell of Success" is based on the novella of the same name by Ernest Lehman and was adapted for the screen by Lehman and Clifford Odets. I can't say if this window into the dog-eat-dog world of tabloid journalism and media hype shocked audiences in 1957 when the film was first released. I don't think that a bleak urban landscape populated by sociopathic careerists is likely to surprise anyone now, though. And I didn't find the film's famously biting dialogue to be especially hard-hitting. But the story is still a good one. Burt Lancaster's chilling performance handily stands the test of time. J.J. Hunsecker is a vile, hateful human being utterly devoid of any redeeming characteristic. He never exchanges words with anyone without making a threat. His character didn't impress me as realistic, because he is completely lacking in tact and discretion. His threats are never veiled. My feeling is that such a person would have long ago perished at the hands of those he tries to manipulate if he had not learned to occasionally be coy in his machinations. But Burt Lancaster is able to sell Hunsecker as an imposing, threatening figure in spite of the man's over-the-top behavior. Lancaster endows the character with such presence that the audience believes Hunsecker might be realistic. It's a great performance. The character of Sidney Falco was essentially a self-obsessed yuppie poseur before such a creature had a name. Tony Curtis' fine performance gave birth to a stereotype that we continue to see in many films today. So I'm recommending "Sweet Smell of Success" for the performances in particular.
The DVD: Subtitles are available in French and Spanish, and dubbing is available in French. One theatrical trailer is included.
Movie Review: 3 Good Reasons To Watch This DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
There are three reasons that movie fans should check this film out, if you haven't seen it yet:
1 - Outstanding dialog. I can't recall a film in which I heard so many clever film-noir lines as this one. Almost everyone in the movie has a unique way of expressing their feelings. It makes the movie one that you want to go back and HEAR again. Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman wrote the screenplay and deserve special recognition as well as the people below.
2 - Fabulous acting, led by the two male leads: Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster. Curtis is the star of the film with many more lines than anyone else, and many consider this to be his greatest acting achievement. I have no quarrel with that. It's one of the finest acting jobs I've ever witnessed by anyone. It's that good.
Lancaster is memorable and plays to his strengths as a tough guy, not only with his physical presence but his tactless and cutting verbal assaults. He has the best and most brutal lines in the film.
The minor characters in here, from the cop to the comedian to the cigarette girl to the young romantic couple are all top-notch.
3 - The cinematography. A big name in the film business, James Wong Howe, more than lives up to his reputation. This is beautifully photographed and looks absolutely stunning on DVD. I have watched hundreds and hundreds of black-and-white films and this ranks with the best of them. He captured nighttime New York City as well as anybody ever has done.
"Well," you might ask, "if this movie is so great, why haven't I heard more about it?" Maybe because it never did well at the box office. It wasn't promoted a lot, from what I heard, and the storyline is not a pleasant one. Basically, this is about two immoral people who smear a nice guy so that it will ruin the romance between he and Lancaster's sister.
Lancaster plays an absolutely ruthless newspaper columnist who makes and breaks careers and Curtis plays his slimy press-agent who will do anything to please his powerful boss, including doing the worst of his dirty work.
I am not one who generally likes films that feature mostly nasty people but this was done so well that it fascinates me every time. A final tip of the hat to director Alexander Mackendrick. Why he wasn't given more films to direct is a mystery to me. Highly-recommended.
Movie Review: Lines Are What Make Success Stand Out
Summary: 4 Stars
Some of the Best Lines on Film, 27 June 2001
Author: mike rice (08642rc@centurytel.net) from Sparta, Wisconsin 54656
I just want to repeat a few lines from this wonderful film:
J J Hunsecker: "Mack, I don't want this man at my table."
Sidney Falco: "Senator, do you believe in Capital Punishment? A man has just been sentenced to death."
J J Hunsecker: "Match me Sidney!" Sidney Falco: "Not Right this minute, J J!"
Senator: "May I ask a naive question, Mr. Falco, what does a press agent do? Sidney Falco: "A Press Agent eats a columnist's dirt and is expected to call it manna."
J J Hunsecker: "I Love this Dirty Town." Sidney Falco: "The cats in the bag and the bag's in the river" J J Hunsecker: "Sidney, conjugate me a verb. For instance, to promise. You promised you'd break up that romance." J J Hunsecker: "I like Harry but I can't deny he sweats a little." J J Hunsecker: "Don't be a two time loser, Sidney, the penalty could be severe."
Rival columnist Leo Bartha: "I can't let this man blackmail me." Leo's wife: "Leo, this is the first clean thing I've seen you do in years."
J J Hunsecker: "What does this mean, Integrity?" Sidney Falco: "It means a pocketful of firecrackers." J J Hunsecker: "I'd hate to take a bite out of you, Sidney, you're a cookie full of arsenic."
J J Hunsecker: "It wasn't me he criticized, it was my readers." Sidney Falco: "Not even if you gave me your column would I do that."
J J Hunsecker: "I'm a schoolboy, teach me, teach me." J J Hunsecker: "Be warned son, I'll have to blitz you." Sidney Falco: "Correct me if I'm wrong J J, I don't think you got the cards to blitz me." J J Hunsecker: "I'll listen for one more minute." Sidney Falco: "What I mean is we got a slippery, dangerous problem here." J J Hunsecker: "Not we, Sidney, you!" J J Hunsecker: "My left hand hasn't seen my right hand in 30 years."
The lines are what make this film stand out. I haven't captured half of them. Go have a look and a listen yourself.
Movie Review: Not a "Clueless Script", but actually very relevant
Summary: 4 Stars
I have to disagree with reviewer who said this film has a clueless script and confusing plot. Most people will not be confused or disappointed by the film, on the contrary...
The Big Sleep is supposed to be a muddled mess, but it is considered a classic. The Sweet Smell of Success is not anywhere near as confusing as Bogie's film. Not even close. The plot is straight forward and moves ahead at a nice clip. This film is a character study/morality play, and the characters drive the plot.
There is no need for "background", which would have marred the pace and atmosphere. The characters motivations may sometimes seem ambiguous (not as black and white and dumbed-down as compared to current studio output), but ultimately the motives are classic Greek Tragedy: hubris, greed, and desire for total control.
I do not believe that one has to be an expert on McCarthysim, Hearst, or Winchell to appreciate or grasp the self-serving tactics used by the characters.
The film is actually timeless. The Hunsecker character is a flag-waving phony who slings mud for his own morally corrupt agendas. As a lesson in the price one pays for appearing to be patriotic while dealing with the devil, I can't think of anything more relevant in today's smarmy political climate. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The casting is top-notch. Tony and Burt are at the top of their game. The film draws you in. Yes, the main characters have the hearts of maggots, but you can't look away as their machinations unfold and then implode.
I do wish that Criterion had released this DVD, as the transfer from film could have been handled much better (find a nice pristeen print, and/or do some digital clean-up). Still, it's not the worst transfer I've seen but it does distract somewhat from the beautiful B&W cinematography. Because of the transfer flaws, I give this DVD four stars (the actual film gets five).
Movie Review: Smart, well-done, slice of NY life in the 50's
Summary: 4 Stars
I picked this film up at the library, not expecting much. I didn't think I could stand watching Tony Curtis for two hours but I gave it a try. When I saw that Clifford Odets co-wrote the script I became hopeful. I didn't last more than a half-hour on my first try, in part because I didn't follow the details of the story. English sub-titles would have helped.
Then I tried it again later and found myself drawn into it, and finally really liking it. Tony Curtis is perfect as a little guy who's desperate for success and believes, as he tells his secretary, that real life is like this and this is what men are supposed to do.
Burt Lancaster is amazing as the terrible newspaper columnist who was supposedly modelled after Walter Winchell. The contrast of his impressive physical presence and good looks with his actions give his character an intense eeriness that makes him even more despicable than the Curtis, who is just a cheap hustler.
Susan Harrison, whom I'd never heard of, gives a wonderful performance as Lancaster's 19 year old sister. She is very beautiful in a crazy/fragile way and you never really know where she's coming from, probably because she doesn't know. It's very effective.
The supporting cast, including the square-jawed, decent guy played by Martin Milner, is all good. The music is great. I loved the jazzy, 50-ish score by Elmer Bernstein.
The photography is splendid...gorgeous use of New York at night in shiny black and white.
There's a lot of comment about the "snappy" dialogue. Some folks missed the point (read the one and two star reviews) but most appreciated the flavor and texture of it as well as the humor.
The political implications add another dimension to the film. All in all, this is a very smart and satisfying look at a segment of life in New York in the 50's.