Film Snail

7.6

Sweet Smell of Success

NR·1957·97m

Drama

Summary

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.

Cast

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)

Crew

Director

Alexander Mackendrick

Novel, Screenplay

Ernest Lehman

Screenplay

Clifford Odets

Reviews

nutshell

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 and daring film-noir for the period, and one of my all time favorites.