Sweet Smell of Success

1957Movie⏱️ 1h 36mApproved🏆 #481 Top Rated

DramaFilm-Noir

⭐ 8

IMDB Rating

39,219 votes

A powerful Broadway columnist coerces an unscrupulous press agent into breaking up his sister's romance with a jazz musician.

Director

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers

Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, Alexander Mackendrick

Stars

Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison

Release Date

July 4, 1957

Language

English, Italian, Spanish

Country

United States

🏆 3

Wins

🎯 3

Nominations

💬 208

Reviews

📋 46.6K

Watchlists

📽️ View on IMDB

🎭 Top Cast

Burt Lancaster

as J.J. Hunsecker

Tony Curtis

as Sidney Falco

Susan Harrison

as Susan Hunsecker

Martin Milner

as Steve Dallas

Jeff Donnell

as Sally

Sam Levene

as Frank D' Angelo

Joe Frisco

as Herbie Temple

Barbara Nichols

as Rita

Emile Meyer

as Lt. Harry Kello

Edith Atwater

as Mary

💰 Box Office

$8,025

Worldwide Gross

🎬 Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio

1.66 : 1

Color

Black and White

Filming Location

Brill Building - 1619 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Production

Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions

🏷️ Keywords

press agentattempted suicidemusicianbrother sister relationshipegomaniac

🎯 Categories

Film NoirDrama

⭐ Featured Review

3 Good Reasons To Watch This Film

by ccthemovieman-1 • 2005-06-24

9/10

"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 line..."

💡 Did You Know?

Publicity materials for the film noted cinematographer James Wong Howe spread a film of Vaseline on Lancaster's glasses to create a shine and make his stare more menacing.