JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) - A Tribute from the John Doe Archives.
The Foul Stench of the American Ego
In salute of Tony Curtis John Doe has decided to go into the archives and republish his own review from 2006. After all the Tinsel Town fade outs this week JD just couldn't bring himself to write a tribute to this fallen matinee idol. Failing, as he always does to resist the temptation to share his opinion he wants to instead put a spotlight on some of Mr Curtis' finest work. Hopefully encouraging you all to go and watch the film in honour of the talent we have lost.
DVD Cover
Writers:Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets
Starring:Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner, Sam Levene, Jeff Donnell, Barbara Nichols, Emile Meyer
“I'd hate to take a bite outta you. You're a cookie full of arsenic.” – JJ Hunsecker
Sweet Smell of Success is a character driven morality play that savages the dark, cancerous underbelly of greed and corruption convulsing through a power hungry culture. A failure on release, this frequently quoted screenplay loaded with verbal dynamite conflicted with the Apple Pie ideals of 1950 Americana.
“My right hand hasn't seen my left hand in thirty years.”– JJ Hunsecker
Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is a fast talking, manipulative freelance journalist looking to crack the big time. Doing the dirty work of a cutthroat and powerful New York City columnist JJ Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), Sidney’s latest assignment is to break up a sincere romance between JJ’s fragile sister Susan (Susan Harrison) and a Jazz guitarist, Steve Dallas (Martin Milner).
“Mr. Falco, let it be said at once, is a man of 40 faces, not one - none to pretty, and all deceptive. You see that grin? That's the, eh, that's the Charming Street Urchin face. It's part of his helpless act: he throws himself upon your mercy. He's got a half-dozen faces for the ladies. But the one I like, the really cute one, is the quick, dependable chap. Nothing he won't do for you in a pinch - so he says. Mr. Falco, whom I did not invite to sit at this table tonight, is a hungry press agent, and fully up to all the tricks of his very slimy trade.” – JJ Hunseckler
Conniving, sinister motives and the blind desire to impress his master means that Sidney's determination gradually rots his soul, deed by deed.
“Tell him that like yourself, he's got the scruples of a guinea pig and the morals of a gangster.” - Leo
Vile JJ is wealthy, respected and feared, a lonely man who has detached himself emotionally from everyone except his baby sister who is the only link to kindness and understanding.
“What does that mean - integrity?” – JJ Hunsecker
Under domineering JJ’s control 19 year old Susan has few thoughts or feelings of her own, except that she knows she loves the upright and true Steve. Unacceptable to her brother that refuses to share, she must escape his influence or surrender her indentity forever.
“Uh - by the way, I got nothing against women thinking with their hips. That's their nature. Just like it's a *man's* nature to go out and hustle and get the things he wants.” – Sidney Falco
Sidney, Light me.
John Doe Says:
Near faultless, the atmospheric noir style allows the drama complexities to surface deliberately, revealing alternate intentions that ripen with each new scene. The adult subject matter cleverly shared without awakening the censors, this mature and intelligent film sacrifices little meat at the expense of the code.
Under appreciated British Ealing Director Alexander Mackendrick (The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit) would become better known as a teacher of cinema rather than a skillful communicator in the medium because of the lackluster response to the film.
A devastating loss he made only a few more pictures despite his profound understanding of material and ability to let the camera observe instead of dictate.
The jazz soaked background, the restrained editing and composition all form an undeniable mood.
The much talked about screenplay really is a treasure, the way the characters develop with intricate pacing means every moment commands attention. The rich lines, snappy repartee and scathing retorts blend humour and substance like few films since.
Tony Curtis (The Boston Strangler, The Defiant Ones, Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, Houdini, The Great Impostor) was looking to break his pretty boy mold here and really had to fight for the part, ironic now that it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the part. His falco has a subtle charm and niavity that slowly dwindles and is replaced with cold desire.
The sometimes wooden Burt Lancaster (The Swimmer, Birdman of Alcatraz, The Train, Apache, Scorpio, The Crimson Pirate, Vera Cruz, The Professionals, Elmer Gantry, Judgement at Nuremberg, Seven Days in May) transforms macho energy into a threatening superiority, a calculating American silver screen icon that symbolizes ruthless acquisition to rival William Randolph Hearst (Orson Welles) or Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas)
Susan Harrison’s vulnerable and lost little girl portrayal is emotionally draining as she holds back breakdown and seldom has reason to smile, perfect for the part.
An essential film that John Doe can’t help but study each time it screens. The words, mannerisms and technical knowledge all mean new discoveries of device a constant. Sweet Smell of Success is riveting celluloid that is Shakespearean in its epic tragedy and inspired in its observations on human nature struggling to succeed in a capitalist society.
The DVD:
Transfer:Pan Scan 4:3/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras:Trailer
Jazz and Lies, an early scene from the film
Sindey Falco reels in a new victim
A great review as always...These were pretty good movies considering the time when it was made...
Sometimes black and white can be very powerful...
Take care,
Nick
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks for dropping in, nice to knwo there is at least one fan of this masterwork.
I actually think the gold years of Holywood produced many films far superior to todays.
Watching Sweet Smell of Success, the amount of detail and character shared onscreen would take 60 minute to share now.
The stories and characters are so rich, even the smallest role is memorable and pivotal.
Obviously I love the old black and whites and this is one film that serves to show they were making adult entertainment that through the censorship code had to inventively express sexuality and give violence power.
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
I love the Bad and The Beautiful, Kirk Douglas is great in it, a fantastic look at the film industry. John Schleisenger's Day of The Locust also attacks the same world with gusto and power. Though Sweet Smell has nothing to do with the cinema world I see why you connect them.
Film & TV on DVD
The Swimmer was a great film, very much the same themes as Falling Down which came years later.
You gotta love it when stars leave their images at the door.
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD
No this was never officially remade but heaps of movies have stolen ideas, lines and characters from the film....
Screen Adventure
How did you manage to repost this review and still keep all the old comments from 2007?
Film & TV on DVD
I feel a bit dirty reposting, but had to draw attention to some of Curtis' greatest films.
The entire script for Sweet Smell of Success is worthy of quoting, what's your favourite line from the film?
Film & TV on DVD
No idea how the comments came along. Never reposted anything before but it just seemed to happen that way.
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
Poor Tony, too many fluff films cause many to remember him for light entertainment roles, but this was definitely his tour de force.
I loved Lancaster, I see why you say he appears wooden in a number of films, yet it didn't worry me, he did have his share of cracker performances too, and I felt he was under utilized.
Do you remember that film, involving gypses, at the end the cast takes off their makeup and you most unexpectedly discover Lancaster, among other notables?
cheers
fog
Film & TV on DVD
Curtis was a very capable comedian who was happy to make fun of his good looks and was often over looked for meatier roles despite impressing when he did.
For me Lancaster's best performance was in 'The Swimmer" but he had several quality films too like The Leopard, The Killers, Criss Cross, Vera Cruz and several others.
It's interesting you mention John Huston's The List of Adrian Messenger, (the one where all the big names are in make up) its an all time fave of mine too that i find infinitely entertaining.