Sweet Smell of Success
Seen it?1957 | 97 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite a box office loss. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 100 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 120K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick
- Burt LancasterJ.J. Hunsecker
- Tony CurtisSidney Falco
- Susan HarrisonSusan Hunsecker
- Martin MilnerSteve Dallas
- Jeff DonnellSally
- Sam LeveneFrank D' Angelo
- Joe FriscoHerbie Temple
- Barbara NicholsRita
- Emile MeyerLt. Harry Kello
- Edith AtwaterMary