Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Note des utilisateurs:

8.2/10   

Réalisateur:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Clifford Odets (screenplay) and
Ernest Lehman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 juin 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drame | Film-Noir

Accroche:

They know him - and they shiver - the big names of Broadway, Hollywood and Capitol Hill. They know J.J.- the world-famed columnist whose gossip is gospel to sixty million readers! They know the venom that flickers in those eyes behind the glasses - and they fawn - like Sid Falco, the kid who wanted "in" so much, he'd sell out his own girl to stand up there with J.J., sucking in the sweet smell of success! This is J.J.'s story - but not the way he would have liked it told!

Plot:

A biting look at the ruthless world of a powerful and evil New York columnist.

Plot Keywords:

Jazz | Press Agent | Newspaper Columnist | Power | Restaurant

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Oh, Those GREAT NY Scenes!

Ensemble

Burt Lancaster	...	J.J. Hunsecker
Tony Curtis	...	Sidney Falco
Susan Harrison	...	Susan Hunsecker
Martin Milner	...	Steve Dallas (as Marty Milner)
Jeff Donnell	...	Sally
Sam Levene	...	Frank D' Angelo
Joe Frisco	...	Herbie Temple
Barbara Nichols	...	Rita
Emile Meyer	...	Lt. Harry Kello
Edith Atwater	...	Mary
The Chico Hamilton Quintet	...	Themselves

Autre(s) titre(s):

Le grand chantage (France) [fr]

Durée:

96 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Noir et Blanc

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Son:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Classification:

USA:TV-PG | West Germany:16 (f) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #18585)

Emplacements De Pelliculage:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Curtleigh Productions

Anecdotes:

The character of J.J. Hunsecker is based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Microphone shadow during coffee shop scene with Steve and Susan.

Guillemet:

[holding an unlit cigarette]
J.J. Hunsecker: Match me, Sidney.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Diner (1982)

Oh, Those GREAT NY Scenes!

Another poster "stole" the one line summary I wanted to use: "Match me, Sidney." Damn. It's one of the best lines in the movie. Oh, well.

"Sweet Smell of Success" is a great, wildly entertaining movie. It reminds me of "Dangerous Liasons" in both it's subject ("bad" people making life worse for more decent folk) and how swiftly and imaginatively directed it is. It's juicy from beginning to end. Burt Lancaster is once again terrific as J.J. Hunsecker, Walter Winchell-esque writer of a "society" column which is more of a tool of destruction for those who cross his path.

But it's Tony Curtis who holds the movie together. Always scheming and plotting and never letting a decent human emotion take precedence over his drive to succeed at any cost. He's Marvelous and was never again to achieve what he did here.

But there's a third star to this production and it's New York City itself. The on location photography is stunning. What is amazing is that at the time the movie was made (1957) on location filming was just becoming "in vogue". For a film like this, it HAD to filmed on location or else it's power would be substantially diluted. I work in Manhattan near where a lot of this film was made (J.J. lives in the Brill Building which is on Broadway between 49th and 50th Streets, right around the corner from me). To see what the neighborhood looked like over 40 years ago is amazing. Surprisingly, it's the astonishing on site photography that prevents the film from really feeling dated. Also, the themes in the film are timeless as well.

"Sweet Smell of Success" is a classic from top to bottom.