Sweet Smell of Success

This article is about the film. For other uses, see Sweet Smell of Success (disambiguation).

Sweet Smell of Success
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlexander Mackendrick
Screenplay byClifford Odets
Ernest Lehman
Alexander Mackendrick (uncredited)
Based onTell Me About It Tomorrow!
1950 novelette in Cosmopolitan
by Ernest Lehman
Produced byJames Hill
StarringBurt Lancaster
Tony Curtis
Susan Harrison
Martin Milner
Sam Levene
Barbara Nichols
Jeff Donnell
Chico Hamilton
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Edited byAlan Crosland Jr.
Music byElmer Bernstein
Production
companies
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • June 27, 1957 (1957-06-27) (New York City)
  • July 4, 1957 (1957-07-04) (United States)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.4 million[1] or $2 million[2]
Box office$2.25 million (US)[3]

Sweet Smell of Success is a 1957 American film noir drama film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, and Martin Milner, and written by Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, and Mackendrick from the novelette by Lehman. The shadowy noir cinematography filmed on location in New York City was shot by James Wong Howe. The picture was produced by James Hill of Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Sam Levene, Barbara Nichols, Joe Frisco, Edith Atwater, David White, and Emile Meyer. The musical score was arranged and conducted by Elmer Bernstein and the film also features jazz performances by the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Mary Grant designed the costumes.

The film tells the story of powerful and sleazy newspaper columnist J.J. Hunsecker (portrayed by Lancaster and based on Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems unworthy of her.

Despite a poorly received preview screening, Sweet Smell of Success has greatly improved in stature over the years. It grew to become highly acclaimed by film critics, particularly for its cinematography and screenplay. In 1993, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[4]

Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical was created by Marvin Hamlisch, Craig Carnelia, and John Guare in 2002.

  1. ^ Kate Buford, Burt Lancaster: An American Life, Da Capo 2000 p 183
  2. ^ "New York Soundtrack". Variety. April 2, 1958. p. 4.
  3. ^ "Top Grosses of 1957", Variety, January 8, 1958: 30
  4. ^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 12, 2020.