Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Matcollis This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The EZ Rider It's hard to see what people see in this movie. Lancaster is his usual overwrought character and Curtis struggles with a story that makes little sense. All of the characters are caricatures--far more a Hollywood screen-writers idea of life in New York in the 1950s that anything approaching reality. The frequent, shrill jazz music is probably meant to impress but mostly grates. The film is dated and deserves to be retired.

jacobs-greenwood Tony Curtis plays the slimy, self-loathing ambitious press agent Sidney Falco, who feeds gossip to the all powerful New York columnist, radio & TV media powerhouse – modeled after Walter Winchell – J.J. Hunsecker (AFI's #35 villain), played ruthlessly by Burt Lancaster.Hunsecker treats Falco, and virtually everyone else he encounters including a Senator who is beholden to him, like "a poodle" that will "jump through flaming rings" for him, or so says Hunsecker's weak and vulnerable younger sister Susan (played by Susan Harrison); of course, Falco will.The columnist, who wields his power confidently, fearlessly, is particularly upset with Falco for not doing him a favor by breaking up his sister's love for a young, up-and-coming musician named Steve Dallas (Martin Milner). Hence, he's cut off the publicity man's ability to continue to make his living by selling access to his powerful associate's column.Hunsecker justifies his actions because his warped mind has enabled him to believe that he is the lifeblood of the 60 million people who read his column, and that what he does is somehow patriotic (when he's really a scoundrel). But J.J.'s weakness is his sister; he acts like a father-figure and believes himself to be her protector because she's really all he's got. He tries to (surreptitiously, through Falco) control her life by crushing anyone (like Dallas) that comes between them and threatens to bring about the lonely, miserable life he'd have without her.Falco avoids his own secretary (Jeff Donnell) because she reflects the conscious and self respect that he should have, but doesn't. Sam Levene plays the musician's agent; Emile Meyer plays a meat-fisted cop who owes Hunsecker a favor. Barbara Nichols plays a pathetic cigarette girl whose misguided love Falco uses to advantage for his own sordid purposes.Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, who'd received his only Oscar recognition for co-writing The Man in the White Suit (1951), the drama was written by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman. The film was somehow completely and inexplicably snubbed – especially its lead acting and James Wong Howe's gritty B&W cinematography – by the Academy, though it was added to the National Film Registry in 1993.

reyesking The drama in this film is severe. The crisp silhouettes, and the heavy lighting from the neck up makes for sharp, glossy shots. the style of the picture is certainly something to appreciate as well. the witty, intellectual dialogue, the jazzy night clubs and all the sleazy characters makes "the scene" of the 1950s devilishly glamorous. "sweet smell of success" is directed by Alexander Mackendrick and stars Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. although if caution is not taken following the film closely it seems to be quite easy to miss something very important especially since our protagonist are constantly plotting and scheming against each other through out the film. Burt Lancaster as j.j is a deviant, malicious Broadway columnist is quite unsettling. smart and powerful j.j is disturbingly sneaking and a master at scheming. this film can make for a great psychological suspense.

c-fronk I really enjoyed the complexity of this film. The plot forced you to pay attention, and the crisp cinematography encouraged you to keep your eyes on the screen. The on- location shots were impressive and simply gorgeous. It wouldn't have quite been the same had they not actually filmed in the city. Burt Lancaster played an intimidating and powerful role in the form of JJ Hunsecker, as his presence managed to fill the screen. Tony Curtis's character was just as interesting, the way he went about like a cat or dog when dealing with JJ or manipulating other characters. The writing was impressive as well, and there were many great lines throughout the film. Most of the characters were sleazy in their own right, which made it difficult to sympathize with them, but the movie was excellent nonetheless.