Tuesday 16 October 8pm
“The film is a masterpiece, intelligent Hollywood cinema at its best”. – Philip French, The Observer
JJ Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), the most powerful newspaper columnist in New York, is determined to prevent his sister from marrying Steve Dallas, a jazz musician. He therefore covertly employs Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis), a sleazy and unscrupulous press agent, to break up the affair by any means possible.
The film's director, Alexander Mackendrick, rose to fame for making the Ealing comedies Whisky Galore! (1949), The Man in the White Suit (1951), and The Ladykillers (1955).
Despite not being a hit on its initial release, Sweet Smell of Success has grown in stature over years to gain classic status, particularly for its brilliant dialogue.
Watch the trailer >>
Why Did We Pick It?
Like Cody Jarrett in White Heat, Burt Lancaster's character JJ Hunsecker, is also driven by a wildly psychotic ego.
Related Links
A Movie Marked Danger - brilliant Vanity Fair article about the making of Sweet Smell of Success
