Sweet Smell of Success
A venomous New York press baron weaponizes gossip to destroy his sister’s romance, drawing a desperate press agent into a maze of coercion and betrayal.
Overview
In the cutthroat world of New York journalism, ambition and manipulation collide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- claustrophobic
- nervous
- classic cinema night
- film noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Alexander Mackendrick's film noir as a riveting, stylishly uncomfortable classic driven by exceptional performances, a nervous jazz-inflected atmosphere, and unusually unsparing moral corruption.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sidney Falco repeatedly sacrifices loyalty and decency to regain access to J.J. Hunsecker's powerful orbit.
Hunsecker uses his newspaper column and influence to control relationships and punish dissent.
J.J. presents himself as an authoritative cultural figure while manipulating his sister and Sidney through intimidation.
The film's black-and-white New York imagery and crowded nightlife spaces intensify the characters' desperation and entrapment.
Films like Sweet Smell of Success, and why
The Big Clock
Shared film noir atmosphere, urban corruption, ruthless social maneuvering, and morally compromised protagonists.
Ace in the Hole
Shared black-and-white noir style, cynical media-world intrigue, corrosive ambition, and tense urban settings.
The Night of the Hunter
Shared psychological cruelty, manipulative power dynamics, and claustrophobic moral decay beneath polished social surfaces.
All About Eve
Shared corrosive ambition, ruthless professional competition, and a bleakly sardonic view of status and influence.
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Mackendrick
- Release Date
- 1957-07-04
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (606)
Cast
- Burt Lancaster
- Tony Curtis
- Susan Harrison
- Martin Milner
- Jeff Donnell
- Sam Levene
- Joe Frisco
- Barbara Nichols
- Emile Meyer
- Edith Atwater
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Sweet Smell of Success about?
- A venomous New York press baron weaponizes gossip to destroy his sister’s romance, drawing a desperate press agent into a maze of coercion and betrayal.
- What is Sweet Smell of Success like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sweet Smell of Success as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Sweet Smell of Success violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Sweet Smell of Success as mild.
- What did critics think of Sweet Smell of Success?
- Critics broadly regard Alexander Mackendrick's film noir as a riveting, stylishly uncomfortable classic driven by exceptional performances, a nervous jazz-inflected atmosphere, and unusually unsparing moral corruption.
- Which films are like Sweet Smell of Success?
- Films with a similar feel include The Big Clock, Ace in the Hole, The Night of the Hunter, and All About Eve.
- How long is Sweet Smell of Success?
- Sweet Smell of Success runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sweet Smell of Success?
- In United States, Sweet Smell of Success streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV.
