Sweet Smell of Success
“Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!”
Synopsis
New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-02-10
Top Cast
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Burt Lancaster
J.J. Hunsecker
Tony Curtis
Sidney Falco
Susan Harrison
Susan Hunsecker
Martin Milner
Steve Dallas
Jeff Donnell
Sally
Sam Levene
Frank D' Angelo
Joe Frisco
Herbie Temple
Barbara Nichols
Rita
Emile Meyer
Lt. Harry Kello
Edith Atwater
Mary
Chico Hamilton
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
Paul Horn
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
Fred Katz
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
Buddy Clark
The Chico Hamilton Quintet
Jay Adler
Manny Davis (uncredited)
Mary Bayless
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Nicky Blair
Toots Shor's Patron (uncredited)
Nick Borgani
Waiter (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
New York City, New York
Festival / Special Debut
July 4, 1957
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 30, 2016
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3.4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$2.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.74x
-$900K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alexander Mackendrick
- Screenplay & Story
- Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Sweet Smell of Success
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $3.4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $2.5M
- Production Studios
- Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, United Artists, Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alexander Mackendrick
Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman
Elmer Bernstein
James Wong Howe
Alan Crosland, Jr.
James Hill, Harold Hecht, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Janet Leigh
Department Leadership Roster
James Hill
Producer
Mary Grant
Costume Design
Clifford Odets
Screenplay
Alan Crosland, Jr.
Editor
Alexander Mackendrick
Director
Ernest Lehman
Screenplay
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
James Wong Howe
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sweet Smell of Success.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sweet Smell of Success.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sweet Smell of Success
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sweet Smell of Success about?
New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
Who directed Sweet Smell of Success?
Sweet Smell of Success was directed by Alexander Mackendrick.
Who stars in Sweet Smell of Success?
The principal cast of Sweet Smell of Success includes Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner, Jeff Donnell.
When was Sweet Smell of Success released and how long is it?
Sweet Smell of Success was released in 1957 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sweet Smell of Success?
Sweet Smell of Success had a reported production budget of $3.4M and grossed $2.5M at the worldwide box office (0.74 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Sweet Smell of Success?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sweet Smell of Success was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
Is Sweet Smell of Success based on a book or true story?
Sweet Smell of Success is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Ernest Lehman".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sweet Smell of Success?
Sweet Smell of Success holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.).