Review of Sweet Smell of Success (1957) by Johnny F — 14 Jun 2015

Sweet Smell of Success is about a press agent, played by Tony Curtis, who is willing to do anything in order to get his clients into the newspaper. As a result he tries to help a gossip columnist, played by Burt Lancaster, to break up the columnist's sister and her boyfriend.

Yes, it is an entire film that revolves around a jealous brother who doesn't want to share his sister. Yet somehow the tone of the film and stellar performances by the actors elevates the simple story to be something better.

It has a great look, and feels like it is an accurate depiction of life on the streets. The cinematography is stellar and I really feel the passion in all the lead actors. Tony Curtis is particularly slimy and unscrupulous, and even when he's in the background of a scene you can sense his feelings about what is going on.

Perhaps one of the hardest scenes to watch is when he tries to act as pimp for another columnist by whoring out his girlfriend. I did struggle to enjoy Sweet Smell of Success, though, and not just because of that scene.

It seemed that virtually every character was so overblown and dishonest that I really didn't like anyone in the film. It's tough to care when bad people are fighting with other bad people. However the real dilemma I had with this film is the dialogue.

It was coming so rapid-fire that I struggled to follow along. Also they spoke in such elaborate prose that it was disingenuous and inauthentic. Real human beings don't speak in that kind of language, no matter what era this film took place in, and it seriously threw me off at times.

I'd probably watch Sweet Smell of Success again if asked, and a second time through I might catch the rest of the dialogue I missed the first time, but it's not one that I feel any particular need to revisit despite the solid performances.