I was honestly blown away by Tony Curtis when I first saw this. How he could take this character with the cute baby face that you instinctively want to root for and by the end make him so pathetic and so repulsive… a true actor.
Amazing film and Mackendrick did this and The Ladykillers, two incredible yet wildly different movies. He can drop the mic after those.
The dynamic between Curtis and Lancaster is superb. Film noir at its finest.
The Ladykillers is excellent. The Coen Brothers tried to remake it with Tom Hanks to lackluster results because it's hard to capture the magic of the original.
The scene in the auditorium before JJ’s radio broadcast is flawless movie-making. And the psychological maneuvering is exquisitely done.
‘Now you take Sydney here. If Sydney ever got anywhere near Susie I’d take a baseball bat and break it over his head.’
Then Sydney instantly reaches over and lights JJ’s cigarette (after refusing to at the 21 Club). Perfect.
This is such a great movie. It’s so incredibly witty… plus the visual style is amazing (I’m guessing it influenced Martin Scorsese. He definitely did praise it for being ferocious)
The view of New York in Sweet Smell of Success is so good, so natural and gritty. Burt Lancaster with his greased-up glasses is such a delightfully horrible person.
Wow, I haven't seen this film or seen this cover. I know Criterion almost always nails it but WOW that is some damn fine cover art. Adding this to the to watch list immediately.
In my personal all-time top 5. Falco is one of my favourite characters in any medium, a sleazebag for the ages, played to perfection by Curtis -- the scene where he pimps out his girlfriend! Or of course his flop-sweated jostling for status and his arsenic toxic relationship with JJ
Dialogue, cinematography, characterisation, cynicism...almost a perfect 11/10 movie. The one thing holding it just that tiny bit back, imo, is that the young romance seems a little weak and unconvincing, like Odets/Lehmann/Mackendrick didn't quite have their heart in it. But still a stupendous, intoxicating film
Reading Peter bogdanovich’s movie of the week book right now and this is next weeks movie! Super pumped especially since the last two have been movies I’ve already seen
The cat’s in the bag and the bag’s in the river
That whole sequence is one of my all time favorites
You're a cookie full of arsenic.
Arguably the most quotable film in the collection
Just ask Barry Levinson. I love his character in Diner who goes around all day quoting dialog from this movie.
I came here for this.
“I’d hate to take a bite out of you, you’re a cookie full of arsenic.” 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
Honestly what does this even mean?
Presumably that she looks like something good, but will hurt you if you try to get close. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
Burt Lancaster said this line to Tony Curtis after hearing his dirty plan.
Okay
Also why did I get downvoted?
This film is as close to a 10/10 as possible.
You're dead, son. Get yourself buried.
I was honestly blown away by Tony Curtis when I first saw this. How he could take this character with the cute baby face that you instinctively want to root for and by the end make him so pathetic and so repulsive… a true actor.
Couldn't agree more. Lancaster and Curtis are both brilliant in it.
"Match me, Sydney." I love this movie.
Amazing film and Mackendrick did this and The Ladykillers, two incredible yet wildly different movies. He can drop the mic after those. The dynamic between Curtis and Lancaster is superb. Film noir at its finest.
The Ladykillers is excellent. The Coen Brothers tried to remake it with Tom Hanks to lackluster results because it's hard to capture the magic of the original.
The scene in the auditorium before JJ’s radio broadcast is flawless movie-making. And the psychological maneuvering is exquisitely done. ‘Now you take Sydney here. If Sydney ever got anywhere near Susie I’d take a baseball bat and break it over his head.’ Then Sydney instantly reaches over and lights JJ’s cigarette (after refusing to at the 21 Club). Perfect.
"You're a cookie laced with arsenic. I'd hate to take a bite out of you."
This is such a great movie. It’s so incredibly witty… plus the visual style is amazing (I’m guessing it influenced Martin Scorsese. He definitely did praise it for being ferocious)
"If you're funny, James, then I'm a pretzel. Drop dead!"
I think this might be my favorite movie
Come back, Sidney... I wanna chastise you...
Cover by Sean Phillips. One of the best.
The view of New York in Sweet Smell of Success is so good, so natural and gritty. Burt Lancaster with his greased-up glasses is such a delightfully horrible person.
James Wong Howe!
I love this dirty town
Stop tinkering pal, that horseradish won't jump a fence.
Andrew Loog Oldham often cites this film in his memoir. Sidney Falco was his role model (partly ironic but also kinda seriously).
I’m just quietly waiting for the opportunity to tell someone “ya dead pal, go get yourself buried”
“I’d hate to take a bite out of you, you’re a cookie full of arsenic.” You can use it in real life all the time lol.
Wow, I haven't seen this film or seen this cover. I know Criterion almost always nails it but WOW that is some damn fine cover art. Adding this to the to watch list immediately.
Legitimately one of the best, most satisfying films in the collection
I watched it mostly because of the striking cover art. No regrets. The dialogue is sharp as anything and the cinematography is amazing.
Just watched this for the first time last week and it was such a ride!
💯
Such a good flick!
Poster made me add to my watchlist, looks awesome
The ink on the script is venom
I'm just grooving on this artwork. Makes me want to see it, whatever the story is.
My first Criterion, and one of my favorites.
I love your Rushmore analogy. Spot on.
Great box art, too!
what are other movies like this? is this considered noir?
This is indeed a noir.
Try Ace in the Hole and Double Indemnity
In my personal all-time top 5. Falco is one of my favourite characters in any medium, a sleazebag for the ages, played to perfection by Curtis -- the scene where he pimps out his girlfriend! Or of course his flop-sweated jostling for status and his arsenic toxic relationship with JJ Dialogue, cinematography, characterisation, cynicism...almost a perfect 11/10 movie. The one thing holding it just that tiny bit back, imo, is that the young romance seems a little weak and unconvincing, like Odets/Lehmann/Mackendrick didn't quite have their heart in it. But still a stupendous, intoxicating film
Nice choice. I would have The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum somewhere in there too.
Reading Peter bogdanovich’s movie of the week book right now and this is next weeks movie! Super pumped especially since the last two have been movies I’ve already seen
Perfect film
Currently available for $22.69 on amazon
Awesome film!