Sweet Smell of Success (Blu-ray)
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick
Studio: Criterion
Year: 1957
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 1080p AVC codec
Running Time: 96 minutes
Rating: NR
Audio: PCM 1.0 English
Subtitles: SDH
Region: A
MSRP: $ 39.95
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Review Date: February 16, 2011
The Film
4.5/5
One of the most cynical examinations of the old axiom that power corrupts, Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success is a film that has only grown in impressive importance over the decades since its first release. Despite two huge box-office stars in the leads, the film was an infamous box-office flopin its initial release, but watched today, it only seems to gain in power and impact as it runs. These viciously memorable characters doing unthinkable things for the sake of their own goals remains a mesmerizing viewing experience with dialogue that crackles more than half a century after it was performed. This is one great movie noir; it might not deal in murder, but its views of the dark underbelly of show business ambition and gossip mongering fit right in with noir sensibilities.
Broadway columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) is used to ruling the roost; people from the highest levels of society along with show business celebrities and political figures court his favor, and his power is such that underlings like press agents can be manipulated with the greatest of ease. The most desperate for his attention is Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) with a client list that expects frequent mentions in J. J.’s daily column, a situation that is fraught with tension when Sidney fails to carry out one of J.J.’s commands with instant success. His beloved sister (Susan Harrison) has gotten very close with jazz musician Steve Dallas (Martin Milner), and J.J. wants them broken up. Sidney hatches a scheme to suggest Steve is a hophead and Communist-sympathizer and pimps a cigarette girl (Barbara Nichols) he likes to a rival columnist (David White) in exchange for that gossipy tidbit to appear in his column (thus keeping J.J. innocent in his sister’s eyes). It appears as if the scheme is a success, but breaking up the couple doesn’t seem to be enough for the power-mad Hunsecker.
The story for the film was adapted from Ernest Lehman’s novella by Lehman and playwright Clifford Odets. Lehman had been a press agent, so he knew the territory thoroughly, especially the need to suck up to newspaper columnists to get publicity for his clients. Hensecker is based on columnist Walter Winchell, in his day the most powerful of the daily newspaper scribers. And director Alexander Mackendrick is masterful in delaying the physical introduction of Hensecker while the viewer learns in offhanded ways of his commanding position of power in the industry. Instead, the director focuses the film on Tony Curtis’ Sidney Falco as he slips and slithers his way around the nightclubs and city streets as he manipulates all in his path. Mackendrick blocks scenes with such frenetic choreography and razor-sharp pacing that they’re hypnotic to view. Instead of showy flash cuts in the camera or editing room, he accomplishes the same feeling of immediacy and urgency through the staging of the scenes and the fluid camerawork (by veteran James Wong Howe). If the film has a weakness, it’s in the secondary couple – the “good guys” who are guilty only of falling in love against the wishes of the power brokers. They’re bland and uninteresting, and when the film resolves itself in the last quarter, it’s hard to believe such an innocent managed any kind of manipulation that leads to the climactic events. The somewhat slow-witted character’s beating the cons at their own con game doesn’t ring quite true. (Of course, the production code of the era possibly is to blame for such an ending, and even with it, the one of the film’s major villains still isn’t ruined, itself something of a surprise.)
Tony Curtis gives one of the best performances of his career as the edgy, desperately manipulative Sidney, and the director really gives the actor so much time in the spotlight that Burt Lancaster’s forceful columnist is a clear second in importance in the movie. Curtis really takes the ball and runs with it, and he's never been better. Lancaster for his part underplays the role, keeping his power and menace tightly controlled amid an aura of cool, coiled authority. Susan Harrison is out of her depth as the nineteen year old Susan Hunsecker. A newcomer to the screen, Harrison simply doesn’t have the emotional reserves or acting experience to pull off the part, especially surrounded by such experienced actors (one wonders what the young Lee Remick or Carroll Baker would have done with the part). Martin Milner is respectable and honorable as the framed musician, while Jeff Donnell gives a touching account of a devoted secretary as Falco’s girl Friday Sally. Barbara Nichols as the bartered cigarette girl and Sam Levene as Milner’s agent give their usual reliable performances in roles they’re tailor-made for.
Video Quality
4.5/5
The film is presented at its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 and is presented in 1080p using the AVC codec. The grayscale is marvelously presented in this transfer with nicely-applied contrast bringing out exquisite detail particularly in the close-ups as we see every pock mark, scratch, or facial blemish on the actors. Blacks are good but don’t always reach the depths of greatest possibility. However, there are no problems with artifacts like moiré in the herringbone overcoat or in other jacket and dress patterns. The image is also exceptionally clean and free of dirt or damage. The film has been divided into 23 chapters.
Audio Quality
3.5/5
The PCM 1.0 (1.1 Mbps) audio mix presents the typically mono-era soundtrack with crystal clear dialogue (a must to hear all of those magnificent quips) along with the Elmer Bernstein jazz riffs and the occasional street or nightclub ambiance typical of New York City nightlife in the 1950s. There is some mild hiss to be heard throughout and a few instances of light crackle that the Criterion engineers weren’t quite able to eliminate completely. Still, despite the obvious ADR dialogue loops, it’s a fine track with decent fidelity.
Special Features
4/5
The audio commentary is provided by film scholar James Naremore. It’s a combination of film analysis and biographical information about the participants, all of which makes for an excellent track that deserves to be heard.
Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away is a 1986 documentary featuring director Alexander Mackendrick discussing his film career along with actors, producers, and others with whom he had worked over the years. This 44 ¾-minute feature is presented in 1080i.
“James Wong Howe: Cinematographer” is a 1973 feature interview with the famous cinematographer in which he discusses his craft, relates anecdotes from his career dating back to the silent days, and shows us how to properly light a scene before it’s shot. This runs 21 ¾ minutes in 1080i.
Film historian Neal Gabler discusses the life and career of Walter Winchell, the first daily columnist who seriously considered writing as entertainment rather than as information, in an enlightening featurette which runs 29 minutes in 1080p.
Director James Mangold talks about Alexander Mackendrick and his influence on his life as a film student when Mackendrick served as the Dean of Film Studies at Cal Arts. This runs 25 minutes in 1080p.
The theatrical trailer for the movie runs 3 ¼ minutes in 1080p.
The enclosed 57-page booklet contains the chapter listing and cast and crew information, a few stills from the movie, critic Gary Giddins’ look at the world represented in the movie, an autobiographical piece by Ernest Lehman and excerpts from his novella which introduced the movie’s characters, and excerpts from Alexander Mackendrick’s book about his career with an introduction by editor Paul Cronin.
The Criterion Blu-rays include a maneuvering tool called “Timeline” which can be pulled up from the menu or by pushing the red button on the remote. It shows you your progress on the disc, the title of the chapter you’re now in, and index markers for the commentary that goes along with the film, all of which can be switched on the fly. Additionally, two other buttons on the remote can place or remove bookmarks if you decide to stop viewing before reaching the end of the film or want to mark specific places for later reference.
In Conclusion
4.5/5 (not an average)
You may safety dispose of that old MGM nonanamorphic release of Sweet Smell of Success with the release of this superb Criterion edition with plentiful bonus material and pristine picture quality along with more than adequate vintage sound. This masterful film of corruption and ambition comes highly recommended!
Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC
