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[J.J. Hunsecker] You see that grin? That's the, uh, 'charming street urchin' face...
It's part of his 'helpless' act- he throws himself upon your mercy.
[V.O.] I’ve previously shown you Burt Lancaster in The Killers, with Ava Gardner.
Here we see him, thirteen years later, in the lead role.
It’s a tighter, more controlled- frankly, quite terrifying- and worthy of an Oscar nomination, performance.
[J.J] ...all the tricks of his very slimy trade.
That is not, however, to downplay the two other smashing leads.
Sweet Smell of Success has three main characters:
J.J.Huntsecker; a powerful and manipulative, young newspaper columnist.
[J.J] Billy, you're not following in the column- I had it last week.
[Sidney] Senator, do you believe in capital punishment?
[Senator] Why?
[Sidney] A man has just been sentenced to death.
We can tell even from the opening shots that he dominates the lives of those around him.
A poster advertising his newspaper column has echoes of 1984’s ‘Big Brother’.
Sidney Falco; press agent and professional slimeball
Wonderful American word!
-who wants nothing more than for his clients to have a staring role in JJ’s column and will do anything to get them there.
[Leo Bartha, agitated] You wanted to tell my wife something? What? What, Sidney?
[Loretta Bartha] He wanted to tell you that you've spilt champagne all over-
[Leo] Come on I'm waiting!
[Leo] Come on I'm waiting! Tell her!
[Sidney] Come on, what are you getting all excited about- what are you, nuts or something?
[Leo] I'm sorry, Lori, I can't let this man blackmail me.
[Loretta] Blackmail?
And little Susie Huntsecker- JJ’s younger sister and object of his obsession.
They’re devoted to each other but in a terribly unhealthy manner.
[J.J] Come on and hug me. Poor kid- you look so nervous.
You're trembling, dear.
Whilst the press agent Falco, played by Tony Curtis (looking peculiarly beautiful as always)...
wrestles with his conscience as the anti-hero, I watch for the strange connection between Susie and JJ.
He seems to want nothing more than for his sister to give him the adoration he feels he deserves.
Our plot is simple: JJ doesn’t like Susie’s new boyfriend...
or any other man being close to her- I warned you it’s insalubrious!
He employs Falco to do his dirty work and get rid of the boy… whatever it takes.
[Susie Hunsecker] It'll only take a minute- ten cents of American 'tell an' tell'.
[J.J.] You're picking up my lingo, now.
[Susie] I read your column every day.
Susie isn’t even out of her teens yet and perhaps JJ is attempting to stop her growing up...
perhaps he’s scared of loosing the only family member he has left or perhaps there is something fishier going on…?
Susie is miserable in her gilded cage but very well taken care of; dressed in an oversized fur and followed from afar to ensure she’s ‘protected’.
JJ wants to give her the illusion of freedom; telling her he trusts her judgement when it comes to a person’s character yet quite clearly feeling the opposite.
They live together in an expensive apartment and have been on their own for some time.
Susie is referred to constantly as J.J.’s ‘kid sister’ and everyone treats her as a child, speaking down to her and using her pet name.
She gets advice from all sides yet no one but Steve (the boyfriend) asks what it is she wants exactly.
[Steve Dallas] Why don't we hear what Susie has to say?
[J.J.] That's stout of you, Dallas, but perhaps Susie may not care to air her views in public?
[Steve] Susie?
[J.J.] Susie, as always, is free to say anything she wants.
Come on, dear. Say exactly what's on your mind, dear.
[Steve] Those 'dears' sound like daggers- why don't you stop daring her to speak?
[J.J.] What is this? What are you trying to do?
[Steve] I'm trying to get Susie to stand and talk but your manner is so threatening she's afraid to speak!
[J.J.] You've had your say, let me have mine!
[Susie] But I haven't said anything, J.J.!
Susie is on a knife-edge, she’s a simmering pot about to boil over, she's...
various other kitchen related metaphors.
The actress playing her, Susan Harrison, worked briefly during the 50s and 60s. The Sweet Smell of Success was the highlight of her career...
and she’s probably better known in America for being the mother of the winning contestant on reality show ‘Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire’ in 2000.
Which is just… wretchedly unfair!
Harrison does a fantastic job portraying Susie and her struggle. At all times, she leaves the audience on tenterhooks…
Will Susie make it? Can she save herself from this life?
[Steve] This coat is your brother.
I've always hated this coat.