Sweet Smell Of Success (1957) New York Tail Fin Noir

A Manhattan press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) makes his doe by getting mentions of his various showbiz clients in a well read showbiz/society newspaper column. Sidney has his glass office door taped with a cardboard shingle proclaiming "Publicity Agent," he lives there also, it's over the Howard Photo Service off Times Square on 46th Street. Sidney scrapes by drumming up press for his clients and putting up a good front. He has a girl Friday Sally who mans the phones. He's no better than the other rats scurrying around on the subway tracks at Canal Street. He gets his cheese but he's got to be sleazy, greasy, and quick to catch the crumbs.

Sidney is cheap he goes without a hat or a top coat so that he doesn't have to check them in or leave a tip at the hat check. at the clubs he frequents.

Sidney's girlfriend is Elysian Room blond cigarette bimbo Rita (Barbara Nichols) who works for Frank D'Angelo (played by Noir Vet Sam Levine). Rita feeds Sidney dirt on the various clients she observes at the club.

The biggest mention he can get his clients is by J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) is loosely based on Walter Winchell who was a sort of precursor to the radio talk show host, tabloid journalist and political columnists of today, all rolled into one. He had a lot of clout in the 1940s and 50s.

Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) center

Sidney is on J.J.'s "drop dead list," he was assigned to break up a relationship between J.J.'s baby sister Susan (Susan Harrison) and a jazz guitar player Steve Dallas (Martin Milner), and he didn't deliver. In fact he's discovered that they are engaged. With this bit of news J.J. gives Sidney a second chance.

J. Simpson & Co, Pawnbrokers was at Broadway & 46th Street

Sidney and Sally

Sidney tries to blackmail a rival columnist Leo Bartha (Lawrence Dobkin) about an affair he had with Rita. Sidney threatens to let his wife know. He wants to get a piece written about Dallas that claims he is a marijuana smoking communist. Bartha tells him off. Otis Elwell (David White) another columnist watches the confrontation and is thinking about writing about it. Sidney knows he's a bit of a pussy hound so he bribes Otis by pimping Rita to him. Rita is up waiting for him for a late date up in his office apartment.

Sidney and J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster)

Steve Dallas (Martin Milner)

Susie (Susan Harrison) 

Rita (Barbara Nichols)

Otis apparently had a happy ending because the item about Dallas appears in the next days column. Dallas is subsequently let go from the Elysian Room. Sidney convinces J.J. to get Dallas re hired and save his reputation and use this as a ploy. Sidney knows that Dallas will not kowtow to J.J. and that he will look bad to Susan.

Dallas insults J.J. in public and Susan breaks up with him to protect Dallas from her brothers wrath. However megalomaniac J.J. feels that Dallas insulted not only him but also the 60,000 readers of his column. J.J. decides to ruin Dallas. He tells Sidney to plant some reefer on Dallas and then to rat him out to a buddy of J.J.'s the bent cop Lt. Harry Kello (Emile Meyer). Kello will rough him up and collar him.

Sidney begs off until J.J. tells Sidney that he can take over his column when he takes his vacation. Sidney bites and it all goes Noirsville.
Noirsville

Tail Fins

Frank D' Angelo (Sam Levene) with Sidney

Toots Shor 51 West 51st Street

Leo Bartha (Lawrence Dobkin)

Lt. Harry Kello (Emile Meyer)

Manny Davis (Jay Adler ) far left

Checker Cab

Otis Elwell  (David White)

59th Street

59th Street and Queesboro Bridge

Sidney on pedestrian walkway of Queensboro Bridge

 

Queensboro Bridge

Tail Fins

Queensboro Bridge at 59th Street

Made by Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions (Vera Cruz, Marty,) and released by United Artists. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick (The Ladykillers) Writing Credits Clifford Odets  (screenplay) and Ernest Lehman (screenplay), Ernest Lehman (novella), Alexander Mackendrick (uncredited). The New York Street Cinematography was by James Wong Howe. The Crime Jazz Music was by Elmer Bernstein and also the Chico Hamilton Quartet.

Great story great dialog and cinematography. Here's a rare Noir where nobody gets killed. 10/10