Sweet Smell of Success

 Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis reunited (after Trapeze) in the 1957 film noir Sweet Smell of Success.  

The film tells the story of powerful, sleazy and sinister newspaper columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Lancaster) who uses his connections to ruin his young sister's relationship with a man he deems unworthy of her.

In reality, because of J.J.'s obsession to maintain a close relationship with his sister (they live together), no man would be deemed worthy of her.

Manhattan press agent Sidney Falco (Curtis) scans the New York Globe for J.J.'s column which dominates the entertainment world. For the fifth day in a row, J.J. has not publicized any of Sidney's clients, as he has asked Sidney to end his sister's affair with a jazz guitarist. 

Sidney has been unsuccessful so far.  But, J.J. wants him to continue trying.

Similar to Trapeze, in the end. J.J. and Sidney's relationship is broken because of a woman.

Sweet Smell of Success was filmed on location in New York City in black and white.  Both Lancaster and Curtis were native New Yorkers, born in Manhattan.

Lancaster was reunited in this film with two actors from his first film, The Killers.   Sam Levene played the Swede's friend since childhood and now J.J.'s sister's boyfriend's agent.

Queenie Smith portrayed a maid in a hotel where the Swede stayed and now a personality J.J. wanted on his weekly program.  

Paladin, Chapter 20

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT 

PALADIN enters hotel and walks to reception.

PALADIN: In what room is POLLYANNA?

CLERK: I'm sorry, sir, but she's not here.  She's most likely at her ranch this time of night.

PALADIN: (grabbing the shirt of clerk) One last time.  In what room is POLLYANNA?

CLERK: 10.

PALADIN climbs stairs and goes to room 10 and enters it.

INT. ROOM 10 - NIGHT

PALADIN enters room 10.  POLLYANNA is lying in bed in her night clothes and is mildly surprised to see PALADIN.

POLLYANNA: Well, this is a pleasant surprise.  I can't say I'm disappointed either.

PALADIN: I wanted you to know your friend won't be coming tonight.

POLLYANNA: What friend are you talking about?

PALADIN: Well, it's not BIG DAN.

POLLYANNA: So, why is my friend not coming tonight?

PALADIN: I told him to go home to his wife.

POLLYANNA: And he did...just like that?

PALADIN: You could say I didn't give him much of a choice.

POLLYANNA: What a coward!  Well, you're here.  Why don't you stay.  We have a lot to talk about.

PALADIN: Look, if you want a new husband, get a divorce and look for a single man.

POLLYANNA: You're so old fashioned.

PALADIN: Perhaps.  But, I don't like to see people get hurt unnecessarily.  Especially somebody like GRACE.

POLLYANNA: Who cares about GRACE?

PALADIN: I do.

POLLYANNA: On the other hand, you're single.

PALADIN: Yes, I'm single, but I'm not interested in staying here.  Have a good evening.

PALADIN is set to leave the room.

POLLYANNA: (Shouting) PALADIN!

PALADIN: Quiet, POLLYANNA.  You'll wake the other guests.

Father's Day Again

Today, June 21, is Father's Day in the United States.  Happy Father's Day.

When I was a child, Father's Day meant my father, Harry Lasky, born September 7, 1901 in Troy, New York, the seventh of eight children in a family of first generation Jewish-Americans whose parents had emigrated from eastern Europe.

On December 7, 1975 (Rachel) and August 15, 1985 (Bret), I became a father.  As a result, Father's Day took on a new meaning.  

When my children were born, I felt an immediate bonding with them, something I had never experienced before.  Raising my children became my #1 priority.  

I also discovered that I totally enjoyed the experience of being their father. 

My children are grown now and I am very proud of them.  I consider Rachel and Bret to be the greatest successes of my life. 

On January 17, this year, Bret became a father when his daughter Macy was born.  Happy first Father's Day, Bret.

Trump again

Today, June 14, 2026, Donald J. Trump celebrates his 80th birthday.  Welcome to the club.

From September of 1966 until May of 1967, I was in my senior year as a student at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

I think my favorite course that senior year was an introductory one in real estate.  I learned its three rules:  location, location, and location.  

Our professor had us study an actual neighborhood in West Philadelphia, not far from the campus.  Each student was given an address of a house in the neighborhood and had to do various research related to the house.  

One was to go to Philadelphia City Hall (intersection of Broad and Market Streets) and look up the last three times the house had been sold (using old fashioned microfilm) to certify that each owner had signed on the subsequent sales document.  This is what title insurance is about.

Some time during that senior year, a colleague mentioned that one of our fellow students was Donald Trump, the son of a wealthy New York City real estate developer.  He was a junior transfer from Fordham University in New York City.  We never met.  

Trump was at Penn because of the Wharton School's real estate program.  He graduated 12 months after I did in May of 1968.

In November 2016, Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States of America.

In November 2024, Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States of America.  He is scheduled to serve until January 20, 2029 when he will be 82 years of age.

Trapeze

Trapeze is a 1956 American circus film starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis and Gina Lollobrigida.  The film was among the top three box office earners of 1956 in the United States and Canada.

A trapeze is a short horizontal bar suspended by two ropes or metal straps from a ceiling or support structure. It is primarily known as an aerial apparatus used by acrobats and circus performers to execute swinging and gymnastic tricks.

In the film, embittered trapeze aerialist and former circus star Mike Ribble (Lancaster) needs a cane to walk as a result of a fall during a performance (shown in the first scene of the film). Brash, inexperienced Tino Orsini (Curtis) comes to Paris and wants Mike to train him to do the dangerous triple somersault. 

Mike, only the sixth man to complete the triple, brushes him off at first, but comes to believe that Tino is capable of matching his feat.  He starts to teach him. 

However, the manipulative Lola (Lollobrigida) enamors Tino, convinced he is a star in the making. Mike is pressured into adding her to their new act.

Tensions rise as Lola and Mike are attracted to each other.  However, Mike clearly sees how mercenary she is.  A love triangle forms. 

Tino comes to resent Mike's attempts to warn him about Lola. He breaks up with Mike.

However, during a performance attended by circus VIP John Ringling North, Mike talks Tino into attempting the triple. The French circus owner tries to stop them by having the safety net taken down, but Tino goes ahead anyway and achieves the highly dangerous feat. 

A greatly impressed North immediately offers all three a job with his circus in New York. Tino wants Mike back, but Mike leaves followed by Lola.

Lancaster, a former circus acrobat, performed many of his own stunts in the film, though the most dangerous (including the climactic triple somersault) were performed by technical consultant Eddie Ward from the Ringling Brothers Circus.  

Trapeze was filmed entirely in Paris, including at the Cirque d'hiver and at the nearby Billancourt studios.

I remember watching this film at the Oswego Theater during my youth.  

As a result of the film, I fell in love with the circus trapeze act.  It's thrilling.  I looked forward to it every time I took my children to the circus when it came to New York's Madison Square Garden.  

On the other hand, I don't like the high wire act.  It's scary.

Paladin, Chapter 19

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Later that night, PALADIN walks the streets of Windfall.

INT. STABLE - NIGHT

Finally, PALADIN enters stable to check on his horse.  Its seems well cared for.  The stable owner, an old man named SMITTY, is the only person there.  PALADIN notices another horse, well lathered, must have recently arrived in the stable.  

PALADIN: SMITTY, who brought this horse here?

SMITTY: POLLYANNA, BIG DAN's wife.  Bout ten minutes ago.  She must a bin in a hurry, I figer.  

PALADIN: Did you see where she went?

SMITTY: No.  I was too busy with her horse.  But, sometimes she takes a room at the hotel, I hear.  Pretty strange for a missus, if ya ask me.

PALADIN: Thanks.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

PALADIN leaves stable and heads to hotel.  Half-way there he see a man walking in the dark also walking towards hotel.  PALADIN rushes to cut him off.  It is CHARLES.

PALADIN: Good evening, CHARLES

CHARLES: (surprised) What?

PALADIN: Going my way?

CHARLES: Where?

PALADIN: The hotel.

CHARLES: Ah, no, just out for a walk.

PALADIN steps in front of CHARLES, preventing him from proceeding to the hotel.

PALADIN: I think we should have a talk.

CHARLES: Can this wait till tomorrow?

PALADIN: No.  We need to talk now.

CHARLES: What's this about that's so important?

PALADIN: Your wife.

CHARLES: My wife?  My wife is no concern of yours.

PALADIN: Well, sir, the way you're acting, she is no concern of yours either.  So, somebody has to be concerned.  And I am taking on that responsibility.

CHARLES: What are you talking about?

PALADIN: Sir, I know exactly where you are heading and who is waiting for you there.  And such a meeting is not in the best interest of Grace.  

CHARLES: I still don't know what you're talking about.  And you, sir, are not in charge of what is in the best interest of my wife.

PALADIN: I strongly suggest you turn around and go back home.

CHARLES: I'm sure I will in good time.  I don't need you to tell me this.  Am I violating any law at present?

PALADIN: No law of man, but perhaps a law of ethics and God.

CHARLES tries to push past PALADIN, but fails because of the impairment of his right arm.

CHARLES: You have me at a disadvantage, sir.  I'm asking you as a gentleman to let me pass.

PALADIN: If I let you pass, will you act as a gentleman and go home?

CHARLES: I'll do as you ask, but next time we meet, I'll be better prepared to confront you, sir.  

PALADIN:  As will I.

CHARLES retreats to his home.  PALADIN waits for some time to make sure CHARLES does go home and then PALADIN continues to the hotel. 

Dr. Richard R. Beeman

Please note the following from Dr. Richard R. Beeman, John Welsh Centennial Professor of History Emeritus, Department of History, University of Pennsylvania: 

“There is no question but that the thirteen American colonies, when they declared their independence (July 4, 1776), considered themselves "united States" in that common cause, but NOT The United States.    

And the Articles of Confederation reinforced that notion of thirteen independent and sovereign states--making it clear that the states, not the "central government," was supreme.  

Indeed, the Articles of Confederation are properly considered more of a "treaty" among those sovereign states than America's first Constitution.    

The drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution was an important step in creating the United States, but, in fact, if you look in the public press during the period between 1789 and 1865, most of the references to the central government are spelled "united States," not "United States."  

It is only after the Civil War, when the notion of a perpetual union is enforced by force of arms, that the American nation is regularly referred to as the "United States.””