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.
