prudhocj ................that runs throughout this one-of-a-kind film and pulls it together in all of its hard-edged, creepy, dark and riveting auteur driven brilliance is the camera work of the man who single-handedly invented/developed (out of the necessity to light other more forgettable films) the film noir genre - James Wong Howe. He is one of the few geniuses produced by the Industry and his influence dominates the movies to this day......especially through Steven Spielberg, JJ Abrams and George Lucas. From the Silent Era right up to "Solo" the viewer can "feel" him in virtually every movie ever made, good or bad, since the mid-1920's. Don't believe it? Just look at his filmography! He was casually innovating ideas that other cinematographers took as their own "important" ideas years later. Case in point - Gregg Tolands' groundbreaking "deep focus" camera work on Citizen Kane can be directly traced to Howes' "Transatlantic" camera work 10 years before. All this said, "Sweet Smell........" is one of the 10 best movies ever made and worthy of seeing over and over.

LeonLouisRicci Sour-Full Display of the most Cynical with its Cyanide Script and Loathsome Characters. Visually Striking New York City Showbiz Nightlife with Predators Aplenty.Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis Spar Endlessly using Their Wits as Weapons taking Bites out of each other and Wounding Weaker People then Occasionally going in for the Kill. The Film is Populated with assorted Associates, Hangers On, Desperate Types and the Corrosive Colliding like so many Pin-Balls in the Confined Environment of the Big Apple.Visceral War of Words in the Concrete Jungle as these "Animals" Instinctively Forego Empathy and replace it with Brutality. It can be a Tough Watch because it is Relentlessly Hurtful and the Slaughter is Shown Up Close and in High Contrast.The Pace is Hustle and the Mood is Manic. Fascinating, Captivating, and Claustrophobic, it Ranks with the Likes of "Sunset Blvd" (1950) as the Decades most Scintillating and Scathing Films to come from the Safe and Saccharin 1950's.Film-Noir as a Substantive, Subversive Style was in Decline by this Late Date, but the Makers of this Movie didn't Read the Press Release as it Remains a Solid Entry in the Genre.

m-meehan-28239 This movie was good. I really grew attached to the story since I was frustrated at how conniving the older brother was. I hated how he was confronted in the theater and then played it off trying to make the jazz player seem crazy. I did not enjoy how the main character got screwed over in the end I guess this could be seen as karma but he was just trying to do the right thing the brother was the one who really deserved to be ruined. He was just a manipulative jerk. The brother did in the end lose his sister but he still had everything else and I feel that she would just make up with him. I just wish his consequence were more permanent Like he got caught with having the boyfriend assaulted

CriticalViewing This film, directed by Mackendrick, takes place in New York City. But not just your everyday New York City; he uses the streets, the alley ways, places outside that have very little witness to potential crime occurrences, offices where shady deals are made, back rooms where private discussion happen that eventually come to light. Love is shattered, deals to make sure it happens for good are agreed upon by none other than the sweet innocent Suzy's brother who doesn't want to ever part with her. He wants to keep her in his life and be close with her because she's all he's got in terms of family, and he's willing to destroy the true love her sister had been lucky enough to find while still under his wing. So in order to do that, he makes deals with Falco, a publicist. J.J, Suzy's brother, is an extremely powerful newspaper writer who could destroy you with the dial of a few numbers or with a few lines off of his typewriter. Just as he was powerful with his influence, he was intimidating in his demeanor. He ran the show. But to his sister, and only to her, he was a bit of a softie. Which was very sweet to see. But in this sweetness and the brotherly-sisterly love he has for her, he poisoned their relationship with deceit, strong-armed Falco and the corrupt police force and anyone else writing in New York City at the time, and to what end?