Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

  • Starring: Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis
  • Summary: A 35mm print re-release of Alexander Mackendrick's 1957 film-noir tale of greed and corruption in New York City.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Reviewed by: Staff (not credited)
    100
    Captures the sleazy allure of Manhattan like no other film.
  2. Everyone raves about this 1957 film -- and everyone's right.
  3. 100
    Can a film so expertly capture the odious and bitter that it becomes deliciously, disgustingly beautiful? Yes, if that film is 1957's Sweet Smell of Success.
  4. Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    80
    It's a no-holds-barred account of the sadistic fourth estater played cunningly by Burt Lancaster.

See all 5 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. one of the greatest films ever made,in my opinion.Everything about it is great,the jazzy score by Elmer Bernstein,cinematogrophy by James Wong Howe,the terrific performances,and the unbelivable screenplay which has some of the best dialogue ever written.A must-see. Collapse
  2. 10
    This movie left me speechless. Far ahead of its time, even today. There is no flaw, no pathetic moment, no screwed dialogue. It is perfect in a Kubrickian way but still is very different. Expand
  3. This biting tale of power and corruption plays out as smoothly as its tantalizing Jazz soundtrack. Burt Lancaster is impressively evil as the newspaper columnist trying to keep a hold on his sister's life. Expand
  4. a very peculiar film in that, at a certain point, you don't know who is good and who is bad guy. Tony Curtis is brilliant in one of the most important roles of his career. Moreover, the story isn't captivating and superficially depicts a far darker reality than mere exchange of favors and young guitarists. A good theme barely tapped. Expand

See all 8 User Reviews