This is another of the "Classic Scene" features from the old "Premiere" Magazine, which could always be counted on to choose an interesting "moment in time" (per James Stewart's phrase) depicted in the film-world, this one—as the magazine described—from a screenplay that was famed for its corrosive dialogue and for some of the nastiest late-night denizens Hollywood has ever produced."
It's Sweet Smell of Success, from the short novel by Ernest Lehman (based on his time working for a New York publicist, Irving Hoffman), which was first published in the April, 1950 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine as "Tell Me About it Tomorrow!" (as a result Hoffman wouldn't speak to Lehman for a year). Ironically enough, it was a laudatory piece by Hoffman in The Hollywood Reporter that first garnered attention to Lehman from the Hollywood studios.
By the time the story's rights-holders Hecht-Hill-Lancaster were getting around to filming, Lehman had established enough clout to produce and direct it, despite misgivings from the production company's distributor, United Artists. Director Alexander McKendrick (Whiskey Galore!, The Man in the White Suit, The Ladykillers), who had made a name for himself making films for the recently-sold Ealing Studios, was chosen (despite making a success in England, McKendrick was American). Lehman, at some point, dropped out of writing the screenplay with him and McKendrick chose Clifford Odets to work on the screenplay, which he did, sometimes turning in script pages the day of filming.
I'm not a fan of Odets' writing. It tries "too hard" to be clever to the point where sometimes it's bizarrely artificial (I need only point to the line from this movie where Lancaster's Hunsecker tells Tony Curtis' Falco he's "a cookie made of arsenic."—I ask you, who talks like that?). But, one can't deny the power of this little scene of shifting loyalties and attempting to avoid the klieg light glare of vindictive columnist J.J. Hunsecker. Cockroaches always run from a light and that's what Hunsecker thinks of people, toying with them, insinuating, making his guests—invited or not—uncomfortable.
It's that shifting dynamic of Hunsecker and his victims that makes the scene so interesting and fascinating to watch.
Sweet Smell of Success was voted into the National Film Registry in 1993.
The Set-Up: Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is a low-level press agent in New York City trying to make it big. To further his career, he has promised to find out information for powerful columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), whom he is trying to contact at one of the man's "haunts"—the "21" Club—where he is seated with some other denizens trying to get his attention—and maybe a mention in his column, The Agent (Jay Adler), The Senator (William Forrest), and The Girl (Autumn Russell).
Be careful what you wish for.
Action.
As the girl, shrugging, puts through the call, CAMERA moves
closer to Sidney in the booth. He hears the connection
made, speaks at once.
We are close enough to the instrument to hear the sound of a
voice on the other end. Though the words are not
distinguishable, it is quite clear that the speaker is not
talking to the phone. Sidney seems to relax, as if this is
something that happens often. He waits, studying his
manicured fingertips...
Presently Sidney hears the voice on the other end become
clearer.
Hunsecker's voice, filtered through the sound of the
telephone, is sharp and tiny; but the words are now very
clear.
HUNSECKER (O.S.) Can I come out? No.
SIDNEY Later...
HUNSECKER
I'll check it in the morning, Low -
thanks.
Hunsecker is scribbling a note on the pad.
Meanwhile the Senator whispers something to the girl, who
giggles softly.
SIDNEY
A close shot. Sidney shows no reaction to this insult. He
steps in closer, an Indian fixity in his face.
REVERSE ANGLE
Shooting across Sidney, onto Hunsecker. J.J. turns - but
not to Sidney. He raises his hand in a small gesture which
summons a passing Captain, who steps into picture at Sidney's
elbow.
In foreground, Sidney turns to the Captain with a carved
smile, indicating that Hunsecker's change of topic is to be
interpreted as sanction for Sidney to remain.
The Captain,
not entirely convinced, retreats.
Sidney finds himself a
chair, places it and takes a seat which is near enough to
the table to establish his presence. During this:
Sidney's interjection is quietly well-mannered. Hunsecker
totally ignores it. The other members of the party are a
little astonished at the interplay.
The girl, in particular,
is fascinated; she clearly admires Sidney's looks. The
Senator, noting this, glances at Sidney, accepting the point:
THE SENATOR, THE GIRL, AND THE AGENT
REVERSE ANGLE
Group shot. The Senator in foreground, Sidney beyond
Hunsecker in background, and the others on edge of shot.
SIDNEY AND HUNSECKER
Sidney nods pleasantly to the Girl and the Agent.
Hunsecker is picking up the phone, continuing:
REVERSE ANGLE
To intercut with the above.
The Senator, the Agent and the
Girl watching Hunsecker. The Agent's reaction to Hunsecker's
remark is a sickly smile.
RESUME HUNSECKER
He repeats aloud a story which is told him over the telephone.
During the speech, CAMERA eases back to include Sidney again.
RESUME REVERSE ANGLE
The Senator, amused, asks:
RESUME HUNSECKER AND SIDNEY
Sidney glances sidelong at Hunsecker.
THE AGENT AND THE GIRL
The Agent glances uneasily at the Girl beside him.
RESUME HUNSECKER
He studies the Girl intently.
RESUME THE AGENT AND THE GIRL 
GIRL
Singing, of course...straight
concert and -
RESUME HUNSECKER
Hunsecker's glance flicks between the Girl and the Senator.
As the Girl betrays herself with a nervous glance at the
Senator beside her, CAMERA eases back to include him. The
Senator is unruffled; gravely, he lights a cigar.
The Girl
laughs.
RESUME HUNSECKER
Again his glance links the Girl and the Senator.
THE SENATOR, THE AGENT AND THE GIRL
SIDNEY AND HUNSECKER
Hunsecker, for the first time, half-turns in Sidney's
direction, amused.
RESUME THE AGENT, THE GIRL AND THE SENATOR
RESUME SIDNEY AND HUNSECKER
Sidney bitterly resents the adjective, but contrives to hide
the fact; he smiles, gracefully accepting the compliment.
Hunsecker (who knows what Sidney feels) is pleased; he turns
towards Sidney expansively.
HUNSECKER
I skip the
pleading nervous bit that sometimes
blends over into bluster. The
moist grateful eye is a favorite
face with him - it frequently ties
in with the act of boyish candor:
he's talking straight from the
heart, get it?
Hunsecker has started his speech lightly, but it has built
up to enough cold contempt and feeling to embarrass and
intimidate the others at the table.
Words by Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman (and Alexander Mackendrick)
Pictures by James Wong Howe and Alexander Mackendrick
The Sweet Smell of Success is available on DVD from M-G-M Home Entertainment and The Criterion Collection.
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