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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick · Cinematography by James Wong Howe

Approved96 min62 frames

Drama

Beware these “Gentlemen” of the press!

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Stills, screencaps & shots from Sweet Smell of Success

16 of 62 frames — the full set is searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, color and mood with a free account.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: closeup — A stack of tied newspapers rests on a nighttime city sidewalk. Pedestrians walk past, with…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dark paneled room features a wooden door and an adjacent dark wood bookcase. A man in an…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A mid-century hotel room interior features a dark wooden dresser in the foreground. A man in a…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A stone-walled tunnel features text-heavy warning signs mounted to the masonry. A middle-aged…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: wide — A 1950s style diner counter displays shelves packed with canned goods and glass bottles. The…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — An office wall is decorated with a cork bulletin board and various framed prints. A man with…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A group of five men perform as a jazz ensemble on a small stage. They play drums, upright bass,…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: closeup — A man stands in front of a dark brick wall at night. The man looks off-camera to the right.Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dark indoor space features a wall with a brick texture in the background. A woman in a dark…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dimly lit bar with a wooden counter and tables in the background. A man in a suit stands by…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dark urban street at night featuring a vintage car and a street sign. An older man stands…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dark, cramped interior of a vintage automobile at night. A young couple sits together in the…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A desolate 1950s New York City street lined with tall buildings and signs. A woman stands in the…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dimly lit nightclub with draped curtains and multiple guests visible in the background. A…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: closeup — A dark, dimly lit room contains a man sitting at a desk. The man wearing eyeglasses looks…Sweet Smell of Success (1957) movie still: medium — A dimly lit room contains a bed with a person lying down in the foreground. One man in glasses…
Sweet Smell of Success (1957) — © Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions, United Artists

Sweet Smell of Success — official trailer

What is Sweet Smell of Success about?

New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.

Where can you watch Sweet Smell of Success?

US availability for Sweet Smell of Success (1957). Data by JustWatch, listings on TMDB. Availability changes — check the provider for current listings.

Who stars in Sweet Smell of Success?

Who made Sweet Smell of Success?

What does the cinematography of Sweet Smell of Success look like?

Sampled across 62 frames, the coverage of Sweet Smell of Success leans on medium shots (56% of the sample) and close-ups (27%). Cinematographer James Wong Howe keeps 71% of it in soft, low-key light. Night and dusk account for 77% of the frames. Vintage glass shapes the frame. Focus stays shallow in 69% of the frames, isolating subjects from their surroundings. The production design places the film in the 1950s.

What is the color palette of Sweet Smell of Success?

The dominant colors across the sampled frames of Sweet Smell of Success (1957) are #040404, #8e8e8e, #303030, #cccccc, #6c6c6c, #484848 — measured from the per-frame color data FrameThrower extracts for every film.

  • #040404
  • #8e8e8e
  • #303030
  • #cccccc
  • #6c6c6c
  • #484848

See the full Sweet Smell of Success colour palette — every hex with its share, plus warmth, saturation and luminance.

Sweet Smell of Success ranks in

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