Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Ambitious PR man Sidney (Tony Curtis) trades personal favors with influential columnist (Burt Lancaster) in exchange for getting his client’s names into his articles. The latest favor is to get Hunsecker’s kid sister away from a dirty jazz singer. This task proves harder than first seems.

Lancaster’s Hunsecker is a Walter Winchell type. Ruthless, manipulative, egomaniacal. Also with a suspicious infatuation with little sis. And Sidney is willing to do anything, use anyone, to succeed, consequences be damned. What transpires is a battle of and between two wholly unethical men.

At one level one can understand why someone would not want their little sister seeing an unsavory musician but not so much when he is played by Martin “Apple Pie” Milner (Adam-12). Susan Harrison (Little sis) had a rather short career despite being very charming here. Just three movies and eight episodes of TV over eight years. She married outside the industry and apparently moved on with life.

Sweet Smell of Success has an engaging story, a smart script, and excellent performances all around. It’s original, compelling, surprising, sometimes amusing, and thoroughly enjoyable. I should have watched it sooner. Much sooner. AMRU 4.5.

"Everybody knows Manny Davis - except Mrs. Manny Davis."

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Joe and Jerry (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) are down on their luck musicians. The only job offered is for an all girls band in Florida. When they become witness to the Valentine's Day massacre, they decide to borrow some dresses and take that gig.

So, on the train they go with a bunch of women trying hard not to stand out. There they meet troubled hottie Sugar Kane, played by troubled hottie Marilyn Monroe. George Raft played a gangster, like in that other movie that featured the Valentine's Day massacre.

Anyhow, they get in and out of trouble, meet strange and interesting people, and find true love, of a sort. Curtis and Lemmon were great, the dialog was crisp, and the hottie was hot. Way to camouflage a pregnancy, Marilyn. She'd be dead in three years.

Monroe, I understand, was an utter train wreck on the set. Always late, couldn't remember her lines, difficult to the end. She wasn't invited to the wrap party. Billy Wilder hated her, though used her notoriety for his own gain. He considered Mitzi Gaynor for the role.

Banned in Kansas and condemned by the Catholic Church, Some Like it Hot was a well written, well made, and wonderfully crafted movie. AMRU 4. By the way, the title refers to how they like their Jazz. Sugar liked it hot.

"Well, nobody's perfect."