SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957)Absolute power of the press

The modern film noir SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS reeks. It reeks of greed, cynicism, power abuse, and oh yes, more than a hint of sibling incest. It's about a cruel and controlling New York columnist named J.J. Hunsecker (based on columnist Walter Winchell and played to perfection by Burt Lancaster) and an amoral, sycophantic press agent named Sydney Falco (perfect name for this sleazy character, surprisingly well acted by Tony Curtis). Hunsecker wants Falco to break up his sister's romance with a jazz trumpeter named Dallas (Martin Milner, also excellent). Beautifully filmed in black and white on the streets of New York.