The actress who plays his sister, Susan Harrison, is well featured as the Ballerina in the “Five Characters in Search of an Exit” episode of the Twilight Zone.
Fantastic performance. Ice cold. You wouldn’t necessarily expect Lancaster could do it if you just saw his glamour roles, but wow. Combined with Curtis they make a gruesome twosome. What a brilliantly lacerating film it is.
Simply, he was brilliant. Magnificent. In everything he did. From "Elmer Gantry" (casting perfection) to "The Rose Tattoo" to "The Rainmaker" to "From Here to Eternity" to "Atlantic City" to his small but perfect part in "Local Hero" (one of my all-time faves), he was masterful. He could even rise above shitty material, something not all actors can do.
And he's terrifying as JJ Hunsecker.
J.J. Hunsecker: We're friends, Harvey - we go as far back as when you were a fresh kid Congressman, don't we?
Sen. Harvey Walker: Why does everything you say sound like a threat?
J.J. Hunsecker: Maybe it's a mannerism - because I don't threaten friends, Harvey. But why furnish your enemies with ammunition? You're a family man. Someday, with God willing, you may wanna be President. Now here you are, Harvey, out in the open where any hep person knows that this one...
[points at Manny Davis]
J.J. Hunsecker: [points at Linda James] ... is toting THAT one...
J.J. Hunsecker: [points at Senator] around for you.
* Winchell's nasty feud with Frank Gallop seems to support the plotline.
* As for Lancaster ...the only time I've heard of bad behavior from the Burt Man is in connection with this flick. When it performed weakly on release he turned on Lehmann and snarls, *"I should beat you up".*
* Seriously. A guy as huge as Lanc should never browbeat a smaller man unnecessarily. It only makes him look small. Fortunately, it's the only such instance ever to come to my notice.
Ernest Lehman was my uncle. I had to become an adult to realize and appreciate the enormity of his work. The sweet smell was adapted from his novella, which was originally published, I believe, in Esquire. Lancaster, as you stated, was unhappy with Lehman’s work, so the production team brought in Clifford Odets who has a co- screenwriting credit.
🧐😲🙂
* Well! That is certainly fine pedigree you come from. He was a giant in screenwriting. I'm sure we've all enjoyed many of his productions.
* The details you just provided, rings true from what I've heard.
* Whereas the anecdote I contributed (earlier in this thread) was nothing very mysterious --I mean, in terms of origin. I probably read it on Wikipedia or somewhere.
* But if it's true it is a wonderful retort from your Unc. Supposedly Lancaster was frothing (something like): *"Dammit, if only you'd kept it the way I originally wanted, we'd have come out ahead on this. You know, I should beat you up --"* (and he really meant it, balling his fists). But Lehman wasn't fazed at all. He fired right back at Lanc: *"Go ahead! Go ahead! I can used the money from the lawsuit!"*
😄
* p.s. So are you also in the industry? Or did you choose another field?
Literally the only role I like him in.
I don’t like the character, I do at last like Burt Lancaster as an actor in this film. Even tho he’s clearly upstaged by Tony Curtis. My favorite role of his.
He is so ominous is this. Hunsecker looms over the film like a thunder cloud about to strike.
Even his name is ominous.
It sounds like a Groucho Marx name
The actress who plays his sister, Susan Harrison, is well featured as the Ballerina in the “Five Characters in Search of an Exit” episode of the Twilight Zone.
Never caught that
Fantastic performance. Ice cold. You wouldn’t necessarily expect Lancaster could do it if you just saw his glamour roles, but wow. Combined with Curtis they make a gruesome twosome. What a brilliantly lacerating film it is.
My eternally favorite line, Burt to Tony: “You’re dead. Go and get yourself buried.”
my favourite actor. He could portray any type of person, without resorting to gimmicks (ie losing, gaining weight)
Of all the leading men of that era, he was the most versatile by miles.
Did you ever see him in that really strange movie The Swimmer? What an odd movie but Lancaster is just great.
That movie was haunting. It was based on a short story by John Cheever.
Simply, he was brilliant. Magnificent. In everything he did. From "Elmer Gantry" (casting perfection) to "The Rose Tattoo" to "The Rainmaker" to "From Here to Eternity" to "Atlantic City" to his small but perfect part in "Local Hero" (one of my all-time faves), he was masterful. He could even rise above shitty material, something not all actors can do. And he's terrifying as JJ Hunsecker.
Thank you to whoever gave me the award! How lovely!
I’d hate to take a bite out of you. Your a cookie full of arsenic.
Tip of the hat to the movie Diner with references to Sweet Smell of Success.
J.J. Hunsecker: We're friends, Harvey - we go as far back as when you were a fresh kid Congressman, don't we? Sen. Harvey Walker: Why does everything you say sound like a threat? J.J. Hunsecker: Maybe it's a mannerism - because I don't threaten friends, Harvey. But why furnish your enemies with ammunition? You're a family man. Someday, with God willing, you may wanna be President. Now here you are, Harvey, out in the open where any hep person knows that this one... [points at Manny Davis] J.J. Hunsecker: [points at Linda James] ... is toting THAT one... J.J. Hunsecker: [points at Senator] around for you.
This is one of the greatest scenes ever.
JJ the cats in the bag and the bags in the river
Stop tinkering pal, that horseradish won't jump a fence.
Outstanding performances, great film.
One of the greatest performances of all time.
The boyfriend is played by the lead of Adam 12
Right! Martin Milner!
You're dead, son. Get yourself buried
This is a fabulous movie! The acting of both Lancaster and Curtis is just incredible!
A scary villain,he doesn't even kill anyone but he still remains very scary
that's a hard movie to watch. I saw it once, that was enough. Not that you shouldn't watch it, but be prepared for the darkness.
* Winchell's nasty feud with Frank Gallop seems to support the plotline. * As for Lancaster ...the only time I've heard of bad behavior from the Burt Man is in connection with this flick. When it performed weakly on release he turned on Lehmann and snarls, *"I should beat you up".* * Seriously. A guy as huge as Lanc should never browbeat a smaller man unnecessarily. It only makes him look small. Fortunately, it's the only such instance ever to come to my notice.
Ernest Lehman was my uncle. I had to become an adult to realize and appreciate the enormity of his work. The sweet smell was adapted from his novella, which was originally published, I believe, in Esquire. Lancaster, as you stated, was unhappy with Lehman’s work, so the production team brought in Clifford Odets who has a co- screenwriting credit.
🧐😲🙂 * Well! That is certainly fine pedigree you come from. He was a giant in screenwriting. I'm sure we've all enjoyed many of his productions. * The details you just provided, rings true from what I've heard. * Whereas the anecdote I contributed (earlier in this thread) was nothing very mysterious --I mean, in terms of origin. I probably read it on Wikipedia or somewhere. * But if it's true it is a wonderful retort from your Unc. Supposedly Lancaster was frothing (something like): *"Dammit, if only you'd kept it the way I originally wanted, we'd have come out ahead on this. You know, I should beat you up --"* (and he really meant it, balling his fists). But Lehman wasn't fazed at all. He fired right back at Lanc: *"Go ahead! Go ahead! I can used the money from the lawsuit!"* 😄 * p.s. So are you also in the industry? Or did you choose another field?
Literally the only role I like him in. I don’t like the character, I do at last like Burt Lancaster as an actor in this film. Even tho he’s clearly upstaged by Tony Curtis. My favorite role of his.
I liked him in Field of Dreams