Key Quote to Analyze: "I'd hate to take a bite out of you. You're a cookie full of arsenic."

"The Dark Side of the Deadline: Power, Corruption, and the Poisonous Dialogue of Sweet Smell of Success"

Set the scene in 1950s Manhattan—a world of neon, jazz, and ruthless ambition.

Below is an outline and key thematic points to help you put together a high-quality analysis or research paper.

Note that the film was a box-office failure upon release because it was "too dark," but it is now considered one of the greatest American films and is preserved in the National Film Registry .

Discuss the cinematography by James Wong Howe. The use of location shooting in New York City creates a claustrophobic, "on-the-pavement" feel that distinguishes it from other 1950s dramas.

Final thought: Sweet Smell of Success remains a timeless warning about the price of fame and the danger of unchecked media power. Director: Alexander Mackendrick. Screenwriters: Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman. Cinematographer: James Wong Howe. Original Source: Based on the novelette by Ernest Lehman. Sweet Smell Of Success The DVD - Amazon UK