Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) is a press agent for small acts in and around Broadway. He is beholden to columnist J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) to publish Falco's promotional materials. Hunsecker, a vengeful megalomaniac, has frozen Falco out until Falco breaks up the relationship between Hunsecker's younger sister, Susan (Susan Harrison), and jazz musician Steve Dallas (Martin Milner).
This is definitely noir and Lancaster has never made a bad movie, but it just didn't stick the landing for me. The climax peters out instead of detonating. I wanted this movie to have shrapnel. Still, it's very highly regarded in film circles and does showcase a sweaty, sleazy Curtis as well as a solid supporting cast. If you're a Lancaster completionist or interested in All Things Noir, give it a shot. It's currently streaming on Kanopy with a library subscription or Tubi with ads.
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