"Sweet Smell of Success"

The entrance, lobby and main floor of the auditorium of the United Artists Theatre, 933 S. Broadway, have a nice cameo in "Sweet Smell of Success." The UA is pretending to be a theatre in New York. The film, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, was a 1957 United Artists release of a Hecht, Hill and Lancaster production. In this shot you can see the ad for "Oklahoma!" over the entrance that has been blacked out. The theatre had closed after a one-year 70mm roadshow engagement of that film.

Burt Lancaster as a Walter Winchell style columnist, and Tony Curtis as a press agent who will do anything for a mention in his column, do a scene in front of the stage. Joining them is Susan Harrison, here seen in a fur coat just getting out of the cab. She's playing Burt Lancaster's kid sister, involved with a musician Lancaster doesn't approve of. 
 

Looking out onto L.A.'s Broadway from near the boxoffice. The blond haired guy approaching the theatre is Martin Milner, playing Susan's boyfriend. 

Tony Curtis in the United Artists lobby.  

A shot onstage as Lancaster reviews a script. 

 

Another view looking into the house from onstage. 

Another stage view. In the upper right corner you can see a bit of the curved track for the TODD-AO main drape out beyond the proscenium.The filming was done after the run of "Oklahoma!" ended as there's no Todd-AO screen. 

Looking back toward the main floor TODD-AO booth behind Susan Harrison and her boyfriend, Martin Milner.

Lancaster and Curtis over toward house right. 

Curtis dashing across the auditorium. No more mezzanine. This was filmed after the 1955 TODD-AO renovations. 

 

A look across the front of the auditorium toward the house left organ grille. The gentleman at the center is Sam Levene, playing Milner's agent. 

The discussion getting heated.  

More argument.

Susan Harrison running on to the stage to get away from it all. 

Backstage at the dimmerboard. That's Harrison, crying, over near the board. 

Harrison running to get a cab at the end of the scene with Curtis in pursuit. 

See the Los Angeles Theatres pages on the United Artists Theatre for a history of the 1927 vintage movie palace along with hundreds of photos.

A look down from the balcony during the UA shoot. It's from a "making of" featurette with the Blu-ray edition of the film. On the left note the stage extension built for the film. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for the screenshot. 


Two items from Walter Winchell's column expressing his distaste for the film:

Thanks to Jonathan Raines for locating these Winchell items.

On IMDb: "Sweet Smell of Success"