Journalism as Compared Between Sweet Smell of Success and Deadline USA

Sweet Smell of Success

Sweet Smell of Success is a film about a New York columnist by the name of J.J. Hunsecker. He is well known, feared by some, and respected by all. He uses Sidney Falco as a "press agent," but in reality Falco gets J.J. tips for stories and does J.J.'s dirty work. The central issue of the film revolves around J.J.'s sister, Susan Hunsecker; specifically her relationship with Steve Dallas. J.J. wants this relationship to be disbanded, and uses Falco in a variety of ways to accomplish this objective. While Falco works on the more intimate aspects of their plan, and J.J. uses his power and influence to make the necessary calls when required.

Falco uses the power of persuasion and manipulation to entice and blackmail columnists into publishing bad reviews about Steve's band, which had been gaining popularity. As a result, Steves's band looses their venue. Susan asks J.J. to make a call to get Steves Job back. Falc0 then sets up Steve to speak his mind and stand up to J.J., which then gives J.J. the ammunition he needs to disband the relationship.

Falco and J.J. are characters that are used to being able to charm and persuade in order to accomplish their goals and get where they need to be. They practice a lowly form of journalism, which involves bribery and blackmail. These two men are used to being on top, and getting what they desire, but by the end of the film the way they conduct themselves catches up to them. Falco is imprisoned and J.J. looses his sister. The real winner in this film is Susan, who gained independence from the manipulative tongue or her brother.

Deadline USA

Deadline USA is the story of newspaper editor Ed Hucheson and his battle to save his paper The Day while attempting to publish a story which would put away a serous gangster by the name of Tomas Rienzi. Ed is a strong believer in the principles which The Day is founded upon, and knows that if this paper were to go under there would be a considerable void in the lives of its readers and in the newspaper business as a whole.

The Day is in danger of being sold off to one of its competitors, and Ed believes that if he could publish the Rienzi story, he just might be able to persuade the owners not to sell the paper and get them to realize how valuable it is. Ed plans to accomplish this by linking the murder of a young woman to Rienzi. When publishing the story of the woman's murder Ed chooses not to show any racy pictures of her in the paper and not to demoralize the victim in anyway. Throughout the entire investigation of the woman's murder and Rienzi, Ed sticks to his morals and practices good journalism (With the exception of offering a cash bribe to a witness). He is rewarded when the woman's mother agrees to share her side of the story with Ed because he had shown such integrity in the way he published the story of her daughters murder. This was the missing link that Ed and The Day needed to nail Rienzi.

Ed Hucheson is an excellent example of what it means to practice good journalism. He is courageous and cunning, while maintaining his principles and integrity. This is clearly illustrated by what most consider to be the most powerful scene in the film.

-Tom H.