'Sweet Smell Of Success'

This film was a turning point in Tony Curtis' career.

In the beginning, studio executives advised against taking the role because it could damage his relatively young career (he was 32 at the time). However, he wanted the role in the rather cerebral drama because he wanted to prove he could act.

So he did Sweet Smell of Success and The Defiant Ones -- the groundbreaking 1958 film that put race relations on its head -- in consecutive years and thus a legend was born. Although, he'd do Some Like It Hot a year later. Sometimes you do have to do the money makers (see: cross dressing) so you can do the roles you really want.

Initial moviegoer reaction was as expected. Fans didn't like their pretty boy Curtis in this serious role as a asshole character. Burt Lancaster also took a risk in the film in his role. He was already an established actor and working on a relatively boring film with a first-time director was probably not the keenest of gigs.

Instead, the film became the critic's darling, a cult classic and one of the greatest films of all time.

By the way, A+ on the poster above. Beautiful.