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In Sweet Smell of Success (1957), at the bar, press agent Sidney Falco approaches Frank D’Angelo, who is sitting and watching guitarist Steve Dallas perform with the band on stage:

Frank: Joe, give my nephew a drink.

Sidney: Your nephew doesn't want a drink.

Attention then shifts to guitarist Steve Dallas:

Frank: That's a lollipop, that boy. The kid's only great.

What does "That's a lollipop" mean?

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    A lollipop is just a nice and sweet candy, is that boy equally nice and sweet maybe?
    – OldPadawan
    Commented Oct 4 at 9:58
  • @OldPadawan - There's a couple of possibilities. Lollipop is a slang term for 'a rounded guitar' and it's also a term for 'a young gay man'. I don't think either are relevant here, despite their obvious attraction as potentials matches.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 5 at 12:38

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Given the context and Frank's great big grin, it's clear is that he's happy about Dallas being very talented.

The kid isn't just good, he's great and "that's a lollipop", e.g.

Lollipop: Anything specially good, e.g. the pride of one’s collection
(American Slang - Ca. 1960s)

Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English 8th Ed.

Sidney points out that with 10% of the kid's future income as his theatrical agent, it's no wonder Frank is enjoying the sweet taste of success.

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  • "Only" here is used in the sense of 'nothing less than' as opposed to 'merely'.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 4 at 16:22
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    I agree, the way this is said (I added a video clip to the question) its clearly a compliment
    – iandotkelly ♦
    Commented Oct 4 at 16:25
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Looking at the script, the follow-on line is a reply saying that Frank gets 10% so that makes Frank great. Frank has a PR contract with Dallas and derives income from him.

I am inclined to interpret this line to mean that Dallas is not good enough to be well-and-truly great and therefore he isn't a "meal ticket," just a snack.

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    I think you've misunderstood the line. The "kid's only great" is a compliment.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 4 at 16:07

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