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Drama

The Swimmer

- When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself?

Well-off ad man Ned Merrill is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb. Ned suddenly decides that he'd like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned's journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures.

Release Date : 1968-08-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Horizon PicturesColumbia Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Burt Lancaster

Character Name : Ned Merrill

Original Name : Burt Lancaster

Gender : Male

Janet Landgard

Character Name : Julie Ann Hooper

Original Name : Janet Landgard

Gender : Female

Janice Rule

Character Name : Shirley Abbott

Original Name : Janice Rule

Gender : Female

Tony Bickley

Character Name : Donald Westerhazy

Original Name : Tony Bickley

Gender : Male

Marge Champion

Character Name : Peggy Forsburgh

Original Name : Marge Champion

Gender : Female

Nancy Cushman

Character Name : Mrs. Halloran

Original Name : Nancy Cushman

Gender : Female

Bill Fiore

Character Name : Howie Hunsacker

Original Name : Bill Fiore

Gender : Male

Rose Gregorio

Character Name : Sylvia Finney

Original Name : Rose Gregorio

Gender : Female

David Garfield

Character Name : Ticket Seller

Original Name : David Garfield

Gender : Male

Kim Hunter

Character Name : Betty Graham

Original Name : Kim Hunter

Gender : Female

Charles Drake

Character Name : Howard Graham

Original Name : Charles Drake

Gender : Male

Bernie Hamilton

Character Name : Chauffeur

Original Name : Bernie Hamilton

Gender : Male

House Jameson

Character Name : Mr. Halloran

Original Name : House Jameson

Gender : Male

Jimmy Joyce

Character Name : Jack Finney

Original Name : Jimmy Joyce

Gender : Male

Michael Kearney

Character Name : Kevin Gilmartin

Original Name : Michael Kearney

Gender : Male

Richard McMurray

Character Name : Stu Forsburgh

Original Name : Richard McMurray

Gender : Male

Jan Miner

Character Name : Lillian Hunsacker

Original Name : Jan Miner

Gender : Female

Diana Muldaur

Character Name : Cynthia

Original Name : Diana Muldaur

Gender : Female

Keri Oleson

Character Name : Vernon

Original Name : Keri Oleson

Gender : Male

Joan Rivers

Character Name : Joan

Original Name : Joan Rivers

Gender : Female

Cornelia Otis Skinner

Character Name : Mrs. Hammar

Original Name : Cornelia Otis Skinner

Gender : Female

Dolph Sweet

Character Name : Henry Biswanger

Original Name : Dolph Sweet

Gender : Male

Louise Troy

Character Name : Grace Biswanger

Original Name : Louise Troy

Gender : Female

Diana Van der Vlis

Character Name : Helen Westerhazy

Original Name : Diana Van der Vlis

Gender : Female

Philip Bruns

Character Name : Biswangers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Bruns

Gender : Male

Alva Celauro

Character Name : Muffie (uncredited)

Original Name : Alva Celauro

Gender : Male

John Cheever

Character Name : Man at Pool Party (uncredited)

Original Name : John Cheever

Gender : Male

Lisa Daniels

Character Name : Matron at the Biswangers' Pool (uncredited)

Original Name : Lisa Daniels

Gender : Female

Hugh Franklin

Character Name : Denny (uncredited)

Original Name : Hugh Franklin

Gender : Male

John Gerstad

Character Name : Bunkers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : John Gerstad

Gender : Male

Dennis McMullen

Character Name : Lifeguard (uncredited)

Original Name : Dennis McMullen

Gender : Male

Eleanor Perry

Character Name : Woman at Pool Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Eleanor Perry

Gender : Female

Frank Perry

Character Name : Man at Pool Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Perry

Gender : Male

Marilyn Langner

Character Name : Enid Bunker (uncredited)

Original Name : Marilyn Langner

Gender : Male

Ray Mason

Character Name : Bunkers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Mason

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-06-03

"Ned" (Burt Lancaster) has been away for a while so his neighbours are a bit surprised to see him, clad only in his trunks, swimming in their pool. After some chat with them, he discovers that barring the odd bit of terrain to cross, he can pretty much swim his way home through the pools of other neighbours/friends/acquaintances - a river and even a public lido... The film now follows him as this rather unique journey introduces us to his community, and to his own interesting, complicated and lively backstory. I could run to all sorts of amateur psychology about my understanding of what each stop means to him; to those with whom he stops, and to those of us watching - for the adaptation of the pretty depressing Cheever short story would certainly indulge that; but I felt this was more of a testament to an always slightly under-rated actor in Lancaster. He starred in some superb films over his career, and this - with him almost entirely en cueros, with his soul likewise just as scantily attired, allows us to gradually understand where his character has been, and to guess, maybe, where he might be going. Kim Hunter maybe stands out amongst the supporting cast, but I'm not sure that any of them outdo the other - they all fulfil their function adequately offering us a myriad of possibilities for his current and past behaviour. The ending is especially poignant and as an ingenious and imaginative piece of cinema, this takes some beating.

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2024-06-16

**_Offbeat parable of self-discovery on the collapse of the “American dream”_** A somewhat confused man in swimming trunks (Burt Lancaster) travels from pool to pool in suburban Connecticut on his way home. Some of the people he comes across are played by Janet Landgard, Janice Rule, Joan Rivers and Diana Muldaur, amongst several others. "The Swimmer" (1968) is a semi-surreal commentary on mid-60’s America and the emptiness of materialism, as well as self-destruction. The fact that Ned Merrill (Lancaster) is almost naked throughout the film tells all. But the revelations are lowkey; you have to put the pieces together. I liked the insights on the folly of compulsiveness, whether social, youth-obsession, sexual or self-delusion. It’s an immersion into a struggling man’s soul. The allegory offers additional insights about the people we cross paths with in life. Friends might, more accurately, be casual acquaintances. Those whom you least suspect might be your biggest fans, at least in their memories. How did you treat others when you were on top? Who’s there for you when you’re no longer on top? It runs 1 hour, 35 minutes, and was shot entirely in southwest Connecticut (Weston, Wilton, Westport, Stamford and Fairfield). GRADE: B