An amazing film discovery - The Swimmer

[beefheart]

I had long heard about the Burt Lancaster film "The Swimmer", but never really understood anything about it. Last week TMC had the film on (and I have since watched it again on Amazon with my girlfriend), and I was blown away. How had I never seen this film? Lancaster in is best work ever as an elite, upper class country club kind of guy in Connecticut. Clad only in his swim trunks, we see him at the beginning of the film dropping in on some friends while hikiing, he is like a god, loved by all. He decides that he can swim from estate to estate all across the city back to his house and his loving wife and family. What happens is an allegorical odyssey, at each house, we learn a lot more about who he is, and, through subtle uses of story, we are tracing his life. Its a film you will talk about and discuss, it is amazing. I highly recommend this film, it was a gutsy choice by Lancaster, who, at age 54 looks amazing and gives a knockout performance.

 

[OldFatGuy]

I had long heard about the Burt Lancaster film "The Swimmer", but never really understood anything about it. Last week TMC had the film on (and I have since watched it again on Amazon with my girlfriend), and I was blown away. How had I never seen this film? Lancaster in is best work ever as an elite, upper class country club kind of guy in Connecticut. Clad only in his swim trunks, we see him at the beginning of the film dropping in on some friends while hikiing, he is like a god, loved by all. He decides that he can swim from estate to estate all across the city back to his house and his loving wife and family. What happens is an allegorical odyssey, at each house, we learn a lot more about who he is, and, through subtle uses of story, we are tracing his life. Its a film you will talk about and discuss, it is amazing. I highly recommend this film, it was a gutsy choice by Lancaster, who, at age 54 looks amazing and gives a knockout performance.

Do you understand this movie is an allegory for the character's life in the movie? This is the ad man's last run, his last swim. He's at a point in life where he has lost everything, including his family, fortune and home. He's been deceiving himself. Every stop, every encounter represents an event in his past. “If you make believe hard enough that something is true, then it is true for you.” There's much more to it, but I don't want to spoil the rest for you. It is based on a short story by John Cheever.

Definitely one of Lancaster's gems, with an interesting back story as well. Almost every cameo is played by character and supporting actors from throughout Lancaster's career. One exception is John Cheever, himself. Without a credit, Lancaster's good friend, Kirk Douglas, helped write the script.

 

[beefheart]

Do you understand this movie is an allegory for the character's life in the movie? This is the ad man's last run, his last swim. He's at a point in life where he has lost everything, including his family, fortune and home. He's been deceiving himself. Every stop, every encounter represents an event in his past. “If you make believe hard enough that something is true, then it is true for you.” There's much more to it, but I don't want to spoil the rest for you. It is based on a short story by John Cheever.

Definitely one of Lancaster's gems, with an interesting back story as well. Almost every cameo is played by character and supporting actors from throughout Lancaster's career. One exception is John Cheever, himself. Without a credit, Lancaster's good friend, Kirk Douglas, helped write the script.

I do, I just don't want to give too much away....

 

[OldFatGuy]

I do, I just don't want to give too much away....

Good, and it was an excellent decision for you to post about this movie.

BTW, lifelong friends Lancaster and Douglas, both started as circus acrobats, but never worked together as acrobats.

 

[late]

You live by BS, you die by BS.

If you are getting the impression I didn't like it, you would be entirely correct.