The Swimmer (1968) | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Name: The Swimmer (1968)
Released: 1968-5-15
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Janice Rule, Kim Hunter

The Swimmer (1968)

PG
1h 35m
1968

100%

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In an affluent Connecticut suburb, Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) decides to "swim" home via the pools of his wealthy friends. Along the way he encounters several women from his past: a tempestuous teenage girl; his embittered ex-mistress; and the sensual wife of an old friend. Ned's journey is one of embarrassments, humiliation and steamy passion.

Director:

Frank Perry

Writer:

Eleanor Perry

Cast:

Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Janice Rule, Kim Hunter

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

TOMATOMETER®

100%

Reviews

film-authority.com

Eddie Harrison

…The Swimmer’s social commentary is a little dated now perhaps, but the acerbic portrayal of the toxic American male in decline is captured in a way that should really sing for modern viewers…

Burt Lancaster’s performance is arguably his very best, with the actor recognizing his unique positioning to capture the rotted heart of this quickly evaporating creature.

Based on a short story by John Cheever, this movie is an allegory inconspicuously larded with the torment of regret. It is sprightly, tidy, and devastating in the same way that an episode of Mad Men ought to be and often is.

As Ned embarks on his odyssey, his rich luxurious playground gradually turns into a nightmare. The beautiful paradise begins to shows signs of decay, rotting from the inside.

...a deliberately-paced drama that's been suffused with a whole host of off-kilter and downright avant-garde elements...

January 17, 2021

FULL REVIEW