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The Swimmer (1968)

 -  Drama  -  15 May 1968 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 3,610 users  
Reviews: 105 user | 48 critic

Neddy Merrill has been away for most of the Summer. He reappears at a friends pool. As they talk, someone notices that there are pools spanning the entire valley. He decided to jog from ... See full summary »

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Title: The Swimmer (1968)

The Swimmer (1968) on IMDb 7.5/10

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Janet Landgard ...
Julie Ann Hooper
...
Shirley Abbott
Tony Bickley ...
Donald Westerhazy
...
Peggy Forsburgh
Nancy Cushman ...
Mrs. Halloran (Nudist)
Bill Fiore ...
Howie Hunsacker
David Garfield ...
Ticket Seller (as John Garfield Jr.)
...
Betty Graham
Rose Gregorio ...
Sylvia Finney
Charles Drake ...
Howard Graham
Bernie Hamilton ...
Halloran's Chauffeur
House Jameson ...
Mr. Chester Halloran (Nudist)
Jimmy Joyce ...
Jack Finney
Michael Kearney ...
Kevin Gilmartin Jr.
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Storyline

Neddy Merrill has been away for most of the Summer. He reappears at a friends pool. As they talk, someone notices that there are pools spanning the entire valley. He decided to jog from pool to pool to swim the whole valley. As he stops in each pool his interactions tell his life story. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself? See more »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

15 May 1968 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Schwimmer  »

Filming Locations:


Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to multiple biographies of Burt Lancaster, Barbara Loden's scene with Lancaster was reshot with Janice Rule as Loden's performance had overpowered him in the scene. Using Rule, whose performance was less powerful than that of Loden, restored balance to the scene. See more »

Goofs

At the Binswangers, when he is pushed, Ned's positioning in the close-up does not match the other shots. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Donald Westerhazy: Where have you been keeping yourself?
Ned Merrill: Oh, here and there. Here and there.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Charade (1984) See more »

Soundtracks

"Send for Me in Summer"
(Theme from 'The Swimmer')
by Marvin Hamlisch
See more »

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User Reviews

A strong movie, rarely seen, with a telescoping metaphor
20 June 2000 | by (Houston, Texas) – See all my reviews

I saw this movie in 1968 when it came out, and have never been able to forget it. I never found anyone who had ever heard of it--a shame. It's my favorite Burt Lancaster performance: I can't imagine anyone else doing the role justice.

When Neddy is ready to leave the garden cocktail party he has been invited to, he looks out across the valley and sees the row of pools, all belonging to his neighbors. He's obviously a poet, and sees the chain of pools as a river (Metaphor). He decides to swim back home. Little does he, or we, know at this point what going home means! He goes from house to house, he greets his friends and jumps into their pools. We become a little worried as things seem to get a little out of hand--a little more so at each house. It's not long before we realize that this "river" is (Meta-Metaphor!) a trip through time, through his life--and that he has made one fine mess of it. The ending is amazing, and almost unbearable.


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Burt Lancaster's looks and build. east215
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