The Swimming Pool (1969)

Lovers Marianne and Jean-Paul spend their vacation in a villa on the French Riviera near St-Tropez. Marianne invites her former lover, Harry, and his teenage daughter to stay. Tension rises between them, especially when Jean-Paul seduces Penelope.

Director:

Jacques Deray

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (adaptation), Jacques Deray (adaptation)

Stars:

Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Maurice Ronet

Cast

Credited cast:
Alain Delon	...	Jean-Paul
Romy Schneider	...	Marianne
Maurice Ronet	...	Harry
Jane Birkin	...	Pénélope
Paul Crauchet	...	L'inspecteur Lévêque
Suzie Jaspard	...	Emilie
Maddly Bamy	...	La mulâtre qui danse (as Madlybamy)
Thierry Chabert	...	Un ami
Steve Eckardt	...	Fred (as Steve Eckart)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ruth Price	...	Singer

Storyline

Lovers Marianne and Jean-Paul spend their vacation in a villa near St.-Tropez. The main feature of the villa is a swimming pool, stage for most of the action. After a visit Marianne invites former lover Harry and his teenage daughter Penelope to stay. Tension between the grown-ups rises especially when Jean-Paul seduces Penelope. The consequences are deadly.

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Plot Keywords:

sunbathing | female nudity | tension | vacation | swimming pool | 

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Taglines:

The most dangerous love-game ever played.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

France Italy

Language:

French English

Release Date:

August 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Swimming Pool

Filming Locations:

Aéroport Nice-Côte d'Azur - Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,989

Company Credits

Production Co:

Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC), Tritone Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alain Delon and Romy Schneider had been real life partners from 1958 to 1963, they were no longer a couple when this film was shot, but remained good friends after their split. In 1966, Schneider married director Harry Meyen and had put her career on hold to care for her son David. Alain Delon imposed that Schneider should be his co-star in "La Piscine" and the film revitalized her career.

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Goofs

A body of someone that has just drowned does not float on water. Only after the decaying process has started and gases build up in the body does the body float to the surface.

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Quotes

Jean-Paul: You talk a lot about the others, but never a word about Harry.
Marianne: Because there's nothing to tell.

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Alternate Versions

Spanish ending. A short shot of about 20 sec is added at the end for moral reasons: high angle on Inspector Levêque stopping his car in front of the house, followed by a police van.

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Connections

Referenced in Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life (2010)

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Soundtracks

Dans la Soirée
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by Michel Legrand
Solo Violin by Stéphane Grappelli
Solo Voice by Michel Legrand

User Reviews

Pool of conscience

This fine French crime drama, is not appreciated as it should be. The cast may be the reason, but there is no one, that comes to mind of contemporary French actors, at the time, that could have added something more to this. The centerpiece of this tale, of moral and emotional decadence is the swimming pool by beautiful villa, somewhere near Saint-Tropez and it radiates summer passion, it's turquoise waters filled with guilty conscience, calling for trouble between three old friends and lovers. Burden each of them carries, would lead to crime even without "sweet Jane" stirring it up to boiling point. Her presence is so light and she almost appears as a mirage, in between scenes of old passions, lust and grudges not forgotten.

The film is everything but slow paced and boring. There is no surplus scene, and I can't imagine how it could be done differently. Of course such films in general are not for audiences of ready-made movies, but for those who will savor Jacques Deray's fine direction, and beautiful cinematography of Jean-Jacques Tarbès. They did a fine job in submerging a willing viewer into exquisite beauty of Romy Schneider, Alen Delon's cool in portrayal of insecure, troubled man that finds his life utterly pointless, Maurice Ronet's subtle acting performance of a successful composer who is afraid of his success, and Jane Birkin's girlish naiveté, ruffle the pool of love and hate. Interraction between Schneider, Delon and Ronet adds another level to it, and the story glides well with every scene serving the story of superficial, emotionless people trapped in their small worlds, in witch they are suffocating. Beautiful film, worth every minute of your time, and not just in cold winter months.