The Swimmer Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A buff dude goes for a swim, forgetting he ruined his life, then gets a chilly reminder.

🍿 The Swimmer: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Journey Begins

Ned Merrill, seemingly out of nowhere, appears at a friend’s pool in suburban Connecticut. He’s dressed only in swimming trunks and seems to have been away for a while. Amidst casual conversation, Ned conceives a plan to ‘swim home’ by traversing a chain of swimming pools, which he dubs the ‘Lucinda River’ after his wife.

Pools and Encounters

As Ned progresses from pool to pool, he meets various acquaintances and neighbors. These encounters gradually reveal fragments of his life, hinting at a past filled with social standing, financial success, and perhaps, hidden troubles. The interactions become increasingly complex, with some welcoming him warmly and others with veiled hostility.

Shifting Tides

The idyllic summer day begins to darken as Ned’s journey continues. He faces subtle rejections and more overt confrontations, suggesting a fall from grace and a fractured reality. The weather mirrors his inner turmoil, shifting from sunny skies to ominous clouds, hinting that something is not quite right.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster): A delusional middle-aged man who attempts to swim across the county via his neighbors’ pools, confronting his past failures along the way.
• Julie Hooper (Janet Landgard): A former babysitter of Ned’s children, she initially joins him on his swim, but becomes disillusioned by his behavior.
• Shirley Abbott (Janice Rule): Ned’s former mistress who confronts him with the pain he caused and the reality of his fallen status.
• Donald Westerhazy (Tony Bickley): A neighbor who initially welcomes Ned and inadvertently sparks his journey by mentioning a new pool.
• Mrs. Hammar (Nancy Cushman): A hostile neighbor who embodies the resentment Ned faces due to his past actions.
• Kevin Gilmartin (Michael Kearney): A lonely boy Ned meets at an empty pool, representing innocence and the potential for connection.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ned Merrill: “I’m splendid!” – Said with forced exuberance, masking his inner turmoil and denial about his situation.
• Ned Merrill: “It’s a beautiful day! Look at that sky, look at that blue water!” – An early, optimistic statement that sharply contrasts with the darkening tone and revelations to come.
• Ned Merrill: “If you make believe hard enough that something is true, then it is true.” – Spoken to Kevin, highlighting Ned’s delusion and his attempt to create his own reality.
• Shirley Abbott: “You got turned out of your golden playpen.” – Shirley’s stinging retort reveals the loss of Ned’s privileged existence and his inability to cope.
• Howie’s Wife: “They laughed about you behind your back. They thought you were one big joke.” – The final crushing blow at the public pool, revealing the truth about his daughters’ feelings.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,200,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $775

💥 The Swimmer Reviews

Personal Review

I watched ‘The Swimmer’ and was deeply moved. Burt Lancaster’s performance as Ned is incredible. The way his journey starts with such optimism and ends in despair is heartbreaking. It’s a haunting look at the dark side of suburban life and the illusion of the American dream. Seeing Ned’s facade crumble, pool by pool, was unforgettable.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in classic American cinema”
  • “Those who appreciate films with symbolic depth”
  • “Admirers of Burt Lancaster’s acting”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Brief partial nudity”
  • “Suggestive situations”
  • “Themes of infidelity and loss”

Professional Reviews

• Slash Film: “Burt Lancaster gives what many consider to be the best performance of his career in this disquieting drama about a man’s descent into isolation and the breakdown of the American Dream.
• FandomWire: “Though Nic Cage goes crazy in The Surfer SXSW Review it is not bonkers enough to outdo Burt Lancaster’s performance in The Swimmer.
• Internet Reviewer: “Frank Perry’s adaptation gets the achingly sad tone of Cheever’s story just right. Burt Lancaster gives a wonderful performance as the picture of middle-aged robustness slowly dissolves into lost insecurity.

Audience Reactions

Viewers felt the film’s portrayal of suburban disillusionment was a powerful and unsettling reflection of reality.: The film’s unique narrative structure and Burt Lancaster’s performance were praised for their emotional depth and impact.

Overall Consensus: A thought-provoking and unsettling drama that explores themes of disillusionment, memory, and the dark underbelly of suburban life, elevated by Burt Lancaster’s compelling performance.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Burt Lancaster, known for performing his own stunts, did nearly all the swimming scenes himself, despite not being a strong swimmer initially. He trained extensively for the role.”
• “Several directors worked on the film, including Frank Perry and an uncredited Sydney Pollack, leading to conflicting visions and a troubled production.”
• “The film’s elliptical narrative and ambiguous ending were divisive upon release, contributing to its initial box office failure.”
• “The movie was adapted from a short story by John Cheever that appeared in The New Yorker. Cheever’s story explored themes of suburban alienation and the illusion of the American dream.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Swimmer?

As a classic film, ‘The Swimmer’ is available on various platforms for rent or purchase. Check streaming services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube Movies to see if it’s currently offered. You may also find it available on DVD or Blu-ray through online retailers like Amazon and other major stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Swimmer, you might like these similar films:

• Revolutionary Road (2008): Explores the disillusionment and dissatisfaction lurking beneath the surface of seemingly perfect suburban lives, similar to the themes in ‘The Swimmer’.
• American Beauty (1999): Offers a darkly satirical look at the emptiness and moral decay hidden behind the manicured lawns and facades of suburban America.
• The Graduate (1967): Captures the sense of alienation and uncertainty experienced by a protagonist adrift in a world of suburban affluence and societal expectations.
• Falling Down (1993): Presents a protagonist’s mental unraveling as he journeys across Los Angeles, confronting the harsh realities of his life, reminiscent of Ned’s journey.
• Adaptation. (2002): A unique movie in which the writer struggles to adapt a non-fiction book into a screenplay. Like ‘The Swimmer’, this movie embraces the strange and unusual.

🛒 The Swimmer Related Products

• The Swimmer [Blu-ray]: High-definition Blu-ray edition with restored picture and sound quality. Includes behind-the-scenes featurettes, interviews with cast and crew, and commentary track. Experience the film as it was originally intended.
• The Swimmer: A Novel: Dive into the story that inspired the movie. Experience Cheever’s prose and symbolism
• Burt Lancaster: An American Life by Kate Buford: An intimate biography chronicling the life and career of the acclaimed actor.
• Swimming Pool Games: For all ages: Bring the fun of swimming to life with games for all ages.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Swimmer features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title From The Swimmer” – performed by Marvin Hamlisch
• “The Swimmer (Suite)” – performed by Marvin Hamlisch

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Under the Skin FILM ANALYSIS

Ever wondered what’s *really* going on in ‘Under the Skin’? This video breaks down the film’s hidden meanings and symbolism. Honestly, it totally changed how I saw the movie – you might find it mind-blowing too!

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