Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Swimmer Blu-ray Movie Review

Trunks of sorrow.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 24, 2014

1968’s “The Swimmer” is a dream and a nightmare rolled into a deceptively simple mission of memory evasion. It’s a strange picture, but engrossingly so, taking the viewer on a journey of self-delusion and nostalgia that gradually exposes a richly tortured main character as he attempts to immerse himself in a life that’s no longer available to him. Strikingly made and outstandingly performed by Burt Lancaster, “The Swimmer” (directed by Frank Perry and scripted by Eleanor Perry) deftly combines disturbing realities with the romance of fantasy, constructing a riveting psychological portrait of a man set loose in his own playground of emotional fragmentation. Beautifully shot and executed, the effort is generous with disturbing, puzzling behavior, yet wise enough to provide clear clues to aid interpretation.

Arriving at a pool located at the residence of old friends, Ned Merrill (Burt Lancaster) enjoys reunion time, catching up on personal business while traveling down memory lane with familiar faces. Inspired by the comfort of the moment, Ned figures out a path of pools that leads back to his house, winding through the neighborhood, electing to swim his way back to his family, portaging between estates. Taking off in a fit of inspiration, Ned quickly greets the reality of the plan, reuniting with neighbors, estranged companions, and ex-lovers as he searches for pools to conquer, confronted with hostilities he doesn’t immediately understand, clinging to a concept of his life that doesn’t connect with the domestic reception he receives. As the afternoon wears on, Ned grows weary with concern, trying to grasp the animosity of those he was once intimate with, making his presence at the various pools troubling for everyone.

Adapted from the short story by John Cheever, “The Swimmer” is an allegorical take on the ice-melt disorientation of a nervous breakdown, captured through the initially innocent serenity of Ned’s pool-hopping mission. It’s a deceptively easy odyssey, as Ned find a perfect line-up of backyards and friendly faces to visit, approaching the task as one of warm reflection on personal relationships that have stagnated in recent years and as an extended physical challenge, with the purity of exercise igniting the character’s passions. The production sets a jovial but askew tone early for “The Swimmer,” with Ned’s ingratiating, cocktail hour behavior charming at first, welcomed warmly into the daily businesses of acquaintances, though curiosity about his very appearance in random pools, clad in nothing but swim trunks, raises the first red flag. The material is counting on viewers to notice such oddity, commencing the movie’s slow descent into reality, offering glimpses of Ned’s rattled headspace that demand closer inspection.

It’s not just old golf buddies and their flirtatious wives that Ned greets during his pool expedition, soon catching up with Julie Ann (Janet Landgard), a former babysitter of his children who’s grown into a striking 20-year-old woman. As she confesses a crush on her employer during her teen years, Ned responds in full, reclaiming his younger self with this opportunity for seduction, showing off endurance skills by leaping around a horse show jumping area (one of two connections to equine imagery) with his afternoon partner. Other community visits trigger different elements of his personality, exposing pride with his wife and daughters, which causes some to recoil in disgust, and a meeting with a pair of nudists suggests financial hardship for Ned that’s made him untrustworthy, though social niceties prevent these burned neighbors from confronting their former friend about his debts. Every stop on the tour pokes a hole in a seemingly indestructible veneer, revealing Ned’s illness without defining it clearly. Clues help to understand that something is very wrong with the swimmer, but it’s not readily apparent just what’s going on in this woozy mix of polite conflict and dreamy avoidance.

Through it all, there’s a substantial performance from Lancaster that holds “The Swimmer” together. Bravely exposed for the entirety of the movie (including some flashes of nudity), Lancaster communicates intense contemplation that’s comfortably theatrical and honestly pained, articulating Ned’s programmed skills of affability as the reality of the tour begins to grind on his senses, culminating with an extended scene where the traveler meets with ex-lover Shirley (Janice Rule), confronted with evidence of his own cruelty. Lancaster gives his all to the work, traversing difficult stages of recognition while slipping comfortably into Ned’s golden god exterior. The supporting cast is filled with a few recognizable faces (including Joan Rivers as the lone woman unaware of Ned’s history in town), but attention always returns to the star, who’s deeply felt, gut-rot performance eases the interpretational aspects of “The Swimmer” and communicates every emotional beat with perfection.

The Swimmer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation continues Grindhouse's exemplary work in the BD realm, with a gorgeous filmic offering of "The Swimmer." Free of debris, the viewing experience is rich with color, exposing deep blues found in numerous pools and the depths of Lancaster's eyes, while neighborhood greenery looks summery and true. Skintones are natural, and flesh fuels a crisp sense of fine detail, while locations are defined and easily surveyed. Grain is managed perfectly, retaining a cinematic touch that brings the image to life. Blacks are stable and exact. "The Swimmer" looks fresh and inviting on this disc, preserving the moods and mystery of the original cinematography.

The Swimmer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a respectful and crisp representation of the film's confluence of aural elements. Scoring (from the late Marvin Hamlisch) stands out as clean and rich with instrumentation, providing bold orchestral support to the picture without drowning out the on-screen action. Dialogue is sharp and expressive, clearly communicating emotions. Atmospherics are evocative, with pool activities and outdoor particulars serviced well, setting the mood. As with the visual experience, everything here is freshly prepared, without hiss and overt damage, delivering what was originally designed without distortion.

The Swimmer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains ten pages, featuring essays from Stuart Gordon and Chris Innis.

• "The Story of 'The Swimmer'" (148:53, HD) is a miraculous five-part documentary from Innis that dissects the feature in full, with specific attention to Lancaster's star power and the BTS strife that almost prevented the movie from being released. Enthusiastic interviews with Michael Hertzberg (1st Assistant Director), Ted Zachary (2nd Assistant Director), Joanna Lancaster (Burt's daughter), Janet Landgard (Actress), Bob Horn (Swim Coach), Marge Champion (Actress), Joan Rivers (Actress), Sidney Katz (Editor), and Marvin Hamlisch (Composer, recorded in 2010) are richly detailed with anecdotes and memories, most recalling the star's presence and director Frank Perry's inability to connect with his leading man, creating a contentious attitude on-set fueled by producer Sam Spiegel, who played both sides to preserve his enormous ego. While Lancaster is sufficiently revered (only Rivers is honest about the star's history of undermining directors), the candor put forth here is outstanding, generating a riveting tale of a Hollywood tug of war, with evidence in the form of letters and quotes, painting a portrait of an ambitious production that was derailed by control issues, leading to Perry's dismissal, extensive reshoots from Sydney Pollack, and a two-year release delay. It's an exhaustive documentary, but there's never a dull moment.

• Interview (17:55, HD) with actress Marge Champion takes place at a TCM revival film festival, conducted by director Alison Anders. Champion only has a small part in the movie, but she shares her history with the role and her one-set experiences.

• "John Cheever Reads 'The Swimmer'" (25:41) is an undated recording of the author.

• Still Galleries include Frank Perry's Storyboards (14 images), Production Stills (139 images), Janet Landgard Stills (34 images), Deleted Barbara Loden Scene (46 images), U.S. Promotional Materials (55 images), and International Promotional Materials (28 images).

• "Title Sequence Outtakes" (4:04, HD) collect scenes of nature and animal wrangling, scored to Hamlisch's music.

• Filmographies are provided for Frank Perry, Eleanor Perry, and Janet Landgard.

• A U.S. Theatrical Trailer (2:43, HD), and five T.V. Spots (2:10, HD) are included.

The Swimmer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While Lancaster is the anchor of "The Swimmer," the feature does have a fascinating visual language, flirting with dreamscape imagery and collisions of shock that sharpen the movie's dramatic intentions, reaching a point of exquisite disillusionment that powers the picture's unexpected killing blow. While literal enough to follow in a satisfying manner, "The Swimmer" retains its hallucinatory appetites, keeping the whole effort tilted, often masterfully so. It's bold work and a forgotten film that deserves a fresh audience, with this exemplary BD providing a perfect opportunity to discover its numerous treasures.