Illeana Douglas on THE SWIMMER

[@colderbeer]

I saw it last week and agree that it is indeed a masterpiece.......it's like you're watching an episode of the Twilight Zone that lasts for 90 minutes.

[@paulvon2378]

Lancaster did this movie at age 55. Hard to believe he could stay in such shape at that age.

[@susanmarie2231]

Super film on many levels. Thank you Ileana.

[@bandicoot5412]

Saw it in 68, I was 15, and it was art ever since.

[@trevorspiro945]

I've watched it at least 10 times since the late sixties. One of my all time favourite films. We live in a world of such pretentiousness that this movie ruthlessly exposes.

[@tony0000]

I watched it when I was 9 and when I was 62. Different perspectives, but equally powerful and memorable.

[@padijeff5675]

It’s a masterpiece film! Lancaster is such a watchable actor!🙂

[@emerybayblues]

I saw the movie when I was in my teens and didn't get it. Then I read the story on a flight, the guy across the aisle from my on the plane tried to read it over my shoulder 😆. I understood it then.

[@RicardoDirani]

I first watched this movie I think in 1996, 18 years after it was out,, so, as recent then as A Beautiful Mind is today. It left a mark. I think I never saw it again, but it's been always in my mind from time to time. It came back strongly to me a few days ago, so I watched it again today, and man... Watching it now at 45 had a whole different punch as it had when I was 21. I just can't stop thinking about Ned, where he had been living when his strange amnesia hit him, where he went after that storm left him shrivelled in despair at his former home. I read the short story for hints, and now I want to read more short stories by John Cheever until I feel I know where Ned ended up. Yeah, I somehow got 18 years between 1968 and 1996. Make it 28. So, as recent then as The Silence of the Lambs is now.

[@avogadro7237]

Excellent commentary, Ms. Douglas. I enjoyed your biography. This movie is indeed a classic; ever so slowly it just gets darker and darker.

[@TseTseFlyMan]

I watched this based on this recommendation. Thank you so much. It was not just a movie, it was an experience.

[@HazeAnderson]

Very powerful movie. Very sad movie. Thumbs up!

[@marks_sparks1]

Only Burt Lancaster could've pulled this arthouse classic off. Simply amazing performance in this analogy of the American Dream

[@evhvariac2]

Kirk Douglas may have been able to

[@akarpowicz]

It's such a sad movie, I only watched it twice. Brilliant and highly recommended.

[@stephenvincent4989]

Thank you for your insightful critique of “The Swimmer”. Mr Lancaster being my most favorite actor and this film certainly displayed him teeth, body and all at his very deep meaningful best. His portrayal of this flawed character is riveting.

[@mortalclown3812]

Exactly how I feel about B.L. This and The Leopard are my favorites. Rest in paradise, Burt.

[@carlodave9]

I watched it on a lark because the premise of the blurb sounded odd. Though it started off like a kitschy time-capsule film, I was surprised how darkly honest it progressively became. Kinda messed me up for a while. Thanks to Grindhouse for restoring such a strange treasure.

[@165Dash]

Carlo Dave “Kinda messed me up for awhile.” Kinda the best one-sentence movie comment I’ve read in awhile” Would be perfect on a movie poster! Bravo!

[@Boudica234]

I hear ya. It's one of those movies that stays with me for days after I watch it. I saw it first as a kid and it disturbed me on a level I really didn't understand at the time. Now I still find it disturbing-and brilliant.

[@johnpick8336]

Fabulous performance fron Burt !

[@p47thunderbolt68]

I remember catching this movie on a late night channel back in the late 70s Thought it was one of the greatest movies ever . Especially the ending .

[@drjohnson98]

What a tremendous film. Amazing it got made, especially at the time that it was made. Burt Lancaster was great in it and many other roles. He deserves more attention as an actor. Speaking of which, I have enjoyed Illeana Douglas in everything she has done, the only downside being that I wish she had done more and will keep getting juicy roles.

[@waynej2608]

Totally agree. Burt and Illean a, both amazingly talented.

[@phillipthompson6627]

I had no idea what to expect when I found this film on line the other day and watched it. I really enjoyed it, but then I realized I couldn't stop thinking about it. I went to re-watch it yesterday but the site was taken down. I think it's one of the best films I've ever seen.

[@Pimp-Master]

Just saw it online last night...man, it's a knock out, like Hollywood making one big expensive Twilight Zone episode by way of Kubrick's 2001. I'm guilty of loving Cult Films, so I'm on solid ground again. Thanks for talking about it.

[@christoph404]

what I see in this movie is a man who has had a total mental breakdown and is living in an amnesia type state, he is not able to cope with the cruel reality of his life and so his mind has taken him to a fantasy place in order to save him from pain, but gradually as his journey to " swim home" progresses his confusion is painful to witness as the harsh reality begins to dawn on him ,he has lost his wife and family because of his infidelity, and he has lost his job and his money and his home, he has become financially bankrupt that is apparent, and his former friends are not so pleased to see him. It is a powerful and somewhat sad story, the ending of the movie is extremely harrowing, but by that point we can see what's coming. I saw this film on TV as a teenager many years ago, late 1970s, it left a lasting impression, I've lost count of how many times I've viewed it now, thanks to DVD and more recently the blu ray.

[@alexander3699]

Such a great and seriously underrated film! Holds up very well!

[@floydvaughn836]

Want another one? NOMADS.

[@garthly]

Lancaster was just the right age for this film. At the start his body is just young enough to pass as full of life and hope, but by the end its evident decay expresses his inner malaise.

[@krishnamurtiism]

Just watched it and loved it so watched it again straight away. I think the reference to the ash tree getting its leaves early and shedding them quickly as being in some way significant. In what sense I haven’t a clue.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Absolutely agree: the scene between Lancaster and Rule is the highlight of the film. Tough and scathing and Rule is magnificent.

[@waynej2608]

It's the one where he kisses her feet. Great scene!

[@AndyMangele]

Absolutely - I very much loved the tone of voice Janis Rule had!

[@snoozer987]

The Swimmer, is such a good movie! It is like an adventure, that kids would come up with. But it's an adult man protagonist, and his harsh reality, keeps clashing with his fun.

[@floydvaughn836]

You just described ....

[@gouvyrock]

great movie about the american way of life that become a nightmare, about appearances in front of others ,about "what's life ?" -great actors also !!!!

[@r4rifle]

She is one totally cool lady! Total babe and sharp as a new nail! The BEST!

[@gunner678]

Superb movie, a psychological masterpiece. An American Nightmare indeed. To me there are elements of midnight cowboy in this film also, a contrast if you will.

[@hadeseus]

This is an awesome review on The Swimmer. Though some information is false. It was not Burt Lancaster who replaced Barbara Loden, it was the producer Sam Spiegel. Sam hated the movie so much that he did not put his name on it as producer. According to screenwriter Eleanor Perry, Barbara Loden's husband, director Elia Kazan was disgusted with the forced sex scene between Burt and Loden, he asked his friend Sam Spiegel to burn the scenes.

[@curiousworld7912]

I love this movie. The only performance from Burt Lancaster that I think tops this, is his role as Ernst Janning in 'Judgement at Nuremberg'.

[@waynej2608]

I'd go with his deliciously menacing portrayal of J.J. Hunsecker in the classic, Sweet Smell of Success. With an equally impressive, Tony Curtis.

[@AbstractASMR1]

"....the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation"

[@asharpmajor6740]

I haven't even seen this film yet but from all the commentaries I have viewed on it, I already love it

[@civilizedsatyr]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Frank and Eleanor Perry are as much the architects of what was to become 70's cinema as Arthur Penn, Mike Nichols and John Schlesinger. Now if someone would just release LAST SUMMER and DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE to DVD or streaming...that would be great.

[@sclogse1]

Mickey One. Soundtrack changed my world.

[@mortalclown3812]

If I had my way, I'd have Burt in a jar for every lifetime.

[@amarijayamari]

Absolute fabulous film, and from an equally great story. Haunting and seductive...

[@crabnebula1914]

Love Illeana Douglas' videos! She's one of my new favorites of the TFH alumni

[@scottbrandon6244]

It was an interesting film. You don't fully realize what's gong on until the near of the film.

[@ThePiratemachine]

Very good review. The scene with Janice Rule is - well - brutal, but real.

[@jhhone]

You neglected to mention Joan Rivers in the movie! I liked the extended intro, Ms. Douglas! Frank Perry also directed the female-centric 1986 comedy "Compromising Positions"!

[@plasticweapon]

people talk too much about joan rivers' part. it's shoehorned into the film.

[@skellys1948]

Thanks for a very interesting review of a movie that I own and have seen numerous times, based on a short story that I initially read, and listened to via the recorded reading of the story, by its author, John Cheever. I love it, and think of it as a updated, suburban version of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." But I never heard about the directing and acting changes that were made. That makes me want to re-watch it, immediately. And your coda..."Maybe, it's a big fraud?" Surely, you jest....

[@MarkGentry-xn6te]

One of the world's greatest tragic films.

[@chessdad182]

One of my favorite movies. I rewatched it yesterday. Great review.

[@greenman6141]

In the UK, until 1983 there was only one television station that showed advertisements. And in an hour of programming, they showed maybe 5 minutes worth. The effect of that on the ads was...they were extremely high quality, and had large budgets. They were often really great. You actually wanted to watch them. In 83 a daring second channel showing ads was added!. But for most of the next decade and a half. TV ads in the UK were, on the whole, inventive, visually arresting and often very very funny. Indeed, they got better...more expensively done. In the US, lots of directors came from the music video world. IN the UK, they came from the advertising world, because the ads used such advanced techniques and were very carefully directed. It gave us people like Ridley Scott, and Jonathan Glazer - people who really liked good films (and don't like bad ones) I remember an ad that had a man going from one house to another, diving into a pool in the back garden, getting out the other side, going over the fence etc....except instead of large suburban 1960s Connecticut homes, they were all terraced London back gardens. It was funny in and of itself, and making the change in location and house style made it very funny indeed. Though most of the audience would have had no idea what the references were.

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

I saw this movie and I am looking high and low for a copy!

[@JeremySockman]

Lots to talk about with this movie!

[@iancrombie8862]

Read the John Cheever book

[@simonsimon8572]

One of my favorite movies

[@Shadowsnshades]

I was thinking of the film earlier today! Don't know how, but I was thinking to myself, that I need to see this movie again. Low and behold, it's Ms. Douglas is on Trailers from Hell introducing the Trailer. Illeana great minds have fine tastes in movies. Cheers! P.S. I also grew up in Connecticut, and it has it's hidden threads of weirdness. My friends and I used to swim in other peoples pools without them knowing. Only we called it, "Pool Hoping."

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

Well done Illeana!

[@RWSCOTT]

I watched this, Wanda & 3 Women all around the same time. All shattering, transfigurative works.

[@crabnebula1914]

I recommended this film to a friend of mine with such confidence I told him that if he didn't like the movie, I would reimburse him for the cost of the blu-ray. Needless to say that wasn't necessary.

[@denmachan]

YOU LOVED IT!!!!!

[@fritzidler9871]

I saw "The Swimmer" around age 14 or so. How many movies do you think I've seen about "the dark underbelly" of everything about American society since then? Too many. Even to a 14 year old this movie is as subtle as the limp Burt's character develops along the way.

[@robcop993]

Also check out Frank and Eleanor Perry's "Ladybug, Ladybug" from 1963. You won't regret it.

[@curiousworld7912]

I love 'Ladybug, Ladybug', but it totally freaked me out. My family had a bombshelter built in our backyard just prior to this film's release and though I didn't see the film until several years later, both still haunt me to this day.

[@Fisk4life]

Beautiful film

[@2Majesties]

By all means, read the short story by the great John Cheever. Read everything by John Cheever.

[@Cathoderayterrors]

I love The Swimmer. Grindhouse Releasing has the definitive version out there. When I was in high school my language arts teacher showed us the film. I think it was 89 or 90.

[@danielkellyuk]

Terrific movie. Good pick.

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

4:29 That's Joan Rivers, playing a character named Joan.

[@mynameissimonechoule]

I love this film as much as I love Illeana Douglas. This video is double trouble for me 🤘

[@SuperColonel91]

God, I love this movie

[@mondoenterprises6710]

The story by Cheever who makes a cameo is even better! But one of my favorite films.

[@zer0tzer0]

This film also inspired an HTH chlorine commercial.

[@IndiGeaux]

May I add, he was a fine man. ♥️

[@2004mojo]

It's as if she read my mind and then did the commentary. I've loved this film for years and as she said it is enjoyable yet disturbing at the same time. Every time I watch it I want him to go home and find everything as he remembers it. I'm actually hoping it happens! all thru watching it. Isn't that crazy? (lol)

[@film79]

I believe this film is on Amazon Prime in the U.S.

[@deanlaffan2390]

Brilliant surreal fantasy

[@SRV2013]

If you haven't read the original story by John Cheever, I suggest that you should. One of the great works of American fiction. Cheever's work also influenced Mad Men in a significant way.

[@JohnnyFriendly]

Good call. A lot of themes in The Swimmer are amplified and expanded on in Mad Men. I guess it took the world 40 years before it was ready to understand these ideas

[@RWSCOTT]

Would love to hear Illeana cover 'Mr. Buddwing'.

[@krobar999]

The Swimmer turned me onto films. This, and A Hard Days Night before it, really got into my brain and my worldview. I actually like The Swimmer movie better than the short story by Cheever. I actually climbed onto my suburban rooftop and looked at all my neighbors pools - above ground - to see if I could get to the convenience store to buy Turkish Taffy banana flavored strips.

[@IAmJaguarPaw.ThisIsMyForest.]

Phenomenal movie.

[@fanorama1]

Great film!

[@Majnun74]

I read the John Cheever’s short story📖

[@bonsai3547]

okay... i m here coz of the filmographie of diana muldaur from star trek... i wanned to know what film this "swimmer" i she played whit. "in a loop laying all time" interesting... so thanks for your short clip... excuse my awful english and have a nice day

[@only257]

Awesome👻

[@bostrickland4970]

Great review !!!

[@danbitgood429]

Some folks with big houses in the suburbs like to speculate that it's all a fraud. Most truckers, plumbers, electricians, cooks, etc. are too busy working to make the mortgage payment and bring home the bacon to indulge in that kind of thinking.

[@evhvariac2]

Amazing review! 10/10

[@mortalclown3812]

I'm curious why Loden was fired - an extraordinary actor in her own right. RIP...left earth too soon.

[@bluemouse5039]

I wonder is there some kind of symbolism of Ned swimming in the pools that the writer of the story attached to it, or is it him being only in swim trunks with no wallet, money, ID and has nothing related his sense of being naked and alone at this time of his life and somehow the swimming pools represent some type of rebirth. it's one of those movies that makes you think and is deep, just like water in the pool

[@nicholasjanke3476]

The short story the film is based on is even weirder than the film. The short story begins with Ned Merrill having drinks with his wife at his house, then he decides to swim.

[@azrielhopkins7795]

Next time you should do trail of the screaming forehead by larry b from 2007

[@davidkay4174]

IT'S TRUE , IT WILL BE WITH ME FOR SOME TIME

[@sammcbride2149]

Every time I see Burt Lancaster I think of Frank Gorshin doing an impression of Burt Lancaster. Watching the trailer made me think of Tarzan. I wonder if Tarzan in any way served as some kind of inspiration for the film.

[@JohnnyFriendly]

I GREATLY doubt it

[@Sitka_rn]

You need an indoor pool in you movie room

[@studogable]

I don't like it quite THAT much, but it is a heck of a movie. It embodies Cheever's story well.

[@sclogse1]

Great choice. Janice does Rule.....

[@azrielhopkins7795]

You should do Steve Martins Mixed Nuts 1994

[@seanramsdell4172]

Must everyone live in the suburbs?

[@TheBermudaMan]

After Ned reached his lonely, empty, desolate house, I'm inclined to believe he smashed a chair through one of the windows, crawled inside, dragged himself up the stairs to what used to be his bedroom, and huddled into the tiny, womb-like space of his spare closet, where he slowly but finally - mercifully - died.

[@lindajohnson4204]

Maybe not. The important thing is that he realized the truth, and then, from that, to a deeper truth. And then, maybe the others would also realize the truth for themselves.

[@plasticweapon]

okay.

[@nedmerrill5705]

Yeah....My _nom de plume_ is Ned Merrill.

[@Jay-vr9ir]

This movie is great , but it is also a downer .

[@lynnturman8157]

I watched this & have to admit, I didn't get it. You can have your own interpretations on it but the filmmakers didn't really make things very clear, IMO. Yes, Lancaster's acting is great as are all the other actors. But I didn't understand what happened to his family. Maybe I'm being too literal but it's very vague in terms of storyline, which I found very frustrating. Maybe I'll think better of it if I watch it again. I remember seeing The Long Goodbye with Elliott Gould & absolutely hating it. I saw it a second time & loved it & now watch it whenever I can. Maybe that will happen with this movie if I ever give it a second chance.

[@timothy8017]

HA i've seen this movie before. how did i miss Joan Rivers?

[@jjdvideo]

There was talk of a remake with Alec Baldwin as the Swimmer.

[@juanaltredo2974]

please no

[@vestibulate]

"If I had my way, I would have this film on a constant loop..." If I had my way, Trailers from Hell would always and only be presented by Joe Dante.

[@bewarethelocusts6586]

Corrupticut, i know.

[@whenthemorningstarssangtogxrxs]

The best Ileana beautifully said ( and it is a big fraud)