Poster

The Swimmer ()


Reference View | Change View


A man spends a summer day swimming as many pools as he can all over a quiet suburban town.

Award:
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Cast verified as complete

Edit
...
Ned Merrill
...
Julie Hooper
...
Shirley Abbott
Tony Bickley ...
Donald Westerhazy
...
Peggy Forsburgh
Nancy Cushman ...
Mrs. Halloran
Bill Fiore ...
Howie Hunsacker
David Garfield ...
Ticket Seller (as John Garfield Jr.)
...
Betty Graham
Rose Gregorio ...
Sylvia Finney
...
Howard Graham
...
Chauffeur
...
Mr. Halloran
Jimmy Joyce ...
Jack Finney
Michael Kearney ...
Kevin Gilmartin
...
Stu Forsburgh
...
Lillian Hunsacker
...
Cynthia
Keri Oleson ...
Vernon
...
Joan
...
Mrs. Hammar
...
Henry Biswanger
...
Grace Biswanger
...
Helen Westerhazy (as Diana Van Der Vlis)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
...
Biswangers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)
Alva Celauro ...
Muffie (uncredited)
John Cheever ...
Man at Pool Party (uncredited)
...
Matron at the Biswangers' Pool (uncredited)
Hugh Franklin ...
Denny (uncredited)
John Gerstad ...
Bunkers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)
Marilyn Langner ...
Enid Bunker (uncredited)
Ray Mason ...
Bunkers' Pool Party Guest (uncredited)
Dennis McMullen ...
Lifeguard (uncredited)
Eleanor Perry ...
Woman at Pool Party (uncredited)
...
Man at Pool Party (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
Frank Perry
Sydney Pollack ... (uncredited)

Written by

Edit
Eleanor Perry ... (screenplay)
 
John Cheever ... (story)

Produced by

Edit
Roger H. Lewis ... producer (as Roger Lewis)
Frank Perry ... producer
Sam Spiegel ... executive producer (uncredited)

Music by

Edit
Marvin Hamlisch

Cinematography by

Edit
David L. Quaid ... director of photography

Editing by

Edit
Sidney Katz
Carl Lerner
Pat Somerset

Editorial Department

Edit
Andrew Drapkin ... colorist: restoration (uncredited)

Art Direction by

Edit
Peter Dohanos

Makeup Department

Edit
Ed Callaghan ... hairstylist
John Jiras ... makeup artist
Enrico A. Cortese ... Additional make up artist (uncredited)
Clay Lambert ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

Edit
Joseph Manduke ... in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Michael Hertzberg ... assistant director
Ted Zachary ... second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Edit
Stanley Cappiello ... scenic artist (as Stan Cappiello)
Thomas Wright ... property master

Sound Department

Edit
Willard W. Goodman ... sound mixer (as Willard Goodman)
Jack Fitzstephens ... sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Richard Falk ... gaffer
Michael Nebbia ... additional photography
Alan Stetson ... key grip (as Al Stetson)
Felix Trimboli ... second unit camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Anna Hill Johnstone ... wardrobe designer

Music Department

Edit
Jack Hayes ... orchestrations
Leo Shuken ... orchestrations
Jack Hayes ... conductor (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

Edit
Barbara Robinson ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

Edit
Lorenzo Porricelli ... driver (uncredited)

Additional Crew

Edit
Thom Conroy ... dialogue coach
Sam Goldrich ... unit auditor
Florence Nerlinger ... production assistant
Liza Stewart ... swimwear (as Elizabeth Stewart)
Bob Horn ... Lancaster's swimming coach (uncredited)
John Marshall ... subtitle script and timing (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

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

Plot Keywords
Taglines The famed John Cheever short story appeared in the New Yorker and people talked. Now there will be talk again. When you sense this man's vibrations and share his colossal hang-up . . . will you see someone you know, or love? When you feel the body-blow power of his broken dreams, will it reach you deep inside, where it hurts? When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself? See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • Le plongeon (France)
  • Der Schwimmer (Germany)
  • El nedador (Spain, Catalan title)
  • El nadador (Spain)
  • Plavec (Czechia)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 95 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia Burt Lancaster always insisted that this was both his best and his favorite film of his career. See more »
Goofs In the second shot of Ned pounding on the door of the empty house, the film is being run backwards - it's the same shot as before the interior of the house is seen through the broken window. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Gilbert Gottfried (2013). See more »
Quotes Kevin Gilmartin Jr.: They took the water out of the pool because I'm not a good swimmer. I'm bad at sports and, at school, nobody wants me on their team.
Ned Merrill: Well, it's a lot better that way, you take it from me. At first you think it's the end of the world because you're not on the team. Till you realize...
Kevin Gilmartin Jr.: Realize what?
Ned Merrill: You realize that you're free. You're your own man. You don't have to worry about getting to be captain and all that status stuff.
Kevin Gilmartin Jr.: They'd never elect me captain in a million years.
Ned Merrill: You're the captain of your soul. That's what counts. Know what I mean?
See more »

Contribute to This Page


Recently Viewed