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Comment by ggm | Hacker News Reader

The 1968 Burt Lancaster film of the story is superb

The film is available for free at the Internet archive https://archive.org/details/the-swimmer-1968-1080p-blu-ray-x...

I saw it when I was maybe 14 or 15, it blew my mind that a film could be like this, different, non-formulaic. I loved the twist at the end, when you get it, you want to start over, watch it with a new perspective.

I just learned about the film in the recent book “Connecticut in the Movies” by Ileana Douglas. Burt Lancaster referred to The Swimmer as “Death of a Salesman in swim trunks”.

Such a timeless story. There's literally a murder suicide case being tried right now less than ten miles away from where the movie was filmed, allegedly involving a somewhat similar scenario. (I don't want to give away the plot.)

Similar scenario to what? Most of the plot is so heavily interpretive that it's hard for two people to come away with the same understanding of the plot.

Just a guy who lost his job and couldn't replace it because of pride, cheated on his wife (maybe with multiple women?), and maybe became homeless?

Ileana Douglas is one of my favorite character actors. Not familiar with her work? You probably are without knowing it [1]. She was a stand out in Cape Fear particularly. I'd no idea she had written this. Will check it out. Thanks

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illeana_Douglas#Film

I found my way to the story after watching the film recently. I came across the film on Criterion knowing nothing about it.

For anyone who doesn't already know the story, I think it's best to go in blind, but if you don't mind spoilers (and I guess this one has definitely reached the statute of limitations):

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-swimmer-1968

Haha, wow, shots fired.

"Cheever's swimmer is a tragic hero disguised as an upper-class suburbanite. There are a lot of tragic heroes hidden in suburbia, I guess, perhaps because so many of them subscribe to the New Yorker."

Can't agree more. When you read the plot, it looks really strange but the movie is really worth it.

Plot summary: a man swims in a series of other people's swimming pools while working through some personal issues.

The story is allegory. The movie uses cinematic techniques to enhance the presentation and the acting is of high quality.

Here's to sugar on the strawberries!

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