THE SWIMMER

MY THOUGHTS: I had never seen or heard of this movie before today. After reading a short synopsis about it, I was a bit intrigued. I was glad I decided to watch it. It has a very unique premise and storyline. It was an unfolding "mystery" in some ways and held my interest throughout. It led up to an ending that I had highly anticipated, as it drew closer, with "clues" having been given along the way. It is worth the watch, but whether or not you are satisfied with the ending depends on how you feel about a specific type of ending.

SYNOPSIS: "Well-off ad man Ned Merrill is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb. Ned suddenly decides that he'd like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned's journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures, until a final visit with an old flame leaves him devastated."

STARRING: Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Tony Bickley, Janice Rule, Kim Hunter, Joan Rivers, Marge Champion, Charles Drake, Bernie Hamilton, Bill Fiore and Diana Muldaur.

SCREENPLAY: Eleanor Perry; Based on "The Swimmer" by John Cheever.

DIRECTOR: Frank Perry