A Hollywood icon played a man swimming through suburbia despite his fear of water
In short: Burt Lancaster, known for his athletic prowess, took on the role of Ned Merrill in the 1968 film The Swimmer. To prepare for the part, the actor had to overcome a personal fear of water, learning to swim from an Olympian just to portray the character's surreal journey home.
The Swimmer, released in 1968, serves as a cinematic adaptation of John Cheever’s allegorical short story regarding disillusionment in American suburbia. The film features Burt Lancaster as Ned Merrill, a middle-aged businessman who inexplicably decides to traverse his neighborhood by swimming through a series of backyard pools. This journey, which he envisions as a river leading back to his own home, becomes increasingly disorienting as he encounters neighbors who react to his presence with confusion, suspicion, or coldness.
Lancaster’s performance is notable for its physical commitment; he remains in a swimsuit for the duration of the movie. Despite his reputation as a rugged athlete—a persona built through roles in films like The Killers and From Here to Eternity—Lancaster was not a natural swimmer. He required professional instruction from a former Olympic water polo coach to manage the aquatic requirements of the role. This dedication to the craft was consistent with his career-long penchant for offbeat, challenging projects that diverged from his publicized image.
The production of the film was complex, involving director Frank Perry and producer Sam Spiegel. Spiegel, a three-time Academy Award winner, eventually removed his name from the project, though his company, Horizon Pictures, remained attached. The film also served as a notable debut for comedian Joan Rivers, who later described the difficult process of navigating conflicting directorial visions on set. Today, the film is regarded as a cult favorite, capturing a haunting, allegorical portrait of a man whose reality slowly unravels as he attempts to swim his way back to a life that may no longer exist.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Swimmer | Drama, Comedy, Burt Lancaster | Britannica
- Also: The Swimmer (1968 film)
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