The Swimmer (1968)

Plot:  Based on the John Cheever Short Story.  A man decides to return home by swimming in every pool along the way.
Stars: Burt Lancaster, Kim Hunter, Marge Champion, Janet Rule
Best Quote:  I'm a very special human being. Noble. And splendid. 

It bombed in 1968, but today The Swimmer is a critics favorite and considered of one of Lancaster's best movies. But I can't join in the high praise, despite liking parts of it.

First, even at 95 minutes, its feels padded with too many nature shots. And we get two ridiculous scenes:  In one, Lancaster races a horse - in his swim trunks-  and at race's end, the horse bows to Lancaster as if to say "Well done, Biped". In the other,  Burt and his young ex-babysitter jump over fences like horses. Where does all this horsey nonsense come from? Its not in Cheever's short story.

Secondly, the movie seems pointless.  At the end - after all the talk and twilight zone vibes - we realize Lancaster's character isn't a rich, successful suburbanite - but a womanizing cheat, bankrupt, and fraud.  Perhaps having a mental breakdown. And..so what?  Maybe, this hit home in 1968, but now, its seems very dated.

Positives?  Well Lancaster does well enough but its a role that William Holden or Glenn Ford could have done better. Supporting actor standouts include Janet Rule and Janet Landgard. And there are some good dramatic moments, including: the Confrontation in the Public swimming pool, and his scene with the former mistress.

Burt Lancaster - or a Good Man who Didn't Know his Limitations
To give Burt credit, he wasn't satisfied with being just a Hollywood leading man, he wanted to be a great actor.  Up there with Marlon Brando or Laurence Olivier - not just a taller, better looking, Kirk Douglas.  So, he constantly got himself cast in in quality dramatic roles: the Swimmer, Separate Tables, The Rainmaker, Come back little Sheba, Rose Tattoo,  and All my Sons.  Or tried to extend his range by playing non-white American characters like : an Apache Warrior, Mexican American lawman, Italian Aristocrat, or a French train engineer.

The tragedy is he wasn't good enough to pull it off  - he was good actor - for  a Hollywood star.  Sometimes he did OK - like in the Rainmaker. But too often, his ambition took away roles that should have gone to better actors.  For example, Rose Tattoo should have been played by Ernie Borgnine. And all those ethnic/foreign parts should have been played by Italian, French, Mexican, or Indian actors.