1. CAT PEOPLE-1942
This is a B horror film but a classic cult film that is a step above many A films. It stars Simone Signoret as a beautiful woman who believes she turns into a cat whenever she becomes sexually aroused. She meets a man at the local zoo and they fall for one another and marry but she can’t consummate the marriage for fear she will tear him apart. He thinks he’s married a nutbar and has her see a psychiatrist while he falls for his assistant. A famous scene takes place in the basement pool of the apartment building Alice, the assistant, lives in. It’s all in the shadows and darkness with subtle camerawork that brings this alive. The acting is quite good as well and it’s a film that should be seen.
2. THE SWIMMER-1968
This film stars Burt Lancaster who is at a pool side party in a swanky neighbourhood and figures out that he could swim his way back home and so begins his journey. Along the way, he meets all sorts of characters from the babysitter who used to babysit his daughters to a couple of old nudists. You know, I read the short story as well and it’s just as nutty as the film. You realize Burt is on some sort of mission and seems to be losing reality but, I don’t know, I just kept thinking, “Have a point!” It ends where I just think, “Is that all there is to a pool” ( sorry, channeling Peggy Lee here). I watched it and I don’t think I will see it again.
3. COCOON-1985
I can’t believe this film is 40 years old…jumping Johosephat! I watched this in the theatre and I do consider it a modern film. Anyways, now that I am showing my age, this is a sweet film about people living in an old age home. You meet the men, headed by the wonderful Don Ameche ( who won an Oscar for his role) who loves his single life and is young at heart, there is Hume Cronyn, married but he is frail. The great Jack Gilford, a crochety old bugger and Wilfred Brimley as the most level headed of the bunch and happily married. Maureen Stapleton is Brimley’s wife, Herta Ware is the wife of Jack Gilford and she suffers from dementia. Hum Cronyn’s real life wife is Jessica Tandy as his long suffering wife and, finally, Gwen Verdon as the free loving love interest to Don Ameche. The men always venture to an empty home that has a pool so they can enjoy themselves. On another note, Steve Guttenberg is hired by a group of so-called mariners, headed by the great Brian Dennehy, to go out into the ocean while they scuba dive and bring up these weird looking egg shapes. These people have rented out that home and place the eggs into that pool. When the old coots go to swim, they see what’s in the pool and make sure not to disturb them but as they swim, they begin to feel more energized and younger. You soon realize these mariners are not what they seem and lives are dependent on more than just what is under the water. It’s well acted and adult even though it can be silly too. I enjoy watching this Ron Howard film but am still in shock that Wilfred Brimley was only 49 in this movie,
What pool movies can you think of?
I've only seen Cocoon. I know I have seen Esther Williams movies, but would be at a loss to name any of them. I googled her and was amazed at how many movies she made. As for other 'pool' movies, my first thought was The Hustler, lol.
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually seen any of those, but my first thought when you said "pool movies" was the movie "In the Heights" which is a musical by Lin Manuel Miranda and there's a really cool pool scene!
ReplyDeleteCocoon - nice choice. I can't remember if the Cat People remake had a pool but I've seen that version.
ReplyDeleteThree good picks and I've seen all of them. It's been quite a while since I've seen Cocoon so I need to see that one again, but the others I've seen within the past few years.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing that came to mind was the scene at the Hollywood producer's house where he has a pool with a "horse" in it. Next I thought of that scene in It's a Wonderful Life where the floor opens and everyone starts falling the pool.
That's all for now.
Lee
Oh, and that first movie I was thinking of was Day of the Locust.
DeleteHi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThe original Cat People is a wonderful example of what can be done with a small budget when overseen by talented people. That pool scene is definitely disquieting.
I appreciated The Swimmer’s intentions more than I enjoyed the film. It had an interesting premise that I don’t think was fully realized but it was a good try, and Burt was exceptionally good (and in great shape!) in the lead. I was a bit stunned when Joan Rivers popped up in a scene!
I thought Cocoon was very sweet when I saw it in the theatre and I watched it again a few years ago but don’t feel any real draw to see it again. What I remember most about it was Don Ameche’s tremendous acceptance speech when he won the Oscar (and Cher’s outfit when she presented it to him!)
I grew up with an above ground pool and had one until just a few years ago. My father was a huge fan and would go in every day that he possibly could and took care of most of the upkeep with my Mom, sister and I chipping in when necessary. It was great when we were kids and then when my sister’s kids came along but once they grew up and all moved a good distance away it was a lot of work to maintain though my Dad being retired could handle it and since he loved it so it was fine. But once he became ill and I was his caregiver it became too much, especially since it was used so rarely and we had it removed. Still there are so many great memories of it.
The first film that came to me was the wonderfully strange Swimming Pool (2003) with Charlotte Rampling. She plays a mystery novelist who is sent by her publisher to his house in the South of France to try and help her break her writer’s block. When his free-spirited daughter appears, an odd dynamic develops between them.
I was appalled by the stories Esther Williams made up about Jeff Chandler to sell her autobiography and I’ve never felt the same way about her since. However, when I was a kid, I saw all her pictures and they contain mind bogglingly complex swim ballets and are fun bits of fluff. All her aquatic movies are worth seeing for fun but the one I remember the most clearly is Easy to Love (1953) with Van Johnson and Carroll Baker where the production number involves not just swimming but water skiing and helicopters too!
The third is something I ran across again the other day. Swimfan (2002) with Jesse Bradford. It’s a Fatal Attraction retread in the water and with teens rather than a midlife crisis. That said, while not a brilliant piece of cinema it was an okay time passer.
I've only seen Cocoon. Yeah, the '80s were 40 years ago. Wild, right?
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the other 2 but cocoon was fascinating. Have a pain free day.
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I've seen and liked all of these, especially "The Swimmer". I found it psychologically intriguing, somehow. ☺ First thought that came to mind is the opening scene of Sunset Blvd., where William Holden is lying dead, face-down in Norma Desmond's pool.
ReplyDeleteThe funniest movie with a pool in it was "Caddyshack." The sign, "Caddy Day 1:00-1:15" cracked me up.
ReplyDeleteCat People sounds familiar but I don't think I watched it. We also saw Cocoon in the theatre and it is a sweet film. Good theme!
ReplyDeleteBirgit, Hope your weekend was pain free and filled with good movies;)
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
The Swimmer is on the Criterion Channel right now. I've never seen it. I'm intrigued...
ReplyDeleteOther movies that come to mind...
The Graduate
The Sandlot
Blue