Swamp Water

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Swamp Water

Released Oct 23, 1941

1h 30m

Mystery & Thriller

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4 Reviews

70%

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250+ Ratings

Ben (Dana Andrews), a hunter, ventures into the dangerous Okefenokee Swamp despite protests from his father, Thursday (Walter Huston). There, he's captured and held prisoner by Tom Keefer (Walter Brennan) a fugitive who has been hiding in the swamp. Tom allows Ben to leave on the condition that he split his hunting profits with Tom's daughter, Julie (Anne Baxter), who lives in town. Ben agrees, and, after a fight with his father, moves to a home closer to Julie and gradually falls for her.

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Renoir’s generosity of character and complexity of community and family relationships, and his location photography gives the backwoods melodrama a dignity and an elevated, stylized theatricality, like a Greek tragedy relocated to the American south.

Aug 9, 2022

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

[Renoir's] first American film... almost feels like the work of someone else, although it still contains a few of its maker's signature themes, and it's an excellent entertainment in any regard.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 18, 2019

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

ean Renoir's Swamp Water stands out as an example of how an artist's genius can assert itself even when his product has been taken away from him,

Rated: 3/4

Aug 30, 2012

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

If Renoir was left alone from Zanuck's heavy hand, this melodrama would have perhaps turned out to be an American classic.

Rated: B

Apr 5, 2012

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Blobbo X

Good cast includes Walter Brennan, John Huston's father and Albert Einstein's granddaughter. Passes time nicely.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/23

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steve d

Kind of a mixed bag, but works surprisingly well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

First American film by Jean Renoir. Shot on location. Surreal

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

This is Jean Renoir's first American film, apparently famed producer Zanuck interfered a lot so Renoir didn't have full control, and you can tell. The acting is spotty, thought it does feature some big names like Dana Andrews "Laura" and Walter Huston. There are occasional flourishes in the direction and cinematography. Not a great film, but well worth watch for lovers of classic cinema.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

An Impressive and Underseen Backwoods Film Noir... Gator-ate or Cotton-mouth bit--people, gators, cottonmouths, and some quick sand... A Heart Rendering and Entertaining Old Classic!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Jean Renoir's Swamp Water stands out as an example of how an artist's genius can assert itself even when his product has been taken away from him,

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Jean Renoir

Director

Walter Brennan

Tom Keefer

Dana Andrews

Ben

Walter Huston

Thursday Ragan

Anne Baxter

Julie

Virginia Gilmore

Mabel MacKenzie

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Synopsis

Ben (Dana Andrews), a hunter, ventures into the dangerous Okefenokee Swamp despite protests from his father, Thursday (Walter Huston). There, he's captured and held prisoner by Tom Keefer (Walter Brennan) a fugitive who has been hiding in the swamp. Tom allows Ben to leave on the condition that he split his hunting profits with Tom's daughter, Julie (Anne Baxter), who lives in town. Ben agrees, and, after a fight with his father, moves to a home closer to Julie and gradually falls for her.

Director: Jean Renoir
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 23, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m