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Swing High, Swing Low

Play trailer Poster for Swing High, Swing Low Released Mar 12, 1937 1h 35m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Stranded in Panama after falling in with ex-soldier and musician Skid Johnson (Fred MacMurray), American singer Maggie King (Carole Lombard) moves in with Skid and his hypochondriac roommate, Harry (Charles Butterworth). When the penniless Skid pawns his trumpet, Maggie not only gets it back, but also secures a gig for them both at a club. Skid and Maggie soon marry, but after Skid takes a job in New York and gets involved with an old flame, Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), Maggie is devastated.

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Swing High, Swing Low

Critics Reviews

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Beautifully affecting Apr 2, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Any film that has Franklin Pangborn, no matter how little screen time, should have been able to swing more high than low. Rated: C+ Jul 18, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D A mixed bag but the cast does a great job. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/09/24 Full Review Audience Member reminded me of other pix about horn players like 'man with the golden arm' and "young man with a horn" & others Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Not one of Carole Lombard's most popular films, but personally I loved her tender performance and chemistry with Fred McMurray, set against a jazz world backdrop. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member This was a big hit back in 1937 mostly due to the two stars; this remake of the stage hit "Burlesque" seems sappy and melodramatic by today's standards. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member The story has cobwebs on it but Carole and Fred make it far better than it should be. Jean Dixon adds a nice bit of snap in support as well. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Lots of mad hijinks south of the border. One of Anthony Quinn's earliest films as a suiter of Lombard in a bar. (13 minutes into the film). [img]http://ia700307.us.archive.org/11/items/swinghi_swinglo/swinghi_swinglo.thumbs/swinghi_swinglo_000900.jpg[/img] A light comedy with a dark underside with Carole Lombard and fast talking Fred McMurray, another suiter. This isn't his older television, easy going father of sixties My Three Sons fame. [img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0p-6QWj_pUpHERdE0FMiQkQ0Y05AZxPxNdl4CwxA-t9TyktAj1A[/img] Fast paced thirties film, black and white. McMurry, or Skid, gets tossed out of the Army in the Panama Canal. [img]http://ia700307.us.archive.org/11/items/swinghi_swinglo/swinghi_swinglo.thumbs/swinghi_swinglo_000180.jpg[/img] He sees by chance Lombard on his last day. [img]http://ia700307.us.archive.org/11/items/swinghi_swinglo/swinghi_swinglo.thumbs/swinghi_swinglo_001380.jpg[/img] Struck by her he wants a date, but she is leaving Panama, but takes him up on the date. Eventually she marries him, but thats just the start of the plot. [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGQe5qgHpLVhxBLiZ8fruY0W4m4LLmuRIFBmBFafLs3nN41U0U[/img] He does well in entertainment, then not well. She does well in entertainment as he becomes a drunk. [img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQW0P53UbpFI96nkcLCioIJSKhK138gFLvqYUlgrmIN55M82zWtBg[/img] REVIEWS of the film: 1 The screenwriters didn't make it too terribly obvious, but it really is all about the women (Lombard), not about the poor schlump (Fred McMurray). "If a man speaks in a forest and there isn't a woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?" -George Carlin 2 Given that Fred gives up everything for Carol. Given, that Dorothy plays a true @#$%^, with minimal remorse. Ok, he was drunk and passed out in the wrong place, at the wrong time, so sue him. Oh! She did. 3 You'll only need one kleenex for this film, to dab a tear from the corner of your eye at the end. This is a very enjoyable and delightful film that is well worth watching. A Winner and a Favorite. Even portraying a schlump, Fred MacMurray is DREAMY! But he's one of my favorite actors, so of course I'll say that... [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0f/Swinghigh_poster.jpg/220px-Swinghigh_poster.jpg[/img] Complete credited cast: *noteworthy actors *Carole Lombard ... Marguerite 'Maggie' King *Fred MacMurray ... Skid Johnson Charles Butterworth ... Harry Jean Dixon ... Ella *Dorothy Lamour ... Anita Alvarez Harvey Stephens ... Harvey Howell Cecil Cunningham ... Murphy Charles Arnt ... Georgie Herman Franklin Pangborn ... Henri *Anthony Quinn ... The Don Charles Judels ... Tony Morelli Release Date: 12 March 1937 (USA) Also Known As: A Comédia da Vida Budget:$739,621 (estimated) Production Co:Paramount Pictures Runtime:92 min | USA: 82 min (2005 DVD release) Sound Mix:Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording) Color:Black and White NOTES about the film: 1 The lead was originally offered to Gary Cooper, who turned it down, then to Bing Crosby, who also turned it down, then to Fred MacMurray, who took it. 2 The play, "Burlesque," opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 1 September 1927 and closed in July 1928 after 372 performances. The opening night cast included Barbara Stanwyck, Oscar Levant and Charles D. Brown. It was revived in 1946 and ran for 2 seasons with Bert Lahr and Jean Parker. Directed by Mitchell Leisen Produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr. Written by Virginia Van Upp Oscar Hammerstein II Starring Carole Lombard Fred MacMurray Music by Phil Boutelje Victor Young Cinematography Ted Tetzlaff Editing by Eda Warren [img]http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSg50eXbfOYrGA8SIsHmd0BqCZvUN1ZkQ9xJqAWCDQdGmjBFHkk[/img] Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Swing High, Swing Low

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Movie Info

Synopsis Stranded in Panama after falling in with ex-soldier and musician Skid Johnson (Fred MacMurray), American singer Maggie King (Carole Lombard) moves in with Skid and his hypochondriac roommate, Harry (Charles Butterworth). When the penniless Skid pawns his trumpet, Maggie not only gets it back, but also secures a gig for them both at a club. Skid and Maggie soon marry, but after Skid takes a job in New York and gets involved with an old flame, Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), Maggie is devastated.
Director
Mitch Leisen
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 12, 1937, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
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