The Swimmer (1968) Burt Lancaster, Joan Rivers, John Cheever, & Marvin Hamlisch

<b>Book Vs. Movie: </b><br /><b>The Swimmer</b><br /><b>The 1964 John Cheever story vs. the 1968 Burt Lancaster Film<br /><br /></b>Burt Lancaster always claimed that his 1968 film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063663/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swimmer</a> was his best work, and we are here to show you exactly why! The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cheever" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Cheever</a> short story that appeared in the <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/07/18" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 18, 1964 issue of The New Yorker</a> is a surrealistic tale of an alcoholic man (<a href="https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-swimmer/characters/neddy-merrill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Neddy Merrill</a>) who journeys to his home through suburban New York via swimming pools. Along the way, he realizes that the life he thinks he is leading (high status with a beautiful family) is actually in shambles, and he is, in fact, alone and broke. <br /><b><br /></b>The 1968 film is a masterclass of acting and direction, which is ironic considering the shoot was chaotic, with the firing of several actors and the director, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675068/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frank Perry</a>, during the shoot. With a 24-year-old <a href="https://marvinhamlisch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marvin Hamlisch</a> soundtrack, cameos from <a href="https://twitter.com/joan_rivers?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joan Rivers </a>and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0484716/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Janet Landgard</a>, and Lancaster in a blue swimsuit showing off his 52-year-old body--the film was not well-received at the time by the press or at the box office. Since then, it has gained a cult following with a look at what small-budgeted movies coming soon in the 1970s. <br /><b><br /></b>What are the main differences between the short story