Swing High, Swing Low (1937)

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). 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. Fast paced thirties film, black and white. McMurry, or Skid, gets tossed out of the Army in the Panama Canal. He sees by chance Lombard on his last day. 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. He does well in entertainment, then not well. She does well in entertainment as he becomes a drunk. 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... 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