''Swing High, Swing Low'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy drama film directed by

Mitchell Leisen James Mitchell Leisen (October 6, 1898 – October 28, 1972) was an American film director, director, art director, and costume designer. Film career He entered the film industry in the 1920s, beginning in the art and costume departments. He d ...

and starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. It is the second of three film adaptations of the popular 1927 Broadway play ''

Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

'' by George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins, after '' The Dance of Life'' (1929) and before '' When My Baby Smiles at Me'' (1948).

Plot

Working her way as a hairdresser on board a liner traveling through the

Panama Canal Zone The Panama Canal Zone (), also known as just the Canal Zone, was a International zone#Concessions, concession of the United States located in the Isthmus of Panama that existed from 1903 to 1979. It consisted of the Panama Canal and an area gene ...

, Maggie King brushes off a brash young soldier, "Skid" Johnson, on his last day in the Army. However, he is persistent, and the next day she and her friend Ella reluctantly go on a double date with him and his piano player friend Harry in Balboa. In a nightclub, she expresses her distaste of trumpet music, whereupon he impresses her with his amazing prowess with the instrument. When a man, speaking only Spanish, tries to pick her up at the bar, he and Skid end up brawling, which lands Skid and Maggie in jail. As a result, Maggie misses her ship back to the States. With no money left after helping pay the fine, she is forced to move in with Skid and Harry. She talks a skeptical Murphy (a woman) into hiring the unambitious Skid and her as a trumpet player and showgirl, respectively, at "Murphy's Cafe y Bar" by telling Murphy that they are married. She clashes with fellow showgirl Anita Alvarez, Skid's former girlfriend, but Anita soon leaves for a better job. Maggie and Skid eventually fall in love and marry. Maggie prods the reluctant Skid into going to New York City to play in a major nightclub, leaving her behind. She finds out afterward that Anita works there. He is a big success, teamed with songstress Anita. Fame and fortune go to his head. He neglects to send Maggie the fare to join him and does not answer her letters. Finally, Maggie borrows the money from Murphy. Anita intercepts her telegram to Skid, telling him where to meet her boat. After waiting at the pier for a long time, Maggie calls Anita's hotel room on a hunch, and a drunk Skid answers (Anita invited him in for a nightcap after a night on the town together). Ella finds out and tells her old boyfriend, wealthy rancher Harvey Howell. Maggie plans to sail to France to obtain a divorce and marry Harvey. Skid is so devastated, he starts drinking and missing performances, costing him his job and his career. Finally, he tries to reenlist, but fails the physical exam. Then, he runs into Harry, who has been searching for him. Harry has gotten a band together for a live radio performance to audition for an important sponsor, and (to help his old friend out) wants Skid to play with them. Skid's old agent Georgie tries to get Maggie, just returned from France, to pull Skid into shape. She rushes over and does her best. During the broadcast, Skid is terrible at first, but after Maggie tells him that she is sticking to him "til death do us part", he recaptures his old brilliance.

Cast

Production credits (other)

* Boris Morros – musical direction * Al Siegel – vocal supervision * Farciot Edouart – special photographic effects * Earl Haman – sound recording * Don Johnson – sound recording * Travis Banton – costume design * A. E. Freudeman – interior decorations * Ernst Fegté – art director

Reception

Frank Nugent, critic for ''The New York Times'', wrote "''Swing High, Swing Low'', like most Ferris wheels, doesn't go anywhere—at least, nowhere that you have not been. Its players really are worthy of better treatment."

Releases

In 1965, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication. ''Swing High, Swing Low'' was released on DVD (all regions) by Synergy Entertainment on May 15, 2007.

References

External links

* * * * * {{Mitchell Leisen 1937 films 1930s romantic comedy-drama films American black-and-white films American musical comedy-drama films 1930s musical comedy-drama films American romantic musical films 1930s English-language films American films based on plays Films directed by Mitchell Leisen Films set in New York City Films set in Panama Paramount Pictures films 1930s Spanish-language films 1930s romantic musical films American romantic comedy-drama films 1937 comedy films 1930s American films Films scored by Phil Boutelje Films scored by Victor Young Films with songs by Burton Lane English-language musical comedy-drama films English-language romantic comedy-drama films English-language romantic musical films