User reviews

SWING HIGH, SWING LOW (Paramount, 1937) directed by Mitchell Leisen, is not necessarily a Tarzan flick, but a reworking of an old Broadway stage play, "Burlesque" (1927) that brought forth to the screen THE DANCE OF LIFE (1929) with Hal Skelly and Nancy Carroll, and a second remake, WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME (20th Century-Fox, 1948) starring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey. While these films were simply backstage stories, this second version takes a different turn set in night clubs, featuring non singers/ dancers Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray as a couple whose musical act consists of he trumpet playing and she talk-singing some "hot" songs.

The story opens on a ship passing through the Panama Canal Zone where Marguerite "Maggie" King (Carole Lombard), a singer, earning passage money as a manicurist, traveling with her companion, Ella (Jean Dixon), to California with Maggie planning to surprise Harvey Dexter (Harvey Stephens), a wealthy rancher and fiancé of three years. During a rest stop, the girls spend the day in Panama where they encounter "Skid" Johnson (Fred MacMurray), an ex-Army man posing as a tour guide wanting to get better acquainted with Maggie. They soon land themselves in jail after Skid's fight with a Spanish speaking Don (Anthony Quinn), for trying to pick up Maggie, leaving the nightclub in shambles, thus, causing Maggie to miss her boat leaving port. After Skid's bungalow roommate, Harry Rankin (Charles Butterworth), the "hottest piano player in Panama," pays their bail, Maggie, stranded and broke, becomes their new star boarder, shortly followed by another, a chicken named Butch. Posing as husband and wife, Maggie and Skid obtain jobs at Murphy's (Cecil Cunningham) café and bar, he trumpet playing and she as dancer and hostess. In spite of warnings regarding Skid's bad reputation, Maggie not only forms a successful act between them, but marries him in the process. Things go well until Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), one of Skid's ex-girlfriends and singer at Murphy's, interferes. She soon leaves for a better jib offer at the El Greco in New York, much to Maggie's delight. However, when Georgie (Charles Arnt), a talent scout, offers Skid an big opportunity trumpet playing in New York, Maggie encourages him to take the offer against his wishes. At the advice of Georgie, Maggie agrees to remain in Panama until Skip makes a hit for himself and sends for her, a decision she would live to regret when Skid becomes a sensation at the El Greco with Anita as his new partner.

Songs include: "Swing High, Swing Low" (sung by chorus during opening title credits) by Burton Lane and Ralph Freed; "Lonely Little Senorita" (instrumental/trumpet play by Fred MacMurray); "Panamania" (sung by Dorothy Lamour) by Al Siegel and Sam Coslow; "I Hear a Call to Arms," "I Hear a Call to Arms," "I Hear a Call to Arms"; "Then It Isn't Love," "Then It Isn't Love" (all sung by Lombard) by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin; "Swing High, Swing Low" (instrumental/trumpet) and "I Hear a Call to Arms" (finale/Lombard).

For their third time on screen together, Lombard and MacMurray, best known for comedic roles, demonstrate themselves as fine dramatic actors, particularly during the second half of the story. While the movie is a fine blend of comedy and drama, the musical portion comes as a letdown. With the exception of the title tune, the songs are uninspired. There are no production numbers to back them up and frequent high notes on the trumpet gets to become headache inducing after a while. Dorothy Lamour's "Panamania" is lively enough but her vocalizing is interrupted with cutaways of spoken dialog, and never heard through once. Lombard, a fine comedienne in her own right, doesn't cut it as a singer. She made this clear earlier in the story in responding about her singing, "Not very good." Her vocalizing comes off as sultry in the Marlene Dietrich manner, but with MacMurray's trumpet playing, it drowns her out. MacMurray's performance comes off best as the egotistic trumpet player who rises to fame only to lose everything except his trumpet, and roaming the streets a broken down unshaven derelict. Although MacMurray's performance wasn't recognized to be nominated by the Academy as Best Actor, Dan Dailey's interpretation of Skid Johnson in the 1948 remake was.

For years, WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME was the better known of the three adaptations due to frequent television revivals.Just as it slowly faded away by the 1970s, the nearly forgotten SWING HIGH, SWING LOW got into the swing of things when it sufficed in the 1980s, notably on a weekly public television series called "Sprockets." A victim of public domain, SWING HIGH, SWING LOW suffers from poor quality prints, ranging from too dark to fuzzy, and available at different running times. (Goodtimes Home Video from the 1980s was the most accurate with its 95 minute run time). Having been shown on several cable networks throughout the years, including the Nostalgia Channel in the 1990s, Turner Classic Movies premiered SWING HIGH, SWING LOW August 17, 2006, an all day tribute to Carole Lombard as part of its annual "Summer Under the Stars." Expecting to finally see this restored to clear picture and sound quality, it's surprising to find the TCM print to not only be of poor quality, but 15 minutes worth of missing material. At present, DVD copies circulating are this shortened 81 minute cut.

SWING HIGH, SWING LOW may occasionally hit some high notes, but is of sole interest today mainly for its leading players than anything else. (***)

What a shame this beautiful film with Carole Lombard & Fred McMurray has been allowed to deteriorated to such a low level; two of my favorited Hollywood stars. Emotional. Seen on TCM 06/Oct/2020.

I am quite the Mitchell Leisen fan so it was a great anticipation that I rented this movie but the print I got was extremely bad, so worn down from use and scorched seemingly beyond repair, the movie was so dark. So dark that in certain scenes that are cinematographed in the dark, you can't see a single thing. That said, I believe I share the same opinion as the first review of this movie. It starts out unusually and does not tote the lines and rhythms of your typical Hollywood 30's movie. Heck, not even your typical Hollywod movie of any era. It seems the director has been influenced by the Europeans because there is a certain caustic realism to the proceedings from the opening shot which is so crafted in camera movement and placement as Maggie (Carole Lombard) and Skid (Fred Macmurray) meet. You half expect them to start singing "Make believe" from Show boat.It starts with a few laughs and poor Anthony in a one scene role where he speaks not a word of English gets slapped around by Freddie. Skids is a bum who doesn't care that he's a bum. That's why he signs up in the army where he can hide from the world. He's just been released though and in a set of screenplay shenanigans, she misses her boat for New York. This is when the movie kicks into high gear and we begin to get those French movie of the sixties vibes to the whole proceedings. The scenes are so well acted by Lombard and Cecil Cunningham, the movie gains a pulse. MacMurray is good too as he and Lombard fall for each other as she nurtures his talent for the trumpet. Then the temptress arrives in the form of Dorothy Lamour. Enough with plot. The movie has fantastic montage sequences that dazzled me. They are very good. And Lombard scores a home run in this movie but in the second half, a bit more is called of Freddie and he fails to deliver the goods. With a heavily melodramatic ending and an actor you don't believe, the movie falls short but since it is not your typical movie in structure, set design, and direction. It is worth a look. For what is what it was one of the 37 hits of the 1936-37 season. I don't know its exact rank though.

Sentimental film goers will find a gem in Swing High, Swing Low, a romantic 1930s drama starring Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard. She's a singer, and he's a trumpet player, and together they make beautiful music. I'm just kidding; it's not that corny. But you're going to have to be in the mood for something like this, like right after you watch Sentimental Journey or Random Harvest.

I like Carole infinitely better in dramas than screwball comedies, so if you prefer her quick banter, you might not like this one. I happen to really like Fred MacMurray, and paired with Carole, they make a pretty cute couple. Fred has to contend with his inner demons, as well as a couple of unwanted suitors for Carole, but even with all those problems, he's easily endears the audience.

Be on the lookout for a very young Anthony Quinn. He's only twenty-two years old, on the screen for about three minutes, and doesn't speak a word of English! All in all, while I might not buy a copy of this movie, I am glad I rented it since it's always fun to see a sweet, black-and-white romance.

Cruising through the Panama Canal, pretty Carole Lombard (as Maggie King) resists the advances of date-hungry Fred MacMurray (as Skid Johnson), who is celebrating his last day in the US Army. When Ms. Lombard jumps ship, Mr. MacMurray manages to put himself in her driver's seat. The couple fight and bicker while dating, which you can safely bet means love and marriage are on deck. Credit the film will putting a little delay in that department, however. Lombard gets interested when MacMurray pulls out his trumpet. He turns out to be a professional musician. Eventually MacMurray's boozing "Skid" hits the skids...

The stars are an attractive couple with natural chemistry, but there is too little spark in this middling story. Moreover, MacMurray plays a character written with little appeal. Lombard's character seems not too bright. You can tell "Skid" has a problem. It's too bad, because MacMurray's performance is fine. Watch for a young and handsome Anthony Quinn to try to pick up Lombard, and brawl with MacMurray. Also, lovely young Dorothy Lamour (as Anita Alvarez) plays the exotic other woman. Charles Butterworth (as Harry) is MacMurray's loyal male pal, and Franklin Pangborn appears too briefly. It's cast high, but swings low.

****** Swing High, Swing Low (3/12/37) Mitchell Leisen ~ Fred MacMurray, Carole Lombard, Dorothy Lamour, Charles Butterworth

Ist half is kinda fun, with a nice, relaxed tale of three Americans down on their luck in Panama. Director Mitchell Leisen, who cut his teeth as an art director, puts it to good use, along with cinematographer Ted Tetzlaff, in managing to make the viewer (well this viewer, at least) feel they were in Panama City and not the Paramount backlot. And Lombard and MacMurray have good chem. Unfortunately, the second half, set largely in NYC and featuring that hoariest of story/chestnuts...the guy who goes all to pot when his true love leaves him...is a bit of a comedown. Give it a C plus. PS...How long a career did Tony Quinn have, for cryin out loud? This film was made in 1937 and he looks at least as old as MacMurray, if not older.

'Swing High, Swing Low' is a semi-musical, based on a Broadway play (not a musical) called 'Burlesque' which was originally filmed as 'The Dance of Life' when censors wouldn't approve the original title. The play and the original film took place in vaudeville and burlesque: this remake, surprisingly, spends most of its time in Panama City (well away from the Keith-Orpheum circuit). About all that remains of the original is the male anti-hero's name: Skid Johnson. In the original story, the nickname 'Skid' made sense because he was an eccentric dancer. In this remake, Skid Johnson is a jazz trumpeter ... so why is he cried 'Skid'?

Fred MacMurray got typecast as nice guys, but just occasionally he got a chance to show his acting ability in nastier roles. He gives an excellent performance as Skid Johnson: brash, bragging, conceited, yet nagged by self-doubts. But in this version, some of Skid's motivations are highly contrived. When Skid first meets unemployed singer Maggie (Carole Lombard, less impressive), he straight away starts bragging about what a wonderful guy he is. Oddly, he trumpets himself constantly yet he never says a word about his abilities as a trumpeter. There's an extremely contrived scene in a Panama nightclub, when MacMurray casually picks up the trumpeter's horn and blows a few licks. (Yes, professional musicians always leave their instruments lying about so the customers can have a go.) It turns out that Skid Johnson is a brilliant jazz trumpeter. So, why is this braggart so very modest about his one genuine talent?

There's a soap-opera plot line when Skid becomes 'The King of Trumpeters' in Manhattan while Maggie is growing Spanish moss in Panama. One of the cast members of the Broadway drama 'Burlesque' was Oscar Levant, who got to play piano onstage and fire off a few wisecracks. Levant repeated his stage role in the film 'The Dance of Life', but his part was seriously cut. In this remake, Levant's role is expanded again, but regrettably not played by Levant this time. Charles Butterworth plays Skid's pianist buddy Harry. I've never liked Butterworth, whose screen roles usually include some very contrived business to make Butterworth a 'character'. In this movie, he wears winter clothing during a Panama heat wave. Very credible, I don't think.

Maggie is courted by Harvey Dexter, a self-made millionaire who sincerely loves her. But this is one of those annoying movies in which the gal gives up the steady level-headed guy in favour of the unreliable bum who's handsome and charming, and we're supposed to approve her choice. There are bad motivations elsewhere, too. In the first scene, MacMurray is a soldier who talks on sentry duty ... because it's his last day in the army, so they can't fire him. (No, but they can extend his hitch while they give him a nice long sentence in the stockade.)

For all its faults and forgettable songs, 'Swing High' features some extremely impressive montage sequences: the best I've ever seen in a Paramount film. (Though not up to the standard of Warners.) Franklin Pangborn appears very briefly, playing his usual cissy role, but he gives here one of his most energetic performances: he twirls frenetically, he taps his fingertips together impatiently. This is one of Pangborn's very best performances, buried in an obscure film. Dorothy Lamour sings pleasantly here but wears a very harsh makeup. Fred MacMurray gives Anthony Quinn a punch in the nose. Any movie where Anthony Quinn gets punched in the nose is fine with me.

There's a good performance by Jean Dixon as Lombard's 'seen it all, dearie' pal. Dixon wisecracked her way through several major Broadway roles, but never caught on in film. There's also a good performance by an actress with the mannish name Cecil Cunningham, who plays a nightclub landlord known only by the mannish name Murphy. Cunningham was the ex-wife of vaudevillain Jean Havez, who wrote Groucho Marx's song 'Everybody Works But Father'. That song would have livened up this movie. I'll rate 'Swing High, Swing Low' 5 points out of 10.

Maggie King (Carol Lombard) is working as a hairdresser on a cruise ship crossing the Panama canal. She befriends US Army soldier Skid Johnson (Fred McMurray) in his last days guarding the canal. They get into a bar fight with The Don (Anthony Quinn) and are stuck in court when Maggie's ship leaves. She is stranded forced to live with Skid and his pal Harry. Skid starts playing trumpet and Maggie dancing at a local club.

This is very early Anthony Quinn although not the earliest that I've seen. Lombard and McMurray are good comedic performers and they give it the good old college try. They generate a bit of humor, but it is not a steady stream. Their chemistry comes and goes. The same can be said for the movie.

The third Fred MacMurray/Carole Lombard film is a bit more serious than Hands Across the Table and The Princess Comes Across. It's yet another adaption of the play Burlesque which apparently was popular back in the day.

The original play Burlesque ran on Broadway in the 1927-1928 season for 372 performances and it's the role that Carole Lombard plays that Barbara Stanwyck originated on Broadway that brought her to Hollywood. A version starred Nancy Carroll in the early days of talkies and later on Betty Grable and Dan Dailey did still another version of it in When My Baby Smiles At Me.

In fact I have a vinyl album of a radio version that Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler did for the Lux Radio Theater. That's an interesting work, believe me.

Anyway MacMurray and Lombard do fine by the old chestnut, the story is now set in a nightclub where Lombard is a singer and MacMurray is a jazz trumpeter. Note a nice performance by Dorothy Lamour as the Latin vixen who gets between Fred and Carole. Also Anthony Quinn is in one of his earliest films as a wolf on the make for Lombard.

Swing High, Swing Low holds up real nice today and I wouldn't be surprised if we see yet another version of Burlesque for the Twenty First Century.

Paramount quickie stars MacMurray and Lombard in another pairing as lovebirds whose young marriage is threatened by MacMurray's success as a master band trumpeter, and the reappearance of smouldering former flame Lamour.

What begins as a light romantic comedy shifts gear becoming a tragedy in which the fragile union is put under immense strain by MacMurray's neglect. Whilst Lombard's character preserves her dignity, MacMurray imbibes his way to ruin becoming a wasted mess who loses the confidence to play.

Tense and suspenseful when it needs to be with sincere performances (including the exotic, confident Lamour in only her third picture) only the 'blow your horn' climax and corny embrace is a little dubious, albeit well-intentioned. Pay attention and you'll see a young Anthony Quinn playing the young thug who accosts MacMurray in the bar early in the picture.

Overall this modest melodrama deals with its subject more sensitively than most for its era, but it's still no brass virtuoso.

Carole Lombard is reason enough to see any film she starred or featured in, and she was nearly always my main reason to see any of her films. Even in lesser films or with lesser material, she was on the most part a bright spot, with great comic timing and immense charm and soul. It is not just her as to why 'Swing High, Swing Low' was seen in the first place. Have liked some of Mitchell Leisen's other work and the cast is a talented one.

'Swing High, Swing Low' is one of four films with Lombard and Fred MacMurray, another interest point. Being someone who really really liked them together. All four films (the others being 'Hands Across the Table', 'True Confession' and 'The Princess Comes Across') are more than watchable, above decent for three of them. My favourite of the four being 'Hands Across the Table', which is very good, and this being the weakest, have mixed feelings on it.

Despite a less than likeable character, MacMurray still shows good comic timing and surprising vulnerability that wasn't there as much in his other Lombard pairings. Lombard is as charming and spirited as ever, while also being very touching. They work very well together. The supporting cast are every bit as good, although a lot of them have appearances that are too brief. Charles Butterworth, Dorothy Lamour and Cecil Cunningham make the biggest impressions. There is some amusing comedy, with some nice banter and wise-cracking (some of it is corny but not in the most fatigued of ways).

And a good deal of energy in the music scenes, which are when the film is at most interesting. Helped by that the songs are great. It's a beautifully filmed film too and loved the nightclub setting, which stands out amongst the other Lombard and MacMurray collaborations.

It is a shame though that the more dramatic and serious second half is infinitely inferior and felt like a different film. The script is very tired, it was throughout the film but especially so when it became more serious. 'Swing High, Swing Low' did lack momentum a lot of the time, not helped by Leisen's dull direction, too pedestrian a pace and a story that is paper thin, painfully predictable and at times very contrived.

For me, 'Swing High, Swing Low' in the second half takes itself too seriously and what should have been emotional comes over as too heavy on the sentimentality. With the far too melodramatic ending being a particular offender.

Altogether, watchable but could have been so much better. 5/10

... so what's in those missing 10 minutes that were so horrible they had to cut them out from the original film? We were three years into the film production code... Barbara Stanwyck had starred in the original play, but here, Carole Lombard plays Maggie King. Co star Fred MacMurray is probably best known for "Double Indemnity", with Stanwyck, as well as his hit TV show "My Three Sons". Keep an eye out for a young Dorothy Lamour (Bob Hope movies) and the too-fabulous Franklin Pangborn, who spiced up just about every film put on tape. Of course, he works in the beauty salon on the ship! Add the sublime Charles Butterworth and Anthony Quinn. Good timing and clever banter at the beginning. Maggie's buddy Ella is played by Jean Dixon, who was the best friend in "Holiday" and "My Man Godfrey". In "Swing High", Maggie the tourist meets a soldier who is leaving the army. Maggie misses her boat when it leaves port and gets tangled up with the soldier. The dashing 20-something Quinn has a small scene at the local bar in Panama where Johnson (MacMurray) has been playing the trumpet. Maggie, Harry (Butterworth), and Skid band together and try to figure out how to get back to the States. Some good singing by Lamour. Good (but brief) acting performance by Cecil Cunningham as "Murph", the wise, helpful owner of the local saloon in Panama. While others have lamented at how bad it is, it wasn't so awful, and is even a little exotic, with the fake Central America locale setting for the first half of the film.

I loved it! Fred MacMurray is wonderful as Skid Johnson, a somewhat conceited, proud yet at the same time very vulnerable saxophone player who is in love with Maggie (Carole Lombard), who's always there for him. They meet in Panama after Maggie comes off a ship and end up in a bar with Anthony Quinn. Tony gets punched in the nose after her insults Maggie by thinking her a loose woman - all because she took off her hat in public. Big brawl and Maggie ends up stuck in Panama. Romance. Carole and Arthur are great together. Maggie is always there for him whenever he needs her. She urges him to go to NY where (well watch the movie and find out). They have these wonderful scenes together where she sings in his arms while he plays the saxophone. I definitely recommend it.

Such a shame that a beautiful movie like this is in such poor shape. It needs to be restored or the original film should be found. Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard are at their best. Some of the most heartfelt acting I have ever seen from the usually somewhat stoic MacMurray. The love store is so touching and really rings true. The music is wonderful! Also nice character acting from Charles Butterworth and Jean Dixon and a small spot for Anthony Quinn and Dorothy Lamour! Exotic locale shot in the Canal Zone of Panama. This luscious film deserves better. If any film gods are listening, please bring this film back to its original glory. I bet it would become a sleeper that comes back to life to a new audience!