Swing High, Swing Low (1937): watch the full film free, legally

From Burlesque to Panama

Mitchell Leisen directed Swing High, Swing Low, a 1937 American romantic comedy-drama starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. The film was the second of three adaptations of Burlesque, the 1927 Broadway play by George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins. The Dance of Life, released in 1929, was the first adaptation, while When My Baby Smiles at Me followed in 1948.

Boris Morros handled musical direction, with vocal supervision by Al Siegel. Farciot Edouart created the special photographic effects. Earl Haman and Don Johnson were responsible for sound recording, Travis Banton designed costumes, A. E. Freudeman provided interior decorations, and Ernst Fegté was art director.

Maggie and Skid in Balboa

Maggie King works as a hairdresser aboard a liner travelling through the Panama Canal Zone. On his last day in the Army, brash soldier “Skid” Johnson approaches her, but Maggie brushes him off. His persistence leads Maggie and her friend Ella to a reluctant double date in Balboa with Skid and his piano-player friend Harry. At a nightclub, Maggie says she dislikes trumpet music, and Skid responds by demonstrating his ability on the instrument.

A Spanish-speaking man tries to pick Maggie up at the bar. He and Skid fight, leaving Skid and Maggie in jail and causing Maggie to miss her ship back to the United States. After contributing to the fine, she has no money and moves in with Skid and Harry. Maggie persuades Murphy to employ her as a showgirl and Skid as a trumpet player at Murphy’s Cafe y Bar by claiming that they are married. She also clashes with Anita Alvarez, a showgirl who was once Skid’s girlfriend, until Anita departs for a better job.

Maggie and Skid fall in love and marry. Maggie urges the reluctant Skid to seek work at a major New York City nightclub, though she remains behind. Anita is working there, and Skid becomes successful while performing with her. Fame and fortune affect him. He does not send Maggie the fare to join him or answer her letters, so Maggie borrows money from Murphy. Anita intercepts Maggie’s telegram telling Skid where to meet her boat. After waiting at the pier, Maggie calls Anita’s hotel room and hears a drunk Skid answer. Maggie then plans to sail to France for a divorce and to marry wealthy rancher Harvey Howell.

A critic's view and later release

Frank Nugent, writing for The New York Times, said that Swing High, Swing Low was like most Ferris wheels because it did not go anywhere that had not been visited before. He added that its players were worthy of better treatment.

The film entered the public domain in the United States in 1965 because its claimants did not renew the copyright registration in the 28th year after publication. Synergy Entertainment released an all-regions DVD on May 15, 2007.

Film details from the Wikipedia article “Swing High, Swing Low (film)”. Text adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.