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Swing High, Swing Low

Play trailer Poster for Swing High, Swing Low 1937 1h 35m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Stranded in Panama after falling in with ex-soldier and musician Skid Johnson (Fred MacMurray), American singer Maggie King (Carole Lombard) moves in with Skid and his hypochondriac roommate, Harry (Charles Butterworth). When the penniless Skid pawns his trumpet, Maggie not only gets it back, but also secures a gig for them both at a club. Skid and Maggie soon marry, but after Skid takes a job in New York and gets involved with an old flame, Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), Maggie is devastated.

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Swing High, Swing Low

Critics Reviews

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Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Apr 2, 2010
Beautifully affecting Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jul 18, 2007
C+
Any film that has Franklin Pangborn, no matter how little screen time, should have been able to swing more high than low. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David K @RT61474040 Sep 6, 2026 Starts out as a screwball comedy and then takes a dark turn into a Depression-era lost man tragedy. The leads are excellent but the idea that a woman is going to be able to block the well-intentioned husband from keeping in touch with, and sending for, his wife off in a distant location strains credibility. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Jan 9, 2024 A mixed bag but the cast does a great job. See more Jan 4, 2016 reminded me of other pix about horn players like 'man with the golden arm' and "young man with a horn" & others See more Jun 13, 2015 Not one of Carole Lombard's most popular films, but personally I loved her tender performance and chemistry with Fred McMurray, set against a jazz world backdrop. See more Jan 2, 2015 This was a big hit back in 1937 mostly due to the two stars; this remake of the stage hit "Burlesque" seems sappy and melodramatic by today's standards. See more Oct 6, 2014 The story has cobwebs on it but Carole and Fred make it far better than it should be. Jean Dixon adds a nice bit of snap in support as well. See more Read all reviews
Swing High, Swing Low

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Cast & Crew

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Mitch Leisen

Director

Carole Lombard

Marguerite "Maggie" King

Fred MacMurray

Skid Johnson

Charles Butterworth

Harry

Jean Dixon

Ella

Dorothy Lamour

Anita Alvarez
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Swing High, Swing Low

Swing High, Swing Low (1937) Swing High, Swing Low (1937) Swing High, Swing Low (1937) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Stranded in Panama after falling in with ex-soldier and musician Skid Johnson (Fred MacMurray), American singer Maggie King (Carole Lombard) moves in with Skid and his hypochondriac roommate, Harry (Charles Butterworth). When the penniless Skid pawns his trumpet, Maggie not only gets it back, but also secures a gig for them both at a club. Skid and Maggie soon marry, but after Skid takes a job in New York and gets involved with an old flame, Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), Maggie is devastated.
Director
Mitch Leisen
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 12, 1937, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 35m
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