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
'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