Swing High, Swing Low (1937) is a romantic dramedy film starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray, the third pairing between the two stars. It was directed by Mitchell Leisen and is based on the Broadway play, Burlesque.
Two Americans, former soldier Skid Johnson (MacMurray) and hairdresser Maggie King (Lombard), meet in Panama and decide to live together merely out of convenience. During her stay, Maggie finds out that Skid is an incredible trumpet player, so she gets him a nightclub job to showcase his skills. Eventually, they fall in love, get married, and become a successful act. In the dingy club, a NYC music promoter spots Skid and offers him a job back in the States. Maggie pushes Skid to accept the job alongside bluesy singer Anita Alvarez (Dorothy Lamour), so he leaves, promising to eventually send money to Maggie so she can return to America. However, the day never comes; Skid becomes famous and distracted, making promises he never keeps.
None of Maggie's letters get proper replies, so she borrows money and flies north to find out that Skid has been cheating on her with Anita. Heartbroken, she files for divorce and moves on. This comes out of left field for Skid, who descends into despair and neglects his talent, leaving Maggie with the choice to either help Skid recover or marry someone else.
This film was never renewed for copyright, so it's available for free
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This film shows the following tropes:
- The Alcoholic: Skid has bouts of the alcoholic in him, but Maggie is vigilant; she tells him to stop whenever he goes overboard. However, once Maggie leaves him, Skid drinks heavily, making himself too shaky to play.
- Beta Couple: Harry, Skid’s friend, and Ella, Maggie’s friend.
- Big Applesauce: Maggie helps skid get a fancy job in NYC, and he promises to send money for her to come once he hits it big.
- Blatant Lies: Skid saying that he’s at the point of having enough money to send to Maggie. He, however, just puts it off repeatedly.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: If Maggie didn’t push Skid to consider going to NYC, he would still be stuck in Panama blowing his cornet.
- Descent into Addiction: Once Maggie decides to divorce Skid and marry her old friend, Skid becomes a rabid alcoholic and bum.
- Did Not Get the Girl: Skid. Averted in the end; Maggie returns to help him get back on his feet and says that she won’t leave.
- Hypochondria: Harry is always wearing a coat with an overcoat on top and copious sweaters. When Skid goes away, he gives him all kinds of pills in case he gets sick.
- In with the "In" Crowd: The music scene in NYC accepts Skid as the talent that he is and he begins to neglect Maggie because of this.
- Meet Cute: Skid and Maggie meet while she’s on ship being lowered on the Panama Canal.
- Relationship Sabotage: Anita shreds Maggie's telegram, so Skid won't know that Maggie has written about coming to New York. She also actively makes sure that he never sends the flight money over to Maggie; she encourages him to gamble his money away.
- The Remake: This film is a remake of the 1929 version The Dance of Life, and was also remade in 1948 as When My Baby Smiles at Me.
- Sexy Backless Outfit: For their nightclub act, Maggie wears pretty evening gowns and so does Anita.
- Spicy Latina: Anita Alvarez.
- Wham Line: There's a Running Gag between Maggie and Skid saying that he could always go back into the Army if something ever went wrong with his musical career. When Skid hits rock bottom, he goes to a recruiting office to get a checkup and re-enlist, but the doctor informs him he's completely shot and can’t be in the Army aymore.