The Swimmer (1968)

As cinematic restrictions got looser in the late ’60s, filmmakers began to push the boundaries regarding how much skin they could show. Enter the Oscar-nominated spouses director Frank Perry and writer Eleanor Perry. Their screen adaptation of a John Cheever short story led to the surreal drama The Swimmer (1968), not to be confused with the Israeli film The Swimmer (2021). While this movie doesn’t exactly feature a ton of nudity, it’s got a lot more than one might expect, especially from a matinee idol of classic Hollywood. In other words, Burt Lancaster stepped in to showcase his onscreen assets! After rising to fame in the film noir pics The Killers (1946) and Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), Burt nabbed Academy Award nominations for From Here to Eternity (1953), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Atlantic City (1980), and a win for Elmer Gantry (1960). Always pushing himself, the screen legend took on the titular role of Ned Merrill. Here, he plays a man traveling across the Southern California Valley pool by pool! If that sounds weird, his wealthy neighbors, Mr. (House Jameson) and Mrs. (Nancy Cushman) Halloran, are nudists! As such, Mr. Jameson displays his naked T&A. Not to be outdone, Burt struts his stuff in the buff! Alas, it’s in the distance when he flashes his ass. Luckily, we get to see Lancaster’s tanned torso up close as he dives in and out of the water. While this pic has a pretty flimsy plot, it’s also got pretty Burt in a flimsy swimsuit!