Those interested in the back story on Swing High Swing Low and Mitchell Leisen there is a lengthy article in Sight and Sound June 2003 pp26-29(ISSN 0037-4806) titled "You the Night and the Music". Author: David Thomson. Thomson writes "Fox destroyed every print except one-Leisen's- which is how we have the film today"..when they remade it as "When My Baby Smiles at Me"

Less baggage 2 carry

in this movie is...the women (specifically, Carol Lombard and Dorothy Lamour, who also appear, and Cecil Cunningham, who plays Mrs. Murphy, the nightclub owner who supports Carol). The screenwriters didn't make it too terribly obvious, but it really is all about the women, not about the poor schlump. (Isn't Yiddish wonderful? You don't even need to know what it means, the insults just sound so insulting!)

It starts with a fight over one of them, and ends when the other one distracts and sabotages him (watch for the scene where she balls up the telegram and tosses it in a corner, telling him "it was just another cry for help") until she breaks his marriage, after which he falls apart. Through it all, it is always entirely his fault, the heel! Other people (particularly Mrs. Murphy) constantly talk him down, and he believes it of himself. What a schlimazel. What a yutz! What a schlemiel! What a maroon!! What an ignoranimus!! Where's Bugs Bunny when you need him?!

I cry at some movies; this one just left me feeling depressed. But then, it was written for pathos, and very well written it was, indeed. Both Carol and Dorothy play their roles in their usual styles, yet are totally believable as their characters, as is Fred in his. The rest of the cast is great, too. Excellent, though sad. Please pass the kleenex, Karen...

[update to review written May 15, 2011] I guess I need to add satire alerts so that people can know when I'm ridiculing something rather than supporting it. In this case, my target was the commonly held stereotype that, when male-female relations go south, it is automatically his fault every time. I have a hunch that the screenwriters had the same thing in mind.

If a man speaks in a forest and there isn't a woman around to hear him, is he still wrong? –George Carlin

Given, that most reviews are against McMurray's character, and for the "women" in the cast, even though many of these women are against the shy trumpeter on sight. Given, that very little honest communication goes on. Given that Fred gives up everything for Carol. Given, that Dorothy plays a true @#$%^, with minimal remorse.

Ok, he was drunk and passed out in the wrong place, at the wrong time, so sue him. Oh! She did.

You'll only need one kleenex for this film, to dab a tear from the corner of your eye at the end.

This is a very enjoyable and delightful film that is well worth watching. A Winner and a Favorite.

Even portraying a schlump, Fred MacMurray is DREAMY! But he's one of my favorite actors, so of course I'll say that...

Carole Lombard and Dorothy Lamour also appear.