Pool News
Swimming Pools In The Movies – Our Favorite Pool Scenes
Swimming pools are a part of the fabric of our lives, our culture, and the movies we watch. Throughout the history of film, swimming pools, have played an important part on the silver screen. Consequently, actors have been taking the plunge as far back as the silent film era.
It should come as no surprise that of the 500,000 or so feature-length films in existence, that a fair percentage incorporate pools or swimming as a theme or central plot point. The world’s fascination with swimming pools dates back far greater than the advent of moving pictures. Charlie Chaplin made the swimming pool a focal piece of one of his films way back in 1917 and Hollywood has been following suit ever since.
Our 30 Favorite Film Scenes Featuring Swimming Pools
Today, we’re going to take a stroll down memory lane as we highlight some of the most memorable moments from film history featuring swimming pools. Let’s dive right in!
#1 – Cocoon
A pool played a central theme in the 1985 movie Cocoon. Extraterrestrials had a veritable fountain of youth in their swimming pool, something Jessica Tandy and Oscar winner, Don Ameche found irresistible. Cocoon was also a big movie for actors Steve Guttenberg and Brian Dennehy who spends half the film trying to keep them out of the pool without much success.
#2 – Cruel Intentions
The chemistry was undeniable between Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions. Seduction lay at the heart of this swimming pool scene set at the often used Millenium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles which doubled for the Valmont Mansion in New York City.
#3 – Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Nobody can quite forget this swimming pool scene. Phoebe Cates has quite possibly one of the memorable pool scenes of all time in the 1984 classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The MPAA originally slapped the movie with an X-rating because of the blatant full-frontal nudity in the film. You won’t see the whole scene here though, because hey, we’re a family magazine.
#4 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Matthew Broderick had quite possibly the best hooky day ever in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Alan Ruck’s character Cameron Frye looks for the bottom of the pool when he has a complete mental breakdown after seeing the odometer on his father’s car.
#5 – Poltergeist
One of the scariest swimming pool scenes in film history is in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist. JoBeth Williams looks genuinely horrified to be swimming in her unfinished pool with skeletons. Perhaps because she knew that studio used real human skeletons because it was too expensive and difficult to locate and shoot with synthetic ones.
#6 – Back To School
Who could ever forget Rodney Dangerfield in the campy ’86 comedy smash Back To School? Dangerfield goes for quite possibly the most memorable high dive of all time with his impossible “Triple Lindy” dive during the climax of the film.
#7 – Boogie Nights
Director Paul Thomas Anderson is a master of the long cut as evidence in the pool party scene in the 1997 film Boogie Nights. John C. Reilly’s character Reed Rothchild does the worst back flop in movie history while attempting a full front flip. Don’t try that at home kids.
#8 – Old School
A children’s pool party sets the unlikely stage for one of the funniest moments in film history in the 2003 comedy Old School. Try not to bust a gut when Will Ferrell’s character, Frank The Tank accidentally shoots himself in the neck with a tranquilizer gun before stumbling into the pool and blacking out.
#9 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Chevy Chase spends the entire movie dreaming about how he’s going to spend his Christmas bonus. His plans involve building a swimming pool for the family but even his day dreams go awry in the 1989 classic National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
#10 – Harold & Maude
Harold Chasen (played by Bud Cort) is obsessed with death in the 1971 dark rom-com classic Harold & Maude. Aside from driving a hearse and spending an inordinate amount of time attending funerals for people he doesn’t know, Harold is fond of faking elaborate suicides. So much to the extent that his own mother has built up an immunity to his shenanigans, as evidence to her ignoring Harold doing a dead mans float, in the swimming pool. She does the breaststroke, right past him and continues on as if he’s not even there.
#11 – The Graduate
Dustin Hoffman stars as 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock in the 1967 comedy cult classic The Graduate. One of the most memorable scenes involves a birthday gift Ben’s parents urge him to show off to his family and friends; a set of scuba diving gear they insist he demonstrate in the swimming pool. There was definitely some innovative cinematography in this film as evidence in the scene shot from the viewpoint of the inside of Ben’s diving mask.
#12 – Beverly Hills Cop II
Eddie Murphy reprised his role where he plays a fish out of water wisecracking, detective from Detroit in the hit 1987 sequel Beverly Hills Copy II. In this funny scene, Murphy is squatting in a tony mansion with a swimming pool and jacuzzi. In real life Eddie Murphy’s pool put’s this one to shame.
#13 – Lethal Weapon
One of the most famous action movie scenes involving a swimming pool was in the 1987 hit Lethal Weapon. Mel Gibson (Riggs) and Danny Glover (Murtaugh) played two crime-fighting detectives on a mission. Murtaugh’s mission was to stop the crooks without killing them while Riggs was on a mission to evidently ruin a perfectly good pool cover.
#14 – Meet The Parents
One of the funniest scenes in the 2000 smash hit Meet The Parents is when Ben Stiller (Greg Focker) is forced to attend a pool party at his fiance’s ex-boyfriend’s palatial home. Greg clearly isn’t much of a volleyball player but the hilarity really ensues when his competitive streak comes out of him. He attempts to rise to the occasion by spiking the ball as hard as he possibly can.
#15 – Gremlins
When you own a pet that multiplies after getting wet, you should probably keep it as far away from the swimming pool as possible. Especially, once it’s turned into a gremlin after eating a midnight snack. Watch this pool scene from the 1984 blockbuster, Gremlins.
#16 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2
Nothing can ruin a pool party faster than Freddy Kreuger showing up. What a buzz kill! The razor-fingered slasher shows up just in time to put a damper on the festivities in the 1985 sequel Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. This wouldn’t be the last time that a pool scene would pop up in the Nightmare on Elm Street series, they used a swimming pool as a focal point of the film again in 2010 in the franchise reboot.
#17 – Anchorman
Will Ferrell’s hilarious 2004 comedy smash Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy has one particular pool scene at the very beginning of the movie that is very funny. Evidently he’s been going to the same pool party for the past 12 years and in no way is that depressing.
#18 – Caddyshack
Finding a floater in the pool is everyone’s worst nightmare come to life; depicted in this hilarious scene from 1980’s Caddyshack. Bill Murray plays quite possibly the funniest pool boy ever. We love a guy that isn’t scared to put a theory to the test right there on the spot. Incidentally, the scene involving a Baby Ruth candy bar being thrown in the pool was based on a true incident that occurred at Brian Doyle-Murray‘s high school.
#19 – Wall-E
In the 2008 animated film Wall-E, humanity has polluted the planet to the point where we’ve been forced to evacuate to an interstellar cruise ship. Evidently, it’s a pretty big ship because the folks that live there didn’t know there was a pool on board.
#20 – Romeo + Juliet
Two star-crossed lovers find themselves again in the 1996 film William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Director Baz Luhrmann reimagined this famous scene from the play to occur poolside.
#21 – It’s a Wonderful Life
Perhaps the most iconic swimming pool scene of all time occurs in the 1946 Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. Definitely one of the more defining moments of the film is when George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) and Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) are dancing and the floor suddenly opens to an inground swimming pool underneath them. Suddenly a dance party becomes a pool party and no one seems to mind one bit.
#22 – The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is an American classic novel reimagined in the 2013 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Swimming pools play a prevailing role throughout the film staged in the decadent Jazz age of Long Island. Ultimately, Gatsby would reach his end in a swimming pool, murdered by a jealous husband George Wilson (Jason Clarke).
#23 – National Lampoon’s Vacation
Chevy Chase stars in the 1983 hit National Lampoon’s Vacation. His character Clark Griswold has a nack for finding trouble and making bad decisions. Skinny dipping with Christie Brinkley in a motel pool was just one of them.
#24 – Oblivion
We have to say, Tom Cruise‘s sky apartment in 2013’s Oblivion, is pretty amazing. Having a swimming pool like this one would be very Hollywood. The premise of the film is a little weird and perhaps Roger Ebert said it best “Harper and Vica spend their days fixing drones, eating candelit dinners, and swimming in a glass-bottomed pool.” Hey, if that’s what it takes, sign us up.
#25 – The Sandlot
The Sandlot (1993) had one of the most memorable pool scenes in film history. Not because of the beauty of the swimming pool mind you, but because of what occurred poolside. Try this one at your local pool club and you’re immediately banned for life. We’re not condoning what Squints Palledorous did mind you, but it’s still a pretty cool pickup move nonetheless.
#26 – Grown Ups
Kevin James is hilarious as he takes one on the chin to debunk an old myth about peeing in the pool in 2010’s hit, Grown Ups. This one is just for entertainment value though, there really is no chemical that turns your urine blue when you pee in the pool. Then again, do you really want to take that chance to find out for yourself?
#27 – Rushmore
Bill Murray clearly has no qualms about cannon balling into a green pool in 1998’s sleeper hit Rushmore. In fact, he dives into the murky swimming pool with a cigarette still in his mouth, so it doesn’t really look like he’s going to let a lil algae disrupt his day.
#28 – The Jerk
Steve Martin‘s 1979 comedy classic The Jerk has one memorable pool scene where he beats up a pack of racist real estate investors. This wouldn’t be the first memorable scene of Martin’s career where he showcases his incredible martial arts skills. You can copy his legendary kung fu style from scenes in “Fake Purse Ninjas” in the movie Bowfinger.
#29 – The Swimmer
Burt Lancaster plays Ned Merrill in the 1968 classic, The Swimmer – based on a short story originally published by John Cheever in The New Yorker. The Swimmer tells the tale of a middle-aged man who lands in a friends backyard pool party. Merrill becomes fixated with the idea that there are so many swimming pools in the neighborhood, they could practically form a river. He becomes intent on swimming his way home but realizes that with every stroke comes disillusionment.
#30 – Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
Macaulay Culkin plays lovable Kevin McCallister in the smash sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Culkin always had a screen presence that belied his young age. In this scene, while staying at the posh Plaza Hotel, his character Kevin asks if any of the adults nearby would mind him working on his cannonballs. No one seems to mind. There is one thing though, that bathing suit looks a little big on him.
What Are Your Favorite Swimming Pool Scenes?
We’re happy you stopped in with us today to read about some of Hollywood’s most memorable swimming pool scenes. It’s a fact that with so many films out there, we’re bound to have missed a few that probably made your list. Let us know your favorite pool scenes in the comments, we may revise this article in the future to include some of your suggestions.
French Olympic diver, Alexis Jandard, created a memorable moment at the grand opening of Paris’s new Olympic pool, though not quite in the manner he had envisioned.
A startling video captured during the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Paris Aquatics Center on Thursday showcased the 26-year-old Olympian’s unfortunate landing on his right foot while gearing up to dive alongside two fellow athletes. Adorned in a Speedo reflecting the hues of the French flag, Jandard’s discomforting descent saw him landing on his back, ricocheting off the nearly 10-foot-high dive board, and somersaulting into the pool in a rather ungraceful manner.
The incident unfolded in front of a sizable crowd of onlookers, including French President Emmanuel Macron and various dignitaries. Jandard later displayed his scraped back on his Instagram account, maintaining a light-hearted approach to his embarrassing mishap by quipping, “For your information, my back is fine, but my ego…”
Sharing a photo of his reddened back, courtesy of the encounter with the diving board, on Instagram Stories, Jandard assured followers of his well-being. Speaking to RMC Sport, he recounted the unexpected turn of events, stating, “I’m fine. I didn’t hurt myself; unfortunately, these things happen. It happened at a time when I wasn’t expecting it at all.”
Reflecting on the incident, Jandard humorously noted, “I’ve broken boards before, but the board had never broken me before. Now it has.” Despite the hiccup, he maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking, “I would have preferred this ceremony to have gone well from A to Z. There was that little hitch. If it made people smile a little, so much the better.”
Explaining the mishap, Jandard clarified that his leg gave way upon landing but denied any slippage, emphasizing, “It’s a non-slip [board], and what’s more, the board was new, beautiful, and I think there’s still [some of] my back on the board there.”
With a silver and bronze under his belt at the 2022 and 2023 World Aquatics Championships, respectively, Jandard took the incident in stride, admitting, “It’s a shame, but it’s funny. When you take a step back, it’s funny.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Games this summer, where he is set to compete, Jandard acknowledged the inevitability of such occurrences in his sport, jesting, “These things happen,” while playfully lamenting, “It had to happen in front of the president and the whole of France. I think we chose the right moment.”
Despite being inundated with supportive messages and playful jabs, Jandard maintained a good-natured stance, urging his followers on Instagram, “Enjoy yourselves, make fun of me. I seriously deserve it!”
Pool News
Earthquake in Taiwan Causes Waterfall From Rooftop Pool
A massive earthquake in Taiwan transforms a rooftop pool into a waterfall. View viral footage.
In a harrowing turn of events, Taiwan was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake, leaving devastation in its wake. The quake, the strongest to hit the island in 25 years, shook the east coast of Taiwan, particularly affecting the city of Hualien and its surrounding areas. With a depth of 34.8 kilometers, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 18 kilometers south of Hualien, according to the US Geological Survey.
As rescue efforts are underway to free those trapped under rubble and debris, the toll of the disaster continues to rise. At least nine individuals have lost their lives, while over 900 others have sustained injuries. The aftermath of the earthquake has left over 100 buildings damaged, with reports of landslides and collapsed structures adding to the chaos.
The force of the quake was so immense that it caused a surreal sight—a rooftop swimming pool overflowing and cascading down the side of a building, creating an impromptu waterfall. Footage captured during the earthquake also shows the sheer force as a man inside a pool struggles to maintain balance, the water swaying violently from side to side.
The region of Hualien County, with a population of approximately 300,000, faces immense challenges in assessing the full extent of the damage. Many inhabitants reside in remote coastal or mountain communities, making it difficult for rescue teams to reach them promptly. The precarious situation is exacerbated by the expectation of aftershocks, with 29 aftershocks greater than a magnitude of 4.0 already recorded near the epicenter.
Compounding the crisis are reports of miners trapped in two mines in Hualien, adding urgency to the rescue operations. Furthermore, over 91,000 households are grappling with power cuts, amplifying the difficulties faced by residents in the aftermath of the disaster.
Despite the widespread destruction, medical facilities in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei City, are functioning, albeit damaged. The Municipal Government has confirmed that hospitals are operating normally, providing critical care to the injured.
The international community has responded swiftly to the catastrophe, with the Biden administration monitoring the situation closely and expressing readiness to offer assistance. In the face of adversity, Taiwan is rallying its resources and resilience, demonstrating solidarity and resolve in confronting this natural disaster.
As the dust settles and the extent of the damage becomes clearer, questions arise about the effectiveness of early warning detection systems in mitigating the impact of natural disasters. Despite Taiwan’s investment in advanced seismic technology, including early warning systems designed to provide crucial seconds of alert before an earthquake strikes, many residents were caught off guard by the sudden and violent tremors. Reports indicate that the early warning detection system, while operational, did not reach a significant portion of the population in time to take preventive action
A forthcoming feature potentially destined for the Apple Watch, as detailed in a recent patent application, could serve as a lifesaver for swimmers at risk of drowning.
Outlined in the patent is a capability for the Watch to identify “irregular behavior” and automatically trigger a distress call for assistance.
Apple underscores the alarming statistics surrounding drowning, particularly its prevalence among children, as a leading cause of accidental fatalities.
In the United States alone, drowning claims the lives of over 3,500 individuals annually, ranking as the fifth most common form of accidental death. Tragically, a significant portion of these victims are children.
Emphasizing the critical importance of swift intervention during water emergencies, Apple highlights the dire consequences of prolonged submersion without resuscitation, which can result in brain damage and ultimately, drowning.
A Growing Need For Cost-Effective Wearable Solutions
While acknowledging existing underwater camera systems in some swimming pools aimed at detecting distressed swimmers and alerting lifeguards, Apple notes their costliness and unreliability.
Consequently, there’s a pressing need for a simpler, more cost-effective drowning prevention solution suitable for all types of water bodies, including public and private pools, as well as natural settings like lakes and ponds where installing underwater cameras is impractical.
The patent proposes leveraging wearable devices such as the Apple Watch for broader applicability, increased reliability, and the ability to detect various types of emergencies.
Alerting When Swimmers Are In Distress
For instance, if the Watch detects a wearer who is not proficient in swimming entering deeper water, it can promptly dispatch an alert instead of waiting for signs of distress.
These alerts can be transmitted to nearby devices, including those of friends and family, and seamlessly integrate with existing drowning detection and alarm systems to ensure lifeguards are promptly notified.
Apple Watches already boast capabilities to detect and respond to falls, vehicle accidents, and cardiac irregularities. Heartwarming testimonials featured in Apple’s “Dear Apple” video series show individuals whose lives were saved by these functionalities.
As with many patents from Apple, it’s important to note that not all concepts may materialize into actual products. Nonetheless, this innovation stands as a promising addition for potential integration into future watchOS updates.
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