If there is one thing that serves as a status symbol, it’s a beautiful inground pool. It shows that you are living the life. It stands as a triumph of your hard work. At least it is supposed to, but what if it means something else? These are questions filmmakers ask when they include pools in their movies and tv shows. Everything in a film has a meaning.
Famous swimming pool scenes have been a hallmark of cinema for many years. Films all the way back to the 1940s have used swimming pools in them. Films such as It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), The Great Gatsby (2013), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) and more.
Today we will look at these films and others, pinpointing five of the most iconic pool scenes in a film. Be aware that spoilers might lay ahead.
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Let’s start this list with a certified classic. This pool scene helps show a strong characteristic of the main characters. The main characters are attending a dance in the school gym. A disgruntled classmate decides to open the gym floor up. Below the floor, of course, is a swimming pool. Unaware of the opening floor, our main characters dance leads them over the edge. Ending their happy dance sequence. Least it that was the intention. Showing a playful and persistent spirit. Our main characters drop into the water and continue dancing.
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
As odd as it is artistic, Rocky Horror Picture Show is a timeless film. Near the end of the film our titular villain Dr. Frank-N-Furter. does a song number. The number takes him into a pool. The song in question is “Don’t dream it, be it”. This scene is important because of a few bits of symbolism. Most prominent is when Dr. Frank-N-Furter floats on a Titanic life preserver. This is foretelling his oncoming demise. After the performance, Frank-N-Furter and Rocky plunge into the pool. Falling to the before-mentioned demise.
Gremlins (1984)
The cutest horror film ever created, Gremlins introduced the world to the Mogwai. There are two rules to Mogwai. Don’t get them wet and don’t feed them after midnight. Both of these rules go out the window in Gremlins. Especially when the leader of the Gremlins dives right into a pool. This unleashes an army of Gremlins upon the town. What happens next is adorable hectic chaos, hijinks, and terror. While that might not sound great, Gremlins makes for a delightful classic. One that has people coming back to it time and time again.
Sexy Beast (2000)
The film starts with the pool as a status symbol. Soon it becomes a parallel for the main character’s journey through the film. It opens with a retired con man lounging beside his pool. We get an impression on the kind of man our lead is. When out of nowhere, a boulder comes cascading down the mountain. Ending up lodged in his beautiful, pristine pool. All the while, showing scenes of a woman arriving at his hillside villa. The sudden boulder disturbing his relaxation mirrors the film.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
So many classic films on this list. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has Matthew Broderick in his prime. They break into a random house to use its pool. At first, Cameron doesn’t want to get in the pool. Finally, he plunges down into the water, floating to the bottom. There he stays until Matthew Broderick’s character dives down to lift him back him. In this scene, the pool is a stand-in for depression. With Ferris Bueller lifting him out of it. This is one of several clear visual subtexts used through the film. For this list though, the pool is the one that speaks most to us.
Famous Swimming Pool Scenes
These are far from the only famous swimming pool scenes. If we went into every scene, we would be here all day long. What does your swimming pool mean for you? Many see it as a status symbol or as a way to bring their family together. It could be a staple of a new retirement. Regardless of the reason, Artesian Pools is here to build it for you.
Contact us today at (407) 249-1764