Fredric March's Topless Scene in This Movie

Formerly ecarle.

Great overall movie, great overall cast.

And a rather brave Fredric March

Playing embattled US President Lyman, March is the first of the four major stars in the film to make an appearance. He's in the oval office with his top aide(reliable Martin Balsam) and his best friend Southern Senator (reliable Edmond O'Brien) and a doctor is checking him out and claming that his blood pressure is too high and he'd better take a two week vacation or else.

March counters the doc: "How about I squeeze in a lap in the pool?"

And he MEANS it. Like...right now...in the next scene. Fredric March is shown finishing his lap, climbing out of the swimming pool and joining his pal Senator Edmond O'Brien for a conversation.

The thing of it is this: March covers up nothing, torso-wise here. He climbs out of the pool and allows the camera to capture his 66- or 67- year old torso in all its smallish, fleshy glory.

He's topless.

One wonders...why? This scene could have been filmed from various angles, kept him in close up, put him in his coverup robe as he gets out of the pool, etc.

But March rather unnerves us with his willingness to put an elderly physique on view.

He's rather flat chested, which is good: no man boobs to show off "excess adipose tissue on either side of the sternum."

Here's what I figure: when Fredric March saw his swimming dismount scene in the script, he said "I want to do that scene fully topless for a minute or two before I put on the robe.'

I think the shot draws attention to President Lyman's age, his physical frailty(an issue given the military coup which will be attempted against him), and yet a sort of devil may care attitude about his body (he's simply talking to an old male friend, with men who work for him nearby.)

He's also called a "weak sister" by the right wingers in the film, he rather LOOKS like one here.

Anyway, and overall: a movie with muscle men Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in it(albeit a bit older than THEIR prime) and its old Fredric March who takes his shirt off.

And steals a scene.