Synopsis
In 1941 America, Kay and her husband are happy enough until he enlists after Pearl Harbor. Against his wishes, his wife takes a job at the local aircraft plant where she meets Hazel, the singer from across the way the two soon become firm friends and with the other girls become increasingly expert workers. As the war drags on Kay finally dates her trumpet playing foreman and life gets complicated
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Goldie HawnKay Walsh
- Kurt RussellLucky Lockhart
- Christine LahtiHazel Zanussi
- Fred WardBiscuits Toohey
- Ed HarrisJack Walsh
- Sudie BondAnnie
- Holly HunterJeannie Sherman
- Patty MaloneyLaverne
- Lisa PelikanViolet Mulligan
- Susan PeretzEdith Castle
Recommandations
- 80
The New York Times
Mr Demme has a special talent for locating the humor and pathos within the commonplace experiences of American life. - 80
Time Out
Hawn, atypically cast and supported by all-round excellent performances, proves that she can act. But still this bitter-sweet concoction is very much Demme's: not only in the warming celebration of friendship and community values (the unsentimental generosity extended towards the characters positively glows), but also in the assured handling of period, place, music and mood. - 80
Empire
This film is more known for being the one which introduced Goldie Hawn to Kurt Russell than anything else, which is somewhat unfair as at its heart lies a sweet romance, with good performances from both the leads and an Oscar nomination for supporting actress Lahti. - 75
Chicago Sun-Times
This is a slice-of-life movie, the kind that director Jonathan (Melvin and Howard) Demme is good at. - 75
TV Guide Magazine
Jonathan Demme's characteristic generosity toward his characters and refusal to make absolute moral judgments are strong points, while the feminist subtext adds freshness to the story. - 63
Christian Science Monitor
There's not much freshness to the plot, about a young woman who has a love affair when her husband sails off to fight World War II. But director Jonathan Demme shows the same keen interest in Americana that sparked his fine Melvin and Howard, and while some story details are murky or unconvincing, his probing lens captures delicate nuances of atmosphere and performance. [03 May 1984, p.29] - 50
New York Magazine (Vulture)
It offers a Life-magazine view of the home front, with adultery added--but the adultery is so unimpassioned that it might have come from Life, too. [30 Apr 1984, p.87] - 50
Variety
With all the heartwarming heroics to choose from on the homefront in World War II, Swing Shift tries instead to twist some consequence out of a tawdry adulterous tryst by a couple of self-centered sneaks. But the writing and acting are too flat for the challenge.
