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It's World War II, and Kay's husband, Jack (Ed Harris), has just joined the military. Kay (Goldie Hawn), like so many women of the period, decides to go to work to support the war effort. She finds a job at an airplane munitions plant, where she meets Lucky (Kurt Russell), a trumpet-playing hunk who is unable to serve in the war because of health problems. The two embark upon a romance after a lengthy courtship, which lasts a number of years. But when Jack returns home injured, he doesn't appreciate the news that his wife has been enjoying herself with another man. Jonathan Demme's smooth directorial hand is revealed by the unsentimental generosity with which he handles the supporting characters. Look in particular for Christine Lahti's standout performance as Kay's factory buddy, Hazel--a performance that notched her an Oscar nomination. SWING SHIFT is the rare World War II movie that focuses on the home front; it is particularly sensitive to the period's music, place, and mood.
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