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FILM 2146: SWING SHIFT (1984)

TRIVIA: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell fell in love and moved in together after working on this project.

In an early scene, Ed Harris, clad only in a towel wrapped around his waist, plops down on a chair. For a split second, his genitals are fully exposed. This scene somehow evaded the censors (and in a PG-rated film) and in the first video release, the scene is intact. The scene has now disappeared from subsequent releases. However, it is included on the print shown on Turner Classic Movies.

Director Jonathan Demme wore period clothes on the set to help set the mood for the actors.

The role of Ethel the landlady is played by Goldie Hawn's mother Laura.

Bruce Springsteen was considered for the role of Lucky Lockhart.

In 2017, after the death of Jonathan Demme, Sight and Sound magazine ran an article by Steve Vineberg entitled "Swing Shift: the unmaking of a masterpiece?". This gave a detailed comparison of Demme's original and unreleased cut with the release print, calling the version Demme delivered to Warners "one of the best movies made by an American in the 80s". According to Vineberg, Bo Goldman and Ron Nyswaner were involved in rewriting Nancy Dowd's original script, and it is unclear who directed the additional footage that producer-star Goldie Hawn insisted on (the commercial print accentuates her character at the expense of others, and makes her more likable). Ironically, Vineberg praises her performance in the director's cut: "Hawn didn't just slash Demme's canvases, but her own as well."

Kay tells Jack that she is making $1.35 per hour at the plant (in 1944). That would equate to $19.55 per hour in 2018.

Features Christine Lahti's only Oscar nominated acting performance.

Released straight to video in the UK.

The blouse Christine Lahti wears in the confrontation scene with Hawn, emblazoned with a musical staff and notes was originally worn by an extra in Mommie Dearest.

Belinda Carlisle of the 80's girl group "The Go-Go's" only film appearance as a jamboree singer.

Viggo Mortensen's brief scene with Goldie Hawn ended up on the cutting room floor.

This is featured on the podcast Blank Check episode Swing Shift https://soundcloud.com/griffin-and-david-present/swing-shift

Watch this here…