Swing Shift Maisie
Encyclopedia
Swing Shift Maisie is a 1943 romantic comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod
. It is the seventh in a series of ten films starring Ann Sothern
as Maisie
, preceded by Maisie Gets Her Man and followed by Maisie Goes to Reno. Her co-stars are James Craig
and Jean Rogers
.
"Breezy" McLaughlin (James Craig
). Breezy gets Curley a job at the airplane company where he works and offers to use his influence on Maisie's behalf too. However, she insists she can get a job there on her own merits. She lands on the swing shift at the aircraft manufacturing factory. Breezy does, however, get her a room at Maw Lustvogel's (Connie Gilchrist
) boarding house. Despite her initial dislike for him, Maisie starts falling in love.
Maisie stops a suicide attempt by failed actress Iris Reed (Jean Rogers
), who lives across the hall, and persuades her to get a job in the same place. Her kindness backfires on her when Breezy is more attracted to Iris. The two soon become engaged.
When Breezy gets his wish to join the Air Force, he asks Maisie to look after Iris while he is away being trained. Maisie finds this a difficult task, as Iris turns out to like men altogether too much. When Iris gets fired, she uses her feminine charms to get Judd Evans, a factory clerk, to pay the rent for an apartment in his building. She skips out without paying Maw the back rent she owes, even though Maisie gives her $20 to do so, and she has gotten a large money order from Breezy.
Maisie finds Judd comforting Iris after another "suicide attempt". She orders Iris to tell Breezy that she no longer loves him when he comes home on leave to marry her. However, Iris secretly accuses Maisie of suspicious behavior to the factory's security department. While Maisie is being questioned, Iris and Breezy drive to Reno to get married. Maisie cleverly confesses to being a saboteur and implicates Iris and Breezy as fellow agents. They are stopped by the police, but let go after Breezy produces his identification. However, Breezy learns that Maisie is being held, even though Iris told him that she left to attend the funeral of an aunt. Having learned of Iris's shady character, Breezy goes back to Maisie. She is initially unwilling to take him back, but eventually gives in.
Norman Z. McLeod
Norman Zenos McLeod was an American film director, cartoonist and writer...
. It is the seventh in a series of ten films starring Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
as Maisie
Maisie
Maisie Ravier is a popular fictional character, the star of ten films and a radio show. She was played by Ann Sothern.After a string of films that failed to attract an audience, Sothern left RKO Radio Pictures and was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making her first film for MGM in 1939...
, preceded by Maisie Gets Her Man and followed by Maisie Goes to Reno. Her co-stars are James Craig
James Craig (actor)
James Craig was an American actor.After graduating from the Rice Institute, Craig began appearing in films in 1937, most often in B-movies and serials...
and Jean Rogers
Jean Rogers
Jean Rogers was an American actress. She portrayed Dale Arden in two of the three Flash Gordon serials.-Early life:...
.
Plot
Maisie Revere (Ann Sothern) loses her job as an assistant in Horatio Curley's dog act as a result of a minor quarrel with test pilotTest pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
"Breezy" McLaughlin (James Craig
James Craig (actor)
James Craig was an American actor.After graduating from the Rice Institute, Craig began appearing in films in 1937, most often in B-movies and serials...
). Breezy gets Curley a job at the airplane company where he works and offers to use his influence on Maisie's behalf too. However, she insists she can get a job there on her own merits. She lands on the swing shift at the aircraft manufacturing factory. Breezy does, however, get her a room at Maw Lustvogel's (Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist
Connie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York...
) boarding house. Despite her initial dislike for him, Maisie starts falling in love.
Maisie stops a suicide attempt by failed actress Iris Reed (Jean Rogers
Jean Rogers
Jean Rogers was an American actress. She portrayed Dale Arden in two of the three Flash Gordon serials.-Early life:...
), who lives across the hall, and persuades her to get a job in the same place. Her kindness backfires on her when Breezy is more attracted to Iris. The two soon become engaged.
When Breezy gets his wish to join the Air Force, he asks Maisie to look after Iris while he is away being trained. Maisie finds this a difficult task, as Iris turns out to like men altogether too much. When Iris gets fired, she uses her feminine charms to get Judd Evans, a factory clerk, to pay the rent for an apartment in his building. She skips out without paying Maw the back rent she owes, even though Maisie gives her $20 to do so, and she has gotten a large money order from Breezy.
Maisie finds Judd comforting Iris after another "suicide attempt". She orders Iris to tell Breezy that she no longer loves him when he comes home on leave to marry her. However, Iris secretly accuses Maisie of suspicious behavior to the factory's security department. While Maisie is being questioned, Iris and Breezy drive to Reno to get married. Maisie cleverly confesses to being a saboteur and implicates Iris and Breezy as fellow agents. They are stopped by the police, but let go after Breezy produces his identification. However, Breezy learns that Maisie is being held, even though Iris told him that she left to attend the funeral of an aunt. Having learned of Iris's shady character, Breezy goes back to Maisie. She is initially unwilling to take him back, but eventually gives in.
Cast
- Ann SothernAnn SothernAnn Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
as Maisie Ravier - James CraigJames Craig (actor)James Craig was an American actor.After graduating from the Rice Institute, Craig began appearing in films in 1937, most often in B-movies and serials...
as Brian "Breezy" McLaughlin - Jean RogersJean RogersJean Rogers was an American actress. She portrayed Dale Arden in two of the three Flash Gordon serials.-Early life:...
as Iris Reed - Connie GilchristConnie GilchristConnie Gilchrist was a stage, film and television character actress.Born Rose Constance Gilchrist in Brooklyn, New York...
as Maw Lustvogel - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
as Horatio Curley - Kay MedfordKay MedfordKay Medford , was an American character actress and comedienne.She was born Margaret Kathleen O'Regan in New York City to James and Mary O'Regan, first-generation Irish-American parents, both of whom had died by the time she was 15 years old...
as Ann Wilson - The Wiere BrothersWiere BrothersThe Wiere Brothers were a comedy team who appeared in 1930s and 1940s films, and as live performers from the 1920s to the late 1960s.The names of the three brothers were:* Harry Wiere,...
as Harry, Herbert and Sylvester Smith / Schmidt - Jacqueline WhiteJacqueline WhiteJacqueline White is a former American film actress. She's probably best remembered appearing in the films noir Crossfire and The Narrow Margin. She usually played either lead actresses in B-movies or supporting parts in A-movies. Still active as of 2005, White appears occasionally at film...
as Grace - Betty JaynesBetty JaynesBetty Jaynes was a B-movie actress in the late 1930s to mid-1940s.She was born in Greeneville, Tennessee but attended high school in Chicago. At the age of 15 she made a "sensational debut" with the Chicago City Opera Company in La boheme...
as Ruth - Frederick Brady as Judd Evans (as Fred Brady)
- Marta Linden as Emmy Lou Grogan
- Celia Travers as Helen Johnson
- Donald Curtis as Joe Peterson