MovieChat Forums > Swing Shift (1984) Discussion > See 'Tender Comrade' (1943) instead

See 'Tender Comrade' (1943) instead

posted 17 years ago by laxlon
5 replies | jump to latest

I live in Santa Monica where this movie takes place. In fact I watched them film part of it a couple blocks from home (the roller rink sequence at the beach).

This is a well intentioned film with a good period look but it misses the mark in terms of touching your heart. It seems like it does all the right things but fails to make an emotional bulls-eye.

If you want to see a similar film about women war workers with an emotional wallop, see "Tender Comrade" 1943 with Ginger Rogers and Robert Ryan. It's about a group of women war workers who get together and rent a big house for the duration while all their husbands are away at war. Made during the war it has stirring patriotic speeches and wonderfully developed supporting characters played by a talented cast. I think Ginger was nominated for this one and in spite of gritty airplane factory work, looks like a movie star start to finish.

To see a wonderful Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell movie, watch "Overboard", as I have again and again.

[–] ragreen259 17 years ago

You'll have to excuse me for preferring this flick to a propaganda piece made sixty-four years ago. "See it, too" may be a better suggestion, not "instead."

[–] Zando777 15 years ago

"Propaganda" or not, it's a much better film. You need to lose the attitude, mr. america-hater. Swing-shift is a piece of crap.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] retrogurlaz 8 years ago

Could not agree more. This movie borrows heavily from 'Tender Comrade', almost being a blatant rip off.
Goldie is a cute, capable actress, but has nothing on the beautiful, mesmerizing Ginger Rogers in Tender Comrade.

[–] chicago85 8 years ago

I liked Ginger Rogers in The Major and the Minor made in 1942. It was about the home front in WWII also.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else