Swing Shift Maisie

Swing Shift Maisie

Year: 1943

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Norman Z. McLeod

ComedyRomance

Street‑smart Maisie, a Brooklyn native, takes a job at an airplane assembly plant during World II. She soon falls for the charismatic pilot “Breezy” McLaughlin. Unaware that his fiancée, Maisie’s scheming roommate Iris, is using him, Breezy becomes caught in a love triangle, prompting Maisie to intervene and set things right.

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Timeline & Setting – Swing Shift Maisie (1943)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Swing Shift Maisie (1943). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 1940s (World War II)

Set during World War II, the narrative centers on the wartime factory system and the rapid social changes it spurred. Swing shifts, production deadlines, and the urgency of national effort frame the characters' decisions. The period highlights how women entered the workforce and navigated new personal freedoms and dangers at a time of national upheaval.

Location

Victory Aircraft factory, Maw Lustvogel's boarding house, Yuma, Arizona

The story unfolds largely inside a wartime Victory Aircraft factory, capturing the rush and discipline of a busy production floor. Maw Lustvogel's boarding house serves as a homey gathering point for the ensemble, offering moments of warmth amid the factory drama. Some scenes shift to Yuma, Arizona, where Breezy and Iris pursue a rushed marriage, underscoring a broader wartime backdrop of mobility and ambition.

🏭 War-time factory 🏡 Boarding house 🗺️ Yuma Arizona

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:50

Main Characters – Swing Shift Maisie (1943)

Meet the key characters of Swing Shift Maisie (1943), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maisie Ravier (Ann Sothern)

Maisie is a sharp-witted, resourceful woman who takes a swing shift at the Victory Aircraft factory. She intervenes to stop Iris Reed's suicide, showing her readiness to help others even at personal risk. Her independence and moral judgment pull her into a complicated romance with Breezy while she navigates Iris's manipulations. In the end, Maisie acts decisively to resolve the love triangle and protect her own integrity.

💪 Independent 🧠 Clever 💖 Compassionate

Breezy McLaughlin (James Craig)

Breezy is a daring test pilot who secures Maisie's factory job and later joins the United States Army Air Forces. He is charismatic and driven by ambition, but his affections become entangled with Iris's schemes. He proposes to Iris, then reevaluates his choices and returns to Maisie when the truth comes to light.

💖 Charming ✈️ Pilot 🤝 Loyal

Iris Reed (Jean Rogers)

Iris is a failed actress who uses charm and scheming to manipulate men and stay afloat. She relies on Breezy’s status and Judd Evans’s rent payments, staging suicide attempts to gain sympathy and money. Her machinations trigger the central conflict and are ultimately challenged by Maisie’s intervention.

💋 Seductive 🤫 Manipulative 😈 Scheming

Maw Lustvogel (Connie Gilchrist)

Maw runs a boarding house that serves as a social hub for the story’s characters. She is practical and warm, offering a home to Maisie while keeping a careful eye on Iris’s antics. Her steady presence provides a grounding counterpoint to the drama in the factory and apartments.

🏠 Hostess 🗣️ Straightforward

Judd Evans (Frederick Brady)

Judd is a factory clerk whose sympathy for Iris draws him into her rent-scheme dynamics. He becomes entangled in Iris’s manipulation, illustrating how good people can be used by others in a tense wartime environment. His interactions with Maisie highlight themes of trust and temptation.

👔 Clerk 🤝 Trusting

Horatio Curley (John Qualen)

Horatio Curley is the dog act owner whose friction with Maisie leads to her losing a job, and whose influence helps Breezy secure a position at the factory. His background in show business anchors the story’s early social connections and opportunities for character interactions.

🎩 Dog act owner 🧠 Connector

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:50

Major Themes – Swing Shift Maisie (1943)

Explore the central themes of Swing Shift Maisie (1943), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love & Loyalty

Maisie finds herself torn between romance and steadfast care for her friends. Her relationship with Breezy develops amid trust and conflict, while her loyalty to Iris and the group tests her judgment. The film treats love as a motivating force that can complicate choices but ultimately drives characters toward integrity.

🕵️ Deception

Iris Reed uses charm and manipulation to secure money and shelter, creating a web of schemes around Breezy and Judd. Maisie’s scrutiny and courage challenge Iris’s plans, exposing the truth behind the surface performances. The plot revolves around detecting and confronting deceit within a tight-knit community.

💼 Work & Independence

Maisie enters the swing shift at the factory, placing a woman at the center of wartime production. The factory setting showcases female labor, resilience, and the pursuit of personal agency. Work becomes a stage for romance, risk, and moral testing, not just a job.

🛡️ Courage

Maisie’s intervention to stop Iris’s suicide attempt demonstrates moral courage in the face of danger. She also faces social pressures and untruths, choosing to reveal the truth rather than shield deceit. The narrative rewards principled action with a return to integrity and trust.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:50

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Swing Shift Maisie Summary

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Swing Shift Maisie Summary

Swing Shift Maisie Timeline

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Swing Shift Maisie Timeline

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Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow