Swing Shift (1984)

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

Synopsis: Kay Walsh (Goldie Hawn) finds herself at loose ends when her husband leaves to fight in World War II so she takes a job at an aircraft plant.

Kitty Cameos: In the little housing complex where Kay lives there are two cats. One is an orange tabby cat which appears in various scenes. Usually the cat is sitting on the railing of one of the bungalows in the complex, as in the opening scene when Kay is waiting for her husband (Ed Harris) to come home.

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony beside Kay Goldie Hawn

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony beside Kay Goldie Hawn and Jack Ed Harris

The cat is then seen on the balcony of Hazel (Christine Lahti) who is with her boyfriend Biscuits (Fred Ward). The cat is drinking or eating from a potted plant which Hazel is in the habit of watering from a wine bottle. Biscuits even pauses to pet the cat.

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony with face in pot beside Biscuits Fred Ward

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony with face in pot being petted by Biscuits Fred Ward with Hazel Christine Lahti behind

The ginger tabby is seen in the background of several scenes after this.

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony in background

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony in background being petted by Ethal Laura Hawn

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat running between bungalows

Swing Shift - ginger tabby cat on balcony in background with Kay Goldie Hawn passing

The other cat is a long-haired brown tabby who belongs to a couple named Spike (Reid Cruickshanks) and Ethel (Laura Hawn, Goldie Hawn’s mother). In the opening scene where the orange tabby is on Kay’s balcony, Ethel walks past carrying the brown tabby.

Swing Shift - brown tabby cat being carried by Ehtel Laura Hawn

This cat is next seen with Spike as the man carries out air raid warden duties. Spike has the cat on a rope and even pulls the cat off the curb when Kay shows up on the motorcycle driven by Lucky (Kurt Russell).

Swing Shift - brown tabby cat on rope by curb

Swing Shift - brown tabby cat being pulled by away from curb by Spike Reid Cruickshanks

Swing Shift - brown tabby cat on leash with Spike Reid Cruickshanks and Kay Goldie Hawn

The two cats are last seen in the same shot as Hazel returns home, stopping to pet the brown tabby with the ginger tabby watching from the balcony above.