Swing Kids (1993)

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writer (WGA):

Jonathan Marc Feldman (written by)

Release Date:

5 March 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

In a world on the brink of war. You either march to one tune or dance to another.

Plot:

The story of a close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany who listen to banned swing music from the US...

Plot Keywords:

Swing | Nazi | Germany | Swing Dancing | Political

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Sean Leonard	...	Peter Müller
Christian Bale	...	Thomas Berger
Frank Whaley	...	Arvid
Barbara Hershey	...	Frau Müller
Tushka Bergen	...	Evey
David Tom	...	Willi Müller
Julia Stemberger	...	Frau Linge
Jayce Bartok	...	Otto
Noah Wyle	...	Emil Lutz
Johan Leysen	...	Herr Schumler
Douglas Roberts	...	Herr Hinz
Martin Clunes	...	Bannführer
Jessica Hynes	...	Helga (as Jessica Stevenson)
Carl Brincat	...	H.J. Thug
Mary Fogarty	...	Mama Klara Müller (as Mary Fogerty)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

On location in Prague in near freezing weather, Christian Bale was visited by 'Spielberg, Steven' (director of his feature film debut Empire of the Sun (1987)).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene in which Knopp is having dinner with Peter's family, Knopp lists Greek chocolate as a delicacy. When Peter is stating the Hitler Jugend code and is telling Knopp about foreign objects in the body, he mentions Swiss chocolate instead of Greek.

Quotes:

Peter: If you side with the Nazis, Thomas, then we're at war.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Outlaw (#6.19)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

SHOUT AND FEEL IT

entertaining and poignant, a great film

I'm a History teacher and we use Swing Kids as an introduction to the topic of alternative youth groups in Nazi Germany. I'm not saying that the film is 100% accurate, obviously some dramatic licence has to be taken, but its not far off. Many people on this site have questioned the accuracy, and validity of the film, especially mentioning the lack of consideration of the treatment of the Jews. However that is not what this film is about (if that is what you want see The Pianist or Schindler's List - also excellent films).

This film is looking at how some German youths avoided the Hitler Youth and the nazi regime insofar as they could, and what they spent their time doing (dancing, listening to swing music and being with their friends).It does show some useful aspects about how the Hitler Youth were expected to behave and the propaganda they were exposed to, as well as about swing youth and their attitude to the regime.It is an entertaining and poignant film which explores friendship,romance and growing up against the backdrop of one of the most vilified periods in modern history

Basically Swing Kids does what it does well. Maybe it isn't a Schindler's List, but it does have its merits.Watch it and you'll find them!

BTW - could I just point out, many people on here have referred to the Holocaust, as though it is interchangeable with the Nazi regime, and have used the phrase in their reviews. Just to clear up this: the holocaust specifically refers to the gassing of Jews at extermination camps from 1942 onwards, essentially the Final Solution. As this film is set in 1939 it is prior to this.