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:

Kenneth Branagh is reported to have refused any billing at all rather than be billed above Christian Bale and the other boys who he said were the stars of the film.

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:

Arvid: I would rather belong to any one... ANYONE, than belong to the Nazis like you do.
Thomas Berger: That's because you have everything backwards. Nazis go anywhere they want, do anything they want, everyone gets out of our way.
Arvid: Quiz time. Got your glasses on.
Thomas Berger: What?
Arvid: It means you don't know who your friends are.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

'TAIN'T WHAT YOU DO (IT'S THE WAY THAT CHA DO IT)

it is authentic enough

i have read the comment about SWING KIDS not being authentic. well, after doing a bit of research on this topic (swing scene in germany in the third reich) i have to say that there was quite a big scene there. yes, the film might have exaggerated a bit (the hair was not quite as long and they had to cut down on the way they dressed even though they tried as much as they could on the zoot suit front). but it is a fact that there were dances in different cafes and they didnt like the Nazi regime. so i would say give the film makers some slack and a bit of artistic freedom! they tried to portray a group of youngsters that found cure in music and stuck together in a difficult time. i really appreciated this film as normally you wouldnt know about them at all!!! two thumbs up from me as well!!!