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

Release Year: 1993

Rating: 6.4/10 (8,622 voted)

Critic's Score: 39/100

Director: Thomas Carter

Stars: Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley

Storyline
The story of a close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany who listen to banned swing music from the US. Soon dancing and fun leads to more difficult choices as the Nazis begin tightening the grip on Germany. Each member of the group is forced to face some tough choices about right, wrong, and survival.

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)

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

Release Date: 5 March 1993

Filming Locations: Prague, Czech Republic

Gross: $5,632,086 (USA)

Runtime: 112 min

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

Goofs:
Anachronisms: In an establishing shot just after the Nazis steal the radio, the rear half of a Vauxhall Wyvern can be seen parked on the street; this car was not introduced until 1948.

Quotes:
Peter: I know who my friends are. I'm not alone.

entertaining and poignant, a great film

Rating:

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.

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