Swing Kids (1993)

A close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany listen to banned swing music from the U.S. Soon, dancing and fun lead to more difficult choices, as the Nazis begin tightening their grip on... See full summary »

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writer:

Jonathan Marc Feldman

Stars:

Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

A close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany listen to banned swing music from the U.S. Soon, dancing and fun lead to more difficult choices, as the Nazis begin tightening their grip on Germany. Each member of the group is forced to face some tough choices about right, wrong, and survival.

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Plot Keywords:

pre world war two | germany | friendship between men | 1930s | swing dancing | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los últimos rebeldes

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,632,086

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Touchwood Pacific Partners 1

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Directorial debut of Thomas Carter.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

[Peter has been arrested]
Herr Knopp, Gestapo: Such a waste. So much passion, for nothing.
Peter: It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing! Do wop do wop
[Peter is taken away]

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Outlaw of Gor (1993)

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Soundtracks

OVERTURE: TRISTAN AND ISOLDE
Written by Richard Wagner
Arranged by Charlotte Georg (as Lee Ashley)
Courtesy of Ole Georg/Capitol Production Music

User Reviews

Some people have obviously missed the point of this movie

Ok for you people who refer to all the Germans as "worthless human beings" and talk about how this movie didn't focus on the holocaust, etc....WAKE UP! The point of this movie was to give another perspective on the war. Not all Germans were souless killers. Throughout the movie you could see the consciences of the main characters being pushed and pulled about what was happening. Over here in Western culture, everything is portrayed in black and white: all the Germans were completely evil, and we were the good ones. No one is denying that the Germans committed some horrific atrocities, but there were some who resisted doing those crimes, and others who actually believed that they were morally in the right because of centuries of ingrained anti-semitism. Geez, North America was anti-semitic then too! Swing Kids looks at Germany from the inside, and the different forces that were at work. Everyone knows what happened during the Holocaust....this movie wasn't about that. I think people should look at all different viewpoints before classifying all the people in a certain group (ie all of the German nation) into one cubbyhole of evil.