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IMDbPro

Swing Kids

  • 19931993
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard, and Frank Whaley in Swing Kids (1993)
A group of teens adores forbidden music in Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War II.
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
39 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
A group of teens adores forbidden music in Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War II.A group of teens adores forbidden music in Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War II.A group of teens adores forbidden music in Nazi Germany just before the outbreak of World War II.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Thomas Carter
  • Writer
    • Jonathan Marc Feldman
  • Stars
    • Robert Sean Leonard
    • Christian Bale
    • Frank Whaley
Top credits
  • Director
    • Thomas Carter
  • Writer
    • Jonathan Marc Feldman
  • Stars
    • Robert Sean Leonard
    • Christian Bale
    • Frank Whaley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 123User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:16
    Official Trailer

    Photos39

    Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard, Frank Whaley, and Jayce Bartok in Swing Kids (1993)
    Robert Sean Leonard, Barbara Hershey, and David Tom in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard, Frank Whaley, and Jayce Bartok in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale and Robert Sean Leonard in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard, Frank Whaley, and Thomas Carter in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale and Robert Sean Leonard in Swing Kids (1993)
    Kenneth Branagh, Robert Sean Leonard, Barbara Hershey, and David Tom in Swing Kids (1993)
    Robert Sean Leonard and Thomas Carter in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale, Robert Sean Leonard, Frank Whaley, David Tom, and Jayce Bartok in Swing Kids (1993)
    Kenneth Branagh and Barbara Hershey in Swing Kids (1993)
    Thomas Carter in Swing Kids (1993)
    Christian Bale in Swing Kids (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Sean Leonard
    Robert Sean Leonard
    • Peter Müller
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • Thomas Berger
    Frank Whaley
    Frank Whaley
    • Arvid
    Barbara Hershey
    Barbara Hershey
    • Frau Müller
    Tushka Bergen
    Tushka Bergen
    • Evey
    David Tom
    David Tom
    • Willi Müller
    Julia Stemberger
    • Frau Linge
    Jayce Bartok
    Jayce Bartok
    • Otto
    Noah Wyle
    Noah Wyle
    • Emil Lutz
    Johan Leysen
    Johan Leysen
    • Herr Schumler
    Douglas Roberts
    Douglas Roberts
    • Herr Hinz
    Martin Clunes
    Martin Clunes
    • Bannführer
    Jessica Hynes
    Jessica Hynes
    • Helga
    • (as Jessica Stevenson)
    Carl Brincat
    • H.J. Thug
    Mary Fogarty
    • Mama Klara Müller
    Karel Belohradský
    • Bismarck Owner
    Peter Baikie
    • Bismarck Bandleader
    Jennifer Chamberlain
    • Swing Girl with Thomas
    • Director
      • Thomas Carter
    • Writer
      • Jonathan Marc Feldman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      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

      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.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Mad Dog and Glory/El Mariachi/Rich in Love/The Last Days of Chez Nous (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Life Goes to a Party
      Written by Harry James and Benny Goodman

    User reviews123

    Review
    Top review
    Love the Movie with All My Heart!
    One of the basic reasons I like this movie is because it was one of the first movies I watched with my older brother that we both enjoyed. I don't have a lot in common with him, but this one movie opened up lots of opportunities for other movies.

    Other than that, I love this movie for its unique point of view. We always get the movies like Saving Private Ryan or Pearl Harbor, which are very important stories in themselves (and good movies of course) but how often do we get a movie about people who were part of the war from the beginning. people that didn't necessarily have a direct threat, but were still greatly affected. The story of Peter and Thomas and Arvid are wonderfully done. Peter is the kind of person any girl would like. Thomas, the rich brat that speaks his mind too much, helps put internal conflict in the group. Arvid seems to be the voice of reason, seeing what the Nazis are doing and doesn't want to be a part of it.

    The acting is great, of course. Peter, played by Robert Sean Leonard, is portrayed as soft spoken, confused, and even a little bitter. Thomas, played by the beautiful Christian Bale, is the kind of people that drive me nuts - just "go along with it. We can have it both ways." It is virtually impossible to have it "both ways." The guy who plays Arvid is a lovely actor, obviously talented, and shows emotion so well you'd think he went through this himself. The history of the movie might be a little tweaked to make a few interesting scenes, but to see what the Nazis were doing to the youth of their country, brainwashing them and telling them to spy on people, is appalling. No wonder a few former Nazi soldiers still think they were right.

    The music is like a whole nother character. This movie is what really got me to enjoy listening to swing music. Even though I can do very few steps, I realize now the feeling they got when they heard it and I get the same feeling, just not quite as strong probably.

    All around, this movie is wonderful. I love showing it to my friends, and it is very interesting and jerks at your emotions.
    helpful•29
    3
    • m_a_a_n
    • Dec 8, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 搖擺狂潮
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood Pictures
      • Touchwood Pacific Partners 1
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,632,086
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,967,957
      • Mar 7, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,632,086
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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