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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 Mülleras Peter Müller
    Christian Bale
    Christian Bale
    • Thomas Bergeras Thomas Berger
    Frank Whaley
    Frank Whaley
    • Arvidas Arvid
    Barbara Hershey
    Barbara Hershey
    • Frau Mülleras Frau Müller
    Tushka Bergen
    Tushka Bergen
    • Eveyas Evey
    David Tom
    David Tom
    • Willi Mülleras Willi Müller
    Julia Stemberger
    • Frau Lingeas Frau Linge
    Jayce Bartok
    Jayce Bartok
    • Ottoas Otto
    Noah Wyle
    Noah Wyle
    • Emil Lutzas Emil Lutz
    Johan Leysen
    Johan Leysen
    • Herr Schumleras Herr Schumler
    Douglas Roberts
    Douglas Roberts
    • Herr Hinzas Herr Hinz
    Martin Clunes
    Martin Clunes
    • Bannführeras Bannführer
    Jessica Hynes
    Jessica Hynes
    • Helgaas Helga
    • (as Jessica Stevenson)
    Carl Brincat
    • H.J. Thugas H.J. Thug
    Mary Fogarty
    • Mama Klara Mülleras Mama Klara Müller
    Karel Belohradský
    • Bismarck Owneras Bismarck Owner
    Peter Baikie
    • Bismarck Bandleaderas Bismarck Bandleader
    Jennifer Chamberlain
    • Swing Girl with Thomasas 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
    Excellent insight on the youth in Germany...
    This movie does a great job of showing a different angle on the WW2 time period. The struggles the youth of Germany went through during that time were portrayed very well. People complain that this movie doesn't show the horror of the holocaust and the awful persecution the Jews faced, but that is not what it's trying to do! We all read or hear about what the Nazis did to the Jews (& other minorities) and think that the Germans must have been horrible people to have even gone along with this. But this shows how the propaganda they were constantly fed--as well as the activities & sense of belonging the HJ (Hitler Jungen) experienced--could slowly twist their minds to the Nazi way of thinking. One of the excellent things about this movie is how it shows how the main characters change. The changes in Peter & Thomas come very slow and natural, and only when you get to the end (and maybe re-watch it) do you realize how drastically they have changed their views. (Thomas especially)

    There were some not-so-great things about the movie, like some characters or scenes which, when you think back, seem to have been included for an unknown reason. But the good points of the movie out-weigh the minor nit-picks. The swing music and dancing in the movie was awesome, and I thought all the characters were acted very well by the actors. They did a good job of showing the confusion that the young Germans must have felt, not knowing who was right. All in all, I really enjoyed this movie, and I think it makes you think as well.
    helpful•27
    3
    • Burgundy
    • Jan 17, 2000

    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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