Search - Swing Kids on DVD

Swing Kids

Actor(s): Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley, Barbara Hershey, Kenneth Branagh
Director(s): Thomas Carter
43

Movie Details

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Content Advisory: Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity, Watch With Your Teen
Movie Release: 1993
DVD Release: 09/03/2002
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: English
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Members Wishing: 0
Genres: Drama, Period Film, Musical Drama, Coming-of-Age

DVD Synopsis

In 1939 Hamburg, Germany, a group of teenagers express their rebellion against Adolph Hitler's Nazi regime through their affection for American swing music, British fashion, and Harlem slang. American and British big-band jazz records are among those banned by the Fuhrer, but the young men secretly get together with their friends to listen and dance to the music. As their escapades become increasingly bold, they each get into trouble with the authorities. Robert Sean Leonard stars as Peter, who ends up being forced -- by a prank -- into having to join the Hitler Youth with his friend Thomas (Christian Bale). They are both engineering students at the university, where Thomas' father was taken away for defending his Jewish colleagues. With Arvid (Frank Whaley), they pretend to be Nazi supporters by day while rebelling with the swing music by night. Kenneth Branagh, in an uncredited appearance, is a glib Nazi Gestapo chief who makes matters more difficult. Each of the boys must choose among family, safety, friendship, and freedom as politics impinges on their youthful exuberance, and the Nazis set them against one another. The movie was shot in Prague, directed by Thomas Carter from a script by Jonathan Marc Feldman, and released by Disney. Barbara Hershey appears as Peter's mother. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Actors

Robert Sean Leonard - Peter
Christian Bale - Thomas
Frank Whaley - Arvid
Barbara Hershey - Frau Muller
Kenneth Branagh - SS Official

Editorial Review of DVD

Thomas Carter's tale of Hitler Youth and dancing, Swing Kids, comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. There are no subtitles, but the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, making this inexpensive Disney/Buena Vista release difficult to recommend to anyone but a fan of the performers involved in the production. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Anick L. from COLUMBIA, SC wrote on 8/30/2009...

This movie was an excellent story about young educated Germans in Nazi Germany and how they attempted to rebel againt Hitler with American swing music and jitterbug dancing.
The subject matter is hardly ever addressed in the movies. The ordinary German citizen was brainwashed and forced to comply or else.A well made movie with a great cast. A definitely must see!

Florence M. from SOUTHERN PNES, NC wrote on 8/21/2009...

When this movie first opens up, most of you will recognize a very young 'Wilson' from the television series 'House'. He is actually the hero of the movie that illustrates how the Nazi movement deals with individuals (and groups) with whom they disagree. The Kids are Swing Dancers. (Wait until you see the swing dance scenes...the energy is fabulous! Makes you want to get up and dance!) The movie shows the tactics of the Hitler Youth to inculcate it's members. (If it didn't have any language, it would be EXCELLENT to show high school students.) The movie wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be. Characters both rise to the occasion, give up, and fall into a downward spiral from which it is almost impossible to emerge. It's a really good movie. This is one of the best illustrating the life of teens (early 20's?) in Nazi Germany.

Kelly K. from MECHANICSBURG, PA wrote on 8/8/2009...

This is my favorite movie of all time! This movie deals with Germany during WWII. Usually we hear the stories of the Jews, the Holocaust, all important. We so rarely thing about what the young people of Germany were dealing with: Join the Hitler Youth or else!

This movie deals with the coming of age of a group of friends who share a common interest in swing music. Swing music is quickly banned from being played, and substituted with only good "German" music by German artists. The friends are forced to join the Hitler youth by day. They secretly remain "swing kids" by night going to underground clubs that play swing music. Their friendships are tested when one becomes brainwashed (even turning in his own father for not supporting Hitler) by the Hitler youth and one remains faithful to his love of swing music.

Shana F. from FLAGSTAFF, AZ wrote on 3/2/2009...

This is one of the best movies I have seen. The story is gripping. The music is wonderful. The acting is compelling. A great coming of age story that shows not all Germans went along with Hitler in WWII.