Swing Kids

1993 "In a world on the brink of war. You either march to one tune or dance to another."
6.7| 1h52m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 05 March 1993 Released
Producted By: Hollywood Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

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 Nazi's begin tightening the grip on Germany. Each member of the group is forced to face some tough choices about right, wrong, and survival.

Genre

Drama, Music

Watch Online

Swing Kids (1993) is currently not available on any services.

Director

Thomas Carter

Production Companies

Hollywood Pictures

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.
Watch Now
Swing Kids Videos and Images
View All
  • Top Credited Cast
  • |
  • Crew

Swing Kids Audience Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
SunnyHello Nice effects though.
Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.
Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
madeleig Swing Kids is a movie that brilliantly highlights the Hitlerjugend organization, as well as the Swing Youth and overall problems of the Nazi generation. The movie, where it does go slow at some parts, does captivate the audience with action and drama. The movie is filled with accurate historical information. The uniforms worn in the HJ are accurate to what the actual members of the HJ wore. There was propaganda scattered throughout the movie that was actually used to promote Hitler and the Nazis. The portrayal of the Swing Youth (or Swing Kids, as stated in this movie) were mostly accurate. The Hitler Youth was shown as it should be shown, not glorified. The members of the Hitler Youth were shown doing a lot of exercise, and they were basically being spoon fed false information about the evils of Jews. This movie is also good because it strays away from the "Jew in a concentration camp" trope that so many World War II stories have. Not to say that trope is bad, it is obviously very important in history, but learning about other parts of World War II are important too. The movie embodies a different perspective of World War II, that of a group of kids in an illegal street gang, dedicated to not becoming like the rest of the Nazis. Overall, I think this movie is very good, it kept me captivated most of the time. The only reason I knocked it down a star is because it goes slowly at some parts. I definitely recommend this movie!
Mark M DO NOT BOTHER! Horrible acting and average dancing. Forget it I just couldn't get into it when Germany was starving like my home country England. Rotten as I said besides your toenails need clipping don't waste the 90 minutes or so of your life! Furthermore, the story-line was thin and all over the place and the acting did not make me like any of the characters - The acting was over the top and it felt like Happy Days or the movie Greese with swastikas! Sad as the director Thomas Carter, tried but the cast choice was very strange. Willie is there and as Peter is driven away by the police he loudly screams "Swing Heil!" over and over again, which is very silly and pathetic. Evey - she was the worst actor and very wooden. SAY NO!
Hitchcoc There is one heroic figure in this film, but it's not the main character. The center of this are a group of young Germans, who at the outset of events leading to World War II, like to immerse themselves in Swing. They admire Benny Goodman and Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington. They go to dances and gyrate around in quite remarkable ways. The dancing is fun to watch, but the backdrop of the era is too much to have a great appreciation for their passions. To begin with, they are German. Their lives are pretty much what they want them to be. At the most, the closing of their dance hall is an inconvenience. They can still listen to the music and hang out with their friends. Arvid is the only one who sees the handwriting on the wall and he is crippled. The other guys play tricks and carry out their juvenile agenda. Because of a failed attempt to steal a radio, one gets forced to join the German Youth. His friend follows to keep him company and because was largely responsible for his predicament. There is a sanitized view of this group; they are all fine fellows. Even Noah Wyle, late of ER, who has become the bad ass, ends up developing a friendship with them. Obviously, they face difficulties, and there is growing up to be done and realizations that these Nazis mean business, but it just doesn't wash very well. There is, of course, they woman whose connection to Judaism makes her life in the town dangerous. There are realizations about fathers who were courageous but singled out. But the bottom line is that these guys, had they played it safe, would never have been in much danger (of course, as the German army became decimated, it would have changed, but the silly connection to dancing and the throwing away of life for it...give me a break.
czarinaanya I watched this movie for the first time last night. A History buff, I had never heard about the "swing kids" movement in Germany, but when my friend handed me the DVD at the library and I read the back, I instantly saw that this film could be right up my alley. I also must confess...I'm a big Robert Sean Leonard fan. I was introduced to him in House, and also love "Much Ado." I saw Dead Poet's society but was very disappointed in the ending, because I felt RSL's "suicide" ruined the whole story. Anyway.. I was not disappointed in this movie. I loved watching the dance scenes, I loved the slow development of Leonard's character.. I loved the struggles, the very human struggle between survival and standing up for what you believe in. I don't know what else to say, I just loved the story. It inspired me. The ending made me choke up. Beautiful, Inspirational story..