Swing Kids **** (1993, Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley, Barbara Hershey, Kenneth Branagh) – Classic Movie Review 11,248

Director Thomas Carter’s 1993 music drama Swing Kids stars Robert Sean Leonard, Christian Bale, Frank Whaley, Barbara Hershey and Kenneth Branagh.

In 1939 Germany, a close-knit group of young swing kids, among the few who have dared to challenge Hitler, adopt the codes, language and attitudes of banned US swing music.

It is a commendable and unusual theme for a Hollywood movie, only held back because the story is predictably developed and occasionally shakily handled in the screenplay by Jonathan Marc Feldman. Jerzy Zielinski’s Czech photography is beautiful, the jitterbugging crowd scenes are impressive, and there is even something fresh to say about the Nazis.

Robert Sean Leonard plays Peter Müller and is a stalwart hero rejecting Nazism, Christian Bale, as his buddy Thomas Berger, handles his transition to racist anti-Semite convincingly, and Kenneth Branagh gives a surprisingly subtle performance as Herr Knopp, an SS man who woos the hero’s mother Frau Müller (Barbara Hershey).

James Horner’s score and Allan Cameron’s production designs impress too.

Also in the cast are Tushka Bergen, Noah Wyle, David Tom, Julia Stemberger, Jayce Bartok, Johan Leysen, Douglas Roberts, Martin Clunes, Jessica Hynes [Jessica Stevenson], Carl Brincat, Mary Fogerty, Sean Pertwee, Jeremy Bulloch, Ciaran Madden, David Robb and Kate Buffrey.

It is made by Hollywood Pictures and Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, and released by Buena Vista Pictures (1993) (US).

Runtime: 112 minutes.

Filming locations:  Prague, Czech Republic.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,248

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