Le Jeune Hitlérien Quex

It's always refered to as a propaganda movie, and yes, technically it is. But the word propaganda didn't always have this automatic, negative connotation which it has today. Propaganda can educate, inspire, inform - or mislead. This film depicts the chaotic situation in Berlin during the interwar period pretty accurately. The division between patriotic and "international" leaning Germans, the communist agitators exploiting the miserable conditions of the working class to recruit new members, the red violence towards their nationalist adversaries. It's not a totally gloomy movie though and neither is it preachy in its politics. It's rather wholesome and nice to watch. And if you compare this film with the stuff that gets pumped out today, every contemporary movie should be called propaganda and certainly not in any positive sense.

This is a terrific movie! It's very emotional, it contains good acting and shows another side to the Nazis than we're used to. This movie shows an innocent young boy who grew up in an abusive household who later manages to stand up to his demons and do what he dreams of and finally be happy without anyone dragging him down or forcing him to be something he's not.

Definitely one of the better movies I've ever seen in my life, and even for a propaganda movie this one is just star quality! No matter if you're a neo-nationalsocialist, a communist, a democrat a republican or anarchist this movie is great and you'll without a doubt enjoy it.

I haven't had the opportunity to see this notorious film with English subtitles, and my German is less than fluent. Nevertheless, it's not difficult to see its effectiveness, hence danger, as propaganda.

I was expecting a lot of overt, outrageous political content. I'm told there is some in the dialogue, but I didn't catch it. Rather its strategy seems to be to avoid hectoring directly, and instead to project an idealized vision of a Germany guided by a paternal National Socialist party. Hence the message is conveyed through idyllic campground scenes, for example. This is the goal that young Quex is willing to defend.

One film "Quex" reminded me of somewhat was "Boys Town" (1938) with Mickey Rooney, but, if I really had to draw a comparison, surprisingly enough it would be to Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939). There is a scene of our enterprising Hitler Youths organizing themselves -- a little like Mickey and Judy putting on a show -- to turn out a propaganda newspaper in support of their political dreams and aspirations. Do you recall the scene in "Mr. Smith" where Jimmy Stewart's struggle -- Sein Kampf -- against a corrupt and antiquated political system is vindicated through a grassroots campaign organized by a bunch of boys with wagons and a cheap printing press? We know from the later "Why We Fight" series that Frank Capra was intimately familiar with his Nazi cinema. You are free to draw whatever conclusions you'd like.

This is an excellent movie. Although its propagandistic intentions are obvious, it can be enjoyed. After all, its not about the NSDAP ideology, it's mostly about bravery and self-sacrifice. Replace Hitlerjugend with American Boy Scouts and most people would agree, what a good and moral film it is.

Rob from England pointed out, that from today's point of view, the Communists in the film with their "beer, food and sex" would seem far more better deal today. Probably so. But that only shows, how the world has declined since the cultural revolution of the late 60-s. Values like moral purity, patriotism and courage must be held high by all. They are the essence of survival for any nation, whatever ideology they may have.

I also think German government should have considerably more trust in their citizens and should lift the ban off of films like this, so they could become available on DVD, and not only in P2P networks, as it is today.

Quex was by far an excellent film with a lot of history off camera as well. I enjoyed the film , good subtle propaganda. Right it could have been about Scouting if a USA or Disney film. I want to start by clarifying that for years I researched the Ohlsen biography through many document centers. I found out the stories about Ohlsen and a gay romance with Vom Schirach were originated in BBC broadcasts that went into Germany and as a rule spread nasty ( for the time) stories about German celebrities to demoralize the enemy. Saying the " quexing" slang for gay sex was also BBC. I found out WHO wrote the broadcasts. He died in Berlin in 1969 of alcoholism. I try and try to get Wikipedia to print my findings but they keep erasing it and keeping the sex nonsense. Von Schirach s transfer to Vienna was a reward for a service. The BBC put icing on the cake saying it was a sex scandal. Ohlsen never clarified anything. I don't know his sexual preference and in out times it s no big deal- who cares? But the Von Schirach and Ohlsen take was very effective propaganda. It s still all over the internet today. Sadly Ohlsen s not here to speak. He was anti- Nazi. Another fact: Ohlsen was of Danish ancestry( bears a resemblance to teenage Jamie Lee Curtis who IS half Scandinavian) And Herbett Norkus the real martyr in real life was Lithuanian background. And right now might be buried in a public park unknown to hikers and picnickers. I did my homework. Lol. Quex IS a good film at face value.