The Tin Drum (1979) Reviews

The Tin Drum (1979)
Member Rating:  
In Volker Schlöndorff's award-winning adaptation of Nobel Prize winner Günter Grass' allegorical novel, David Bennent plays Oskar, the young son of a German rural family, circa 1925. On his third birthday, Oskar receives a shiny new tin drum. At this point, rather than mature into one of the miserable specimens of grown-up humanity that he sees around him, he vows never to get any older or any bigger. Whenever the world around him becomes too much to bear, the boy begins to hammer on his drum; should anyone try to take the toy away from him, he emits an ear-piercing scream that literally shatters glass. As Germany goes to hell during the 1930s and '40s, the never-aging Oskar continues savagely beating his drum, serving as the angry conscience of a world gone mad. The intense and visceral Tin Drum was one of the most financially successful German films of the 1970s and won the 1979 Oscar for Best Foreign Film and the 1979 Golden Palm (which it shared with Apocalypse Now). In the late '90s, the film became the center of a censorship controversy when some U.S. videotapes were confiscated because of the film's supposed violation of a child pornography statute. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Mario AdorfAngela Winkler, (more)
Director(s):
Volker Schlöndorff
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(15 member reviews)  


Member Reviews


Lisa H.

Bruce C, it's easy to assure that you have no further problems with the content of movies you rent from this site... I suggest in the future before you rent anything from blockbuster, that you take the time an intelligent person would and actually read the synopsis and user reviews before choosing a movie. Thanks...

Yes   |   No


Hans W.

Wonderfully written. The storyline is caught between fairytale and politico/sexual nightmare. The cinematography is PERFECT, the direction impeccable, and the casting was flawless. A must-see movie, it is one of my favorites, a true classic.

Yes   |   No


Barbara K.

I saw this movie when it first came out in 1979 and was stunned by the movie itself and by the talent of the young child (actually David Bennent was 13). I recently saw it again, 30 years later, and was stunned all over again by the imagery, the daring and the courage of this film. It is a one of a kind and deserves to be watched several times over. Not for everyone, just as Dali is not everyone's artist. I'm just glad for these other reviewers who agree that this is a clasic. Barb K.

Yes   |   No


GEORGE J B.

Terrific story. Fantastic characters and Oskar should get the Oscar. Again, the sad history of Germany under the Nazis through WWI and II told beautifully by a young man with an eye for ladies.

Yes   |   No


Lora A.

Fantastic rendition of the novel. I am quite glad book 3 was not included as it has a completely different feel. As always, some pretty interesting chapters are missing from the novel, but the ones selected nicely summarize the plot. I absolutely recommend watching this movie, especially after reading the book... a lot of important undertones are lost in the film.

Yes   |   No


Linda W.

this movie was reviewed highly by most of it;s viewers one way or another,but quite frankly I thought it was very boring.

Yes   |   No


Edward B.

Follows the book almost perfectly. Nice cinematography, costumes, and what looks like on location filming. No dumbing down to Hollywood standards.

Yes   |   No


Henry H.

This film is terrific!

Yes   |   No


Kerri C.

This movie is completely disturbing from the very beginning.

Yes   |   No


Lisa A.

Interesting cinema, but I can't give it a very high rating, because the sex scenes are WAAY out in the left field. Even though the lead actor who plays Oskar "grows up" into his 20's .... it IS still the child actor depicting very, very lewd scenes. Inappropriate on way too many levels to be able to recommend it. Borders on child porn & a scene at the beach when a dead horse head (only) washes up that will indelibly, unfortunately be imprinted on my mind for quite awhile. I think the story could have been told without all the explicit sickening sex and grotesqueness all throughout. Quite frankly, I think this film should be stricken out of the Blockbuster library.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
     
    Lisa H.

    Bruce C, it's easy to assure that you have no further problems with the content of movies you rent from this site... I suggest in the future before you rent anything from blockbuster, that you take the time an intelligent person would and actually read the synopsis and user reviews before choosing a movie. Thanks...

    Yes   |   No

     
    Hans W.

    Wonderfully written. The storyline is caught between fairytale and politico/sexual nightmare. The cinematography is PERFECT, the direction impeccable, and the casting was flawless. A must-see movie, it is one of my favorites, a true classic.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Barbara K.

    I saw this movie when it first came out in 1979 and was stunned by the movie itself and by the talent of the young child (actually David Bennent was 13). I recently saw it again, 30 years later, and was stunned all over again by the imagery, the daring and the courage of this film. It is a one of a kind and deserves to be watched several times over. Not for everyone, just as Dali is not everyone's artist. I'm just glad for these other reviewers who agree that this is a clasic. Barb K.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 15 Reviews