Uncredited cast: | |||
David Albritton | ... | Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited) | |
Arvo Askola | ... | Self - 10000 Metres, FIN (uncredited) | |
Jack Beresford | ... | Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited) | |
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Erwin Blask | ... | Self - Hammer Throw, German (uncredited) |
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Sulo Bärlund | ... | Self - Shot Put, Finland (uncredited) |
Ibolya Csák | ... | Self - High Jump, Hungary (uncredited) | |
Glenn Cunningham | ... | Self (uncredited) | |
Henri de Baillet-Latour | ... | Self - IOC, Stands with Hitler, with Hurdlers (uncredited) | |
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Philip Edwards | ... | Self - 800 Metres, Canada (uncredited) |
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Donald Finlay | ... | Self - 110m Hurdles, GB (uncredited) |
Tilly Fleischer | ... | Self - Javelin Throw, Germany (uncredited) | |
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Wilhelm Frick | ... | Self - Spectator (uncredited) |
Joseph Goebbels | ... | Self - Spectator (uncredited) | |
Hermann Göring | ... | Self - Spectator (uncredited) | |
Ernest Harper | ... | Self - Marathon, GB (uncredited) |
After being commissioned by the 1936 Olympic Committee to create a feature film of the Berlin Olympics, Riefenstahl shot a documentary that celebrates the human body by combining the poetry of bodies in motion with close-ups of athletes in the heat of competition. Includes the marathon, men's diving, and American track star Jesse Owen's sprint races at the 1936 Olympic games. The production tends to glorify the young male body and, some say, expresses the Nazi attitude toward athletic prowess. Includes the lighting of the torch at the stadium and Adolf Hitler looking on in amazement as Jesse Owens wins an unprecedented four Gold Medals. Written by Fiona Kelleghan <fkelleghan@aol.com>
I first viewed this film at the Museum of Modern Art 35 years ago;I now own it and the years have only added to my astonishment of what a genius Leni is. She took film to a new and higher art form. The Nazi noise does get in the way, but the epic scope and feel of the finished product make it worth viewing. And yes, part one is far superior, but part two is certainly a work of art also. It is a masterpiece. Would that she had done more. She is a most fascinating artist.