Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations (1938)

The document of the 1936 Olympics at Berlin.

Director:

Leni Riefenstahl

Writer:

Leni Riefenstahl

Stars:

David Albritton, Arvo Askola, Jack Beresford

2 wins.

Cast

Uncredited cast:
David Albritton	...	Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)
Arvo Askola	...	Self - 10000 Metres, FIN (uncredited)
Jack Beresford	...	Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited)
Erwin Blask	...	Self - Hammer Throw, German (uncredited)
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)
Philip Edwards	...	Self - 800 Metres, Canada (uncredited)
Donald Finlay	...	Self - 110m Hurdles, GB (uncredited)
Tilly Fleischer	...	Self - Javelin Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Wilhelm Frick	...	Self - Spectator (uncredited)
Joseph Goebbels	...	Self - Spectator (uncredited)
Hermann Göring	...	Self - Spectator (uncredited)
Ernest Harper	...	Self - Marathon, GB (uncredited)

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

year 1936 | olympic stadium berlin | athlete | olympics | berlin olympics | 

---

Genres:

Documentary | Sport

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

[Taken from the German Arthaus DVD commentary] The production of the movie led to a number of inventions. Soundproof camera casings ('blimps') were constructed so as not to disturb the athletes. To follow the divers underwater, Hans Ertl built a waterproof camera housing and a small elevator at the side of the pool, and had to learn how to immediately adjust the focus and aperture when they broke the surface. Small cameras were strapped to the saddles of cross-country riders and the bodies of marathon runners. Obviously, most of the footage was too shaky to be used, but the few feet that were included created a whole new perspective.

---

Connections

Featured in The Yellow Star: The Persecution of the Jews in Europe - 1933-1945 (1981)

---

Soundtracks

Olympische Hymnne
Richard Strauss

User Reviews

A master of film and 60 years later still a masterpiece

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.

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English Italian French Japanese Portuguese

Release Date:

8 March 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Olympiad

Filming Locations:

Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

Olympia Film GmbH, International Olympic Committee, Tobis Filmkunst

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1