History Film / TriumphOfTheWill

''Triumph of the Will'' (German: ''Triumph des Willens'') is a 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day forms a reference point for people's mental image of the Nazi regime. Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the Nazis to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

Ultimately, the triumph of ''Triumph'' is one of budget. With the full backing of the state, the film sought to convince both foreign and domestic audiences that the Nazi regime was unstoppable through sheer force of spectacle. Surprisingly (or not), the film has since proved highly influential -- the medal scene that ends ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' is a direct lift from the scene in this movie where UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, UsefulNotes/HeinrichHimmler, and Viktor Lutze lay a wreath at the memorial for President Hindenburg.

The movie is officially not in the public domain, as its rights are being held by the German Government through Transit Film [=GmbH=]. It can however be viewed for free online. Interestingly, the film is not censored in Germany, but due to its status as a Nazi propaganda piece, it can only be screened publicly in an educational or scholarly context.

See also ''Film/{{Olympia}}'', Riefenstahl's two-part documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Compare ''Film/TheBirthOfANation1915'', a similarly influential film that also acts as a white nationalist propaganda piece.

''Triumph of the Will'' (German: ''Triumph des Willens'') is a 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day it forms a reference point for people's mental image of the Nazi regime. Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the Nazis to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

Ultimately, the triumph of ''Triumph'' is one of budget. With the full backing of the state, the film sought to convince both foreign and domestic audiences that the Nazi regime was unstoppable through sheer force of spectacle. Surprisingly (or not) the film has since proved highly influential--the medal scene that ends ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' is a direct lift from the scene in this movie where UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, UsefulNotes/HeinrichHimmler, and Viktor Lutze lay a wreath at the memorial for President Hindenburg.

Ultimately, the triumph of ''Triumph'' is one of budget. With the full backing of the state, the film sought to convince both foreign and domestic audiences that the Nazi regime was unstoppable through sheer force of spectacle. Surprisingly (or not) the film has since proved highly influential--the medal scene that ends ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' is a direct lift from the scene in this movie where UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Viktor Lutze lay a wreath at the memorial for President Hindenburg.

The movie is officially not in the public domain, as its rights are being held by the German Government through Transit Film GmbH. It can however be viewed for free online. Interestingly, the film is not censored in Germany, but due to its status as a Nazi propaganda piece, it can only be screened publicly in an educational or scholarly context.

The movie is officially not in the public domain, [[AbandonWare but since it also has no owners]], it's become freely available on various online video sites. Perhaps surprisingly, the film is ''not'' banned in Germany and even has been broadcasted on public TV several times since the 1970s.

Ultimately, the Triumph of ''Triumph'' is one of budget. With the full backing of the state ''Triumph of the Will'' sought to convince both foreign and domestic audiences that the Nazi regime was unstoppable through sheer force of spectacle. Surprisingly (or not) the film has since proved highly influential--the medal scene that ends ''[[Film/ANewHope Star Wars]]'' is a direct lift from the scene in this movie where Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Viktor Lutze lay a wreath at the memorial for President Hindenburg.

A 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day it forms a reference point for people's mental image of the Nazi regime. Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the Nazis to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

!!! ''Triumph of the Will'' is the {{Trope Namer|s}} for:
* HitlerCam

[[caption-width-right:250:[[WebVideo/FoldingIdeas This right here is what they wanted you to think of, when you thought of them.]]]]

* Administrivia/TropesAreTools: One of the most notorious examples of "Tropes Are Not Good" in history. Website/RottenTomatoes [[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/triumph_of_the_will summarizes as such]]:
-->Triumph of the Will is impossible to separate from its repugnant political context -- and impossible to deny as a powerfully made piece of cinematic propaganda.

* Administrivia/TropesAreTools: One of the most notorious examples of this in history. Website/RottenTomatoes [[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/triumph_of_the_will summarizes as such]]:

* {{Stock Parod|ies}}y: Probably one of the most referenced films of all time: everything from ''Film/CitizenKane'' to ''Franchise/StarWars'' to ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' to ''Disney/TheLionKing'' to ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' borrows imagery from this movie, along with the innumerable films and documentaries who simply cannibalize its footage such as ''Film/AClockworkOrange''. More generally our collective image of Nazis (marching masses of soldiers, Hitler's manic speech-making, showy displays of gunmen and swastika banners) largely originates here.

* WorldOfHam: Just look at any one of Hitler's speeches in the film; worth noting is that it's actually accurate to how he delivered his speeches (which led to [[ThoseWackyNazis a good deal of jokes]] in Allied propaganda).

The movie is officially not in the public domain, [[AbandonWare but since it also has no owners]] (a given, as most people would understandably not want to ''own'' a piece endorsing one of the most infamous dictatorships in world history), it's become freely available on various online video sites without opposition. Perhaps surprisingly, the film is ''not'' banned in Germany and even has been broadcasted on public TV several times since the 1970s.

A 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day it forms a reference point for people's mental image of the Nazi regime. Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the fascist state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

A 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day it forms a reference point for people's mental image of the Nazi regime at its most blusterous (when not overtly focusing on UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust, which better represented [[CrapsackWorld what the regime was like]] ''behind'' the glittery facade). Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the fascist state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

A 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and ordered by the government of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|Machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. The film was wildly successful at its intended purpose and to this day it forms a reference point for people's mental image of Nazi regime. Moreover, the extent that ''Triumph of the Will'' continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the National-Socialist state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

The movie is officially not public domain, [[AbandonWare but since it also has no owners]], it's available on various online video sites. Perhaps surprisingly, the film is ''not'' banned in Germany and even has been broadcasted in public TV several times since the 1970s.

See also ''Film/{{Olympia}}'', Riefenstahl's two-part documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

* GloriousLeader: The way Hitler is presented.

* IntendedAudienceReaction: See PropagandaMachine.

* {{Stock Parod|ies}}y: Probably one of the most referenced films of all time: everything from ''Film/CitizenKane'' to ''Franchise/StarWars'' to ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' to ''Disney/TheLionKing'' to ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobSquarePantsMovie'' borrows imagery from this movie, along with the innumerable films and documentaries who simply cannibalize its footage such as ''Film/AClockworkOrange''. More generally our collective image of Nazis (marching masses of soldiers, Hitler's manic speech-making) largely originates here.
* ThoseWackyNazis: This trope is largely a product of perspective. The Nazis portrayed themselves as sane and reasonable, but we the audience now know that what they said and what they meant often conflicted with each other, and so all the many speeches in the film sound wholly ludicrous.
* WorldOfHam: Just look at any one of Hitler's speeches in the film.

It also became for director Leni Riefenstahl the biggest NeverLiveItDown in movie history, likely rivaled only by Creator/DWGriffith's ''Film/TheBirthOfANation1915'', for similar reasons.