History Film / TriumphOfTheWill

* {{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.

* HitlerCam: The {{Trope Namer|s}}, and possibly the {{Trope Maker|s}}, though it's actually used rather sparingly.

* StockParody: 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.

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

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.

* MillionMookMarch: Numerous scenes, particularly the mourning of former President Hindenburg.
** The film claims a whopping 200,000 people came together for the celebration.

* PropagandaMachine: The whole film itself is a glowing example.
** A few American propaganda pieces just showed the marching and translated parts of the speeches into English, letting the mere fact it was meant to be inspirational for the Germans speak for itself. The ''Series/WhyWeFight'' series did this a lot.

A 1935 film directed by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German National-Socialist government]]. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathsome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), 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 German state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

* PropagandaMachine: The film itself.

* StockParody: 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 documentaries who cannibalize its footage. More generally our collective image of Nazis (marching masses of soldiers, Hitler's manic speech-making) largely originates here.
* ThoseWackyNazis: TheMovie. This trope is largely a product of perspective. The Nazis try to portray 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.

[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/triumphdeswillens.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[Webvideo/FoldingIdeas This right here is what they wanted you to think of, when you thought of them.]]]]

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TriumphOfTheWill.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:200:[[Webvideo/FoldingIdeas This right here is what they wanted you to think of, when you thought of them.]]]]

** Not just a badass army, but the SS in particular was also an [[ArmiesAreEvil evil army]].

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German National-Socialist government]]. It was shown once a year for {{propaganda|machine}} purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathsome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), 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 German state 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 ''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 was 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.

[[caption-width-right:200:[[FoldingIdeas This right here is what they wanted you to think of, when you thought of them.]]]]

* StockParody: Probably one of the most referenced films of all time: everything from ''Film/CitizenKane'' to ''Franchise/StarWars'' to ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' to ''Disney/TheLionKing'' borrows imagery from this movie, along with the innumerable documentaries who cannibalize its footage. More generally our collective image of Nazis (marching masses of soldiers, Hitler's manic speech-making) largely originates here.

** At least, zero ''explicit'' references to Jews. One of the shown short excerpts from the speeches made during the Party Congress does speak about the need to keep races -- and the German race specifically -- pure.

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German National-Socialist government]]. It was shown once a year for [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathsome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), 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 continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the German state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

%%* BalconySpeech

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Riefenstahl managed to make a feature-length Nazi propaganda film that made zero references to Jews.

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German government]]. It was shown once a year for [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathsome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), 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 continues to be regarded as an innovative and groundbreaking film has its roots in a concerted effort by the German state to promote the film as an ideal in contrast to various forms of expression the Nazis disapproved of.

[[quoteright:174:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TriumphOfTheWill.jpg]]

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German government]]. It was shown once a year for [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathsome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), it is regarded as an innovative, groundbreaking film that showed how cinema could be used for propaganda and documenting spectacle. It 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.

* BalconySpeech

* WorldOfHam

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German government]]. It was shown once a year for [[PropagandaMachine propaganda]] purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathesome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), it is regarded as an innovative, groundbreaking film that showed how cinema could be used for propaganda and documenting spectacle. It 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.

* PuttingOnTheReich

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany the German government]]. It was shown once a year for propaganda purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathesome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), it is regarded as an innovative, groundbreaking film that showed how cinema could be used for propaganda and documenting spectacle. It 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.

* DocumentaryOfLies: Well, it ''self-defines'' itself as a documentary (of the 1934 Party Congress of the NSDAP), at least, and it was certainly innovative in the 'editing for emotional effect or make things appear to be other than they were' department. On the other hand, it's hard to excuse scenes like Hitler [[AGodIAm descending godlike from the clouds]] at the film's opening.

* BadassArmy: Perhaps the most iconic scene in the movie is when Adolf Hitler is standing with SS leader Heinrich Himmler, and SA leader Viktor Lutze. Hitler, Himmler, and Lutze all salute the entire armed forced, and the troops salute the Nazi leaders back.

* MillionMookMarch: Numerous scenes, particularly the mourning of former President Hindenburg

* StockParody: Probably one of the most referenced films of all time: everything from ''Film/CitizenKane'' to ''Franchise/StarWars'' to ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' to ''Disney/TheLionKing'' borrows imagery from this movie, along with the innumerable documentaries who cannibalize its footage. More generally our collective image of Nazis (marching masses of soldiers, Hitler's manic speechmaking) largely originates here.

A 1935 film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and funded by [[NaziGermany the German government]]. It was shown once a year for propaganda purposes in every German cinema until 1945. Despite its loathesome subject matter (the 1934 Nazi Party Congress), it is regarded as an innovative, groundbreaking film that showed how cinema could be used for propaganda and documenting spectacle. It 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.

* NaziGermany

* ExecutiveMeddling: Averted; Hitler gave Riefenstahl carte-blanche to make the film how she wanted. Joseph Goebbels was not happy about this, and various senior Nazi officials complained that the movie [[{{Irony}} didn't have any propaganda]]. Hitler overruled them.

* SequelDisplacement: Riefenstahl made this as a follow-up to ''Victory of Faith'', which chronicled the 1933 Party rally. That movie however was suppressed by the German government after the Night of the Long Knives, for prominently featuring Ernst Rohm and the SA. ''Victory'' remains comparatively obscure, and considered inferior by most who have seen it.

* ValuesDissonance: We hope so.

** The film claims a whopping 50,000 people came together for the celebration.

The movie is officially not public domain, [[AbandonWare but since it also has no owners]], it's available on various online video sites. Viewer discretion required, as well as not living in Germany. (Like all other Nazi propaganda, it is banned there.)