History Film / Olympia

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''Olympia'', sometimes also titled ''Götter des Stadions'' (''Gods of the Stadium'') is a 1938 film by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl. It was released in two parts: ''Part I -Festival of Nations'' (German: ''1. Teil - Fest der Völker'') and ''Part II - Festival of Beauty'' (German: ''2. Teil - Fest der Schönheit'').

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in UsefulNotes/{{Nazi|Germany}} UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}; in terms of actual sporting contests, Part I is dedicated to track and field, while Part II is dedicated to the other events. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off the new Germany to the world. Riefenstahl, who had become famous and celebrated by the regime with her 1934 propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to direct another documentary.

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in UsefulNotes/{{Nazi|Germany}} UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}; in terms of actual sporting contests, Part I is dedicated to track and field, while Part II is dedicated to the other events. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off the new Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her 1934 propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to direct another documentary.

''Olympia'' is a 1938 film by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl. Actually, it was released as two films: ''Part I -Festival of Nations'' (German: ''1. Teil - Fest der Völker'') and ''Part II - Festival of Beauty'' (German: ''2. Teil - Fest der Schönheit'').

** Part II has a similar opening sequence of the same length, showing athletes training and relaxing in the Olympic Village, then the gymnastics competition, also without dialogue.

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in UsefulNotes/{{Nazi|Germany}} UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}; in terms of actual sporting contests, Part I is dedicated to track and field, while Part II is dedicated to the other events. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off the new Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her Nazi propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to direct another documentary.

The resulting film is something of a mixed bag. There are many shots of Hitler in his box, there are swastika flags everywhere, and the 800m race is introduced as “two black runners against the strongest of the white race”. (The aforementioned black runners, John Woodruff and Phil Edwards, finished first and third.)[[note]]Why are the athletes in this Olympics so overwhelmingly white, aside from Owens, a few other Americans, and the Japanese? Because almost all of Africa and much of Southeast Asia was under the colonial thumb of Europe.[[/note]] However, Jesse Owens also gets a lot of admiring coverage, including a shot of him bashfully smiling at the camera after he defeated Luz Long in the long jump. And much like ''Triumph of The Will'', the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. Regardless of to what degree the film is viewed as Nazi propaganda, it is recognized as hugely influential in the depiction of sporting events, with groundbreaking techniques like slo-mo and tracking shots of athletes in motion that have been used aplenty ever since.

''Olympia'' is a 1938 film by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl. Actually, it was released as two films: ''Part I--Festival of Nations'' (German: ''1. Teil -- Fest der Völker'') and ''Part II--Festival of Beauty'' (German: ''2. Teil -- Fest der Schönheit'').

''Olympia'' is a 1938 film by Creator/LeniRiefenstahl. Actually, it was released as two films: ''Olympia Part I--Festival of Nations'' and ''Olympia Part II--Festival of Beauty''.

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in UsefulNotes/{{Nazi|Germany}} UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off the new Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her Nazi propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to direct another documentary.

* CreatorCameo: Leni Riefenstahl is one of the naked women in the opening montage.

* {{Dramatization}}: The various shots of announcers commenting on the action were clearly shot and inserted after the fact. Glenn Morris's run in the 1500m portion of the decathlon was also recreated after the fact.

* {{Fanservice}}:

The resulting film is something of a mixed bag. There are many shots of Hitler in his box, there are swastika flags everywhere, and the 800m race is introduced as “two black runners against the strongest of the white race”. (The aforementioned black runners, John Woodruff and Phil Edwards, finished first and third.)[[note]]Why are the athletes in this Olympics so overwhelmingly white, aside from Owens, a few other Americans, and the Japanese? Because almost all of Africa and much of Southeast Asia was under the colonial thumb of Europe.[[/note]] However, Jesse Owens also gets a lot of admiring coverage, including a shot of him bashfully smiling at the camera after he defeated Luz Long in the long jump. And much like ''Triumph of The Will'', the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. Regardless of to what degree the film is viewed as Nazi propaganda, it is recognized as hugely influential in the depiction of sporting events, with techniques like slo-mo and tracking shots of athletes in motion that have been used ever since.

The Olympic torch relay shown at the beginnning of Part I was the first ever, having been invented by the Nazis for this ceremony. Captain Nishi, the Japanese steeplechase rider shown taking a spill, was [[Film/LettersFromIwoJima killed in action at Iwo Jima]] in 1945.

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in UsefulNotes/{{Nazi|Germany}} UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}}. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off Nazi Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her Nazi propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to make another documentary.

It is a documentary about the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in Berlin, UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off Nazi Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her Nazi propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to make another documentary.

It is a documentary of the 1936 UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, held in Berlin, UsefulNotes/NaziGermany. UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazis were originally reluctant to stage the Olympics, which were awarded to Germany well before the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Eventually Hitler was talked into going through with the Games as a way to show off Nazi Germany to the world. Leni Riefenstahl, who had become famous with her Nazi propaganda documentary ''Film/TriumphOfTheWill'', was hired to make another documentary.

The resulting film is something of a mixed bag. There are many shots of Hitler in his box, there are swastika flags everywhere, and the 800m race is introduced as “two black runners against the strongest of the white race”. (The aforementioned black runners, John Woodruff and Phil Edwards, finished first and third.)[[note]]Why are the athletes in this Olympics so overwhelmingly white, aside from Owens, a few other Americans, and the Japanese? Because almost all of Africa and much of Southeast Asia was under the colonial thumb of Europe.[[/note]] However, Jesse Owens also gets a lot of admiring coverage, including a shot of him bashfully smiling at the camera after he defeated Luz Long in the long jump. Regardless of to what degree the film is viewed as Nazi propaganda, it is recognized as hugely influential in the depiction of sporting events, with techniques like slo-mo and tracking shots of athletes in motion that have been used ever since.

The Olympic torch relay shown at the beginnning of Part I was the first ever, having been invented by the Nazis for this ceremony.

* {{Dramatization}}: The various shots of announcers commenting on the action were clearly shot and inserted after the fact. Glenn Morris's run in the 5000m portion of the decathlon was also recreated after the fact.

* {{Fanservice}}: The opening montage of naked women athletes and loincloth-clad male athletes dancing and striking poses.

* SilenceIsGolden: The whole opening sequence--the establishing shots of Mount Olympus and the statuary, the Fanservice montage of naked athletes, the Olympic torch relay from Greece to Berlin--is shot without any dialogue. The first words spoken in the movie are UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler declaring the Games open, over 20 minutes in.

* {{Chiaroscuro}}: The opening scenes of the ruins of Mount Olympus and Ancient Greek statuary, shot in moody, shadowy lighting.

The resulting film is something of a mixed bag. There are many shots of Hitler in his box, there are swastika flags everywhere, and the 800m race is introduced as “two black runners against the strongest of the white race”. (The aforementioned black runners, John Woodruff and Phil Edwards, finished first and third.) However, Jesse Owens also gets a lot of admiring coverage, including a shot of him bashfully smiling at the camera after he defeated Luz Long in the long jump. Regardless of to what degree the film is viewed as Nazi propaganda, it is recognized as hugely influential in the depiction of sporting events, with techniques like slo-mo and tracking shots of athletes in motion that have been used ever since.