Commissioned to make a propaganda film about the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, director Leni Riefenstahl created a celebration of the human form. Part one, Festival of the Nations, captures a renowned introduction that compares modern Olympians to classical Greek heroes, and goes on to provide thrilling in-the-moment coverage of some of the games' most celebrated moments, including African-American athlete Jesse Owens winning a then-unprecedented four gold medals. Part two, The Festival of Beauty, concentrates on individual athletes such as equestrians, gymnasts, and swimmers, climaxing with American Glenn Morris' performance in the decathalon and the games' majestic closing ceremonies.
2 films
Leni Riefenstahl (Director)
David Albritton
Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)
Arvo Askola
Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)
Jack Beresford
Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited)
Erwin Blask
Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (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, Great Britain (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, Great Britain (uncredited)
Karl Hein
Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Heinz Herman
German Flag Carrier (uncredited)
Rudolf Hess
Self - Stands with Hitler (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler
Self - Declares Games Open (uncredited)
Volmari Iso-Hollo
Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)
Cornelius Johnson
Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)
Matti Järvinen
Self - Javelin, Finland (uncredited)
Elfriede Kaun
Self - High Jump, Germany (uncredited)
King Umberto II
Self - Stands with Hitler, Salutes Italian Team (uncredited)
Kalevi Kotkas
Self - High Jump, Finland (uncredited)
Gustaf Alfons Koutonen
Self - Hammer Throw, Finland (uncredited)
Luise Krüger
Self - Javelin Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Maria Kwasniewska
Self - Javelin Throw, Poland (uncredited)
Theodor Lewald
Self - German Olympic Committee, Stands with Hitler (uncredited)
Luz Long
Self (uncredited)
Spiridon Louis
Self - Walks Behind Greek Flag, in Greek Costume (uncredited)
John Lovelock
Self - 1500 Metres, New Zealand (uncredited)
Gisela Mauermayer
Self - Discus Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Earle Meadows
Self - Pole Vault, USA (uncredited)
Ralph Metcalfe
Self - Sprinter, USA (uncredited)
Paula Mollenhauer
Self - Discus Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Väinö Muinonen
Self - Marathon, Finland (uncredited)
Seung-yong Nam
Self - Marathon, Japan (uncredited)
Henri Nannen
Announcer (uncredited)
Yrjö Nikkanen
Self - Javelin, Finland (uncredited)
No trailers or clips available.
Starting with a long and lyrical overture, evoking the origins of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, Riefenstahl covers twenty-one athletic events in the first half of this two-part love letter to the human body and spirit, culminating with the marathon, where Jesse Owens became the first track and field athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.
