This film about the Berlin Olympics (1936)
an Olympiad that covered winter + Summer
games / competitions both individual and
team is regarded as one of the most
controversial documentary films ever made.
Its producer, Leni Riefenstahl, already had
secured a place in Germany's view of itself
with scenic films and Der Triumph Des Willens
(The Triumph of the Will) about the 1934
Nuremberg Rally of the National Socialist
political party. Riefenstahl's efforts (her
camera men numbered nearly 40) overcoming
logistical and technical problems in shooting her
achieved 400,000 meters of film is the subject of
Taylor Downing, film historian,
Olympia , the 1992 entry of the
8-part
B.F.I. Film Classics series.
Mr. Downing reviews on pages 92 - 93
the Rowing events which were included
with special footage by collaborator
Heinz von Jaworsky; the exciting final
where the American rowers beat out
the Italian and German teams by a
mere foot. Downing comments:
"this investment in extra film does justice
to one of the closest Olympics finals
ever." -- Olympia (1992) ISBN
0-85170-341-0
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