Appointed by hitler, she directed the nazi propaganda film triumph des willens along with her bestknown work olympia, a documentary of the 1936 berlin olympics. Once the nazis lost, leni riefenstahl and her defenders tried to argue. Helene bertha amalie leni riefenstahl was a german film director and actress. Olympia, german filmmaker leni riefenstahls twopart documentary of the 1936 berlin olympiad, remains fascinating as both a stunning work of cinema and a historical. Theory and criticism, edited by richard barsam, new york, 1976.
Riefenstahl certainly earned her controversial reputationacting as the nazi regimes most artistic propagandist will do that. Riefenstahl is one of the greatest film makers of all time. Dancer, actor, and photographer, she is best known as the director of triumph of the will, a film of a nazi party rally and olympia, the classic account of the 1936 berlin olympics. One of the centurys most remarkable and controversial women, leni riefenstahl is an artist of the first order. Leni riefenstahl hitlers friend books and arts the. Sep 12, 2003 leni riefenstahl always insisted that the two most famous films she directed, triumph of the will and olympia, were nothing more than straightforward documentaries. Leni riefenstahl by leni riefenstahl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Author jurgen trimborn shows how her protestations that she was innocent because she was an apolitical artist cannot stand up to the eye witness accounts, official testimony. See more ideas about olympia 1936, olympia and 1936 olympics. List of books by author leni riefenstahl thriftbooks. As stunning as the photographs in this are it pales in comparison to. Here were sixteen days of heroism, aesthetic and athletic perfection, and a triumph of determination and will not least by the legendary artist leni riefenstahl.
Leni riefenstahl books by jurgen trimborn and steven bach. It evidently pioneered the use of tracking shots of athletes and some underwater photography. She visited greece to take footage of the route of the inaugural torch relay and the games original site at olympia, where she was aided by greek photographer. Olympia, german filmmaker leni riefenstahl s twopart documentary of the 1936 berlin olympiad, remains fascinating as both a stunning work of cinema and a historical document of nazi propaganda. Riefenstahl, leni, notes on the making of olympia, in nonfiction film. The wonderful, horrible afterlife of leni riefenstahl.
Unter dem titel olympia veroffentlichte riefenstahl 1938 eine zweiteilige. Dancer, actress, mountaineer, and director leni riefenstahls uncompromising will and audacious talent for selfpromotion appeared unmatcheduntil 1932, when she. Leni riefenstahl was impressed by the nazis, and look what happened. Olympia, her twopart documentary of the 1936 olympics. Olympia was also the title of the famous documentary riefenstahl made. Olympia, 1936 leni riefenstahl film, tobis usm books. This is a very nice used example of leni riefenstahls magnificent photographic chronicle of the beauty associated with the 1936 olympic competition in berlin, germany. Equally stunning were riefenstahl s directorial efforts in olympia, which captured with haunting effectiveness the images of the 1936 summer olympic games in berlin. Leni riefenstahl summer olympics 1936 berlin olympia beauty book.
Is leni riefenstahls olympia nazi propaganda or the greatest film about sport. The title suggests this is about the life of leni riefenstahl, but the greater part of the text describes her relationship with hitler and reich and her subsequent denials. A woman under the nazi regime in germany, who became one of adolf hitlers most prized talents, leni riefenstahl created powerfully moving and beautifully visual films showcasing the 1936 olympics which were held in berlin, germany during the nazi regime. Riefenstahl was a wellknown german photographer given the impossible task of creating a documentary movie of the olympic games as they played out in garmischpartenkirchen and. Triumph of the will and olympia, long after the events they celebratedthe 1934 nuremberg nazi rally and the 1936 berlin olympicshad. This is a photography book that looks like everything was taken from her olympia documentary on the 1936 olympics in berlin. Leni riefenstahl 1936 olympics photo book usm books. Aug 12, 2016 riefenstahl certainly earned her controversial reputationacting as the nazi regimes most artistic propagandist will do that. Hitler invited riefenstahl to film the 1936 summer olympics scheduled to be held in berlin, a film which riefenstahl said had. Leni riefenstahl s triumph of the will is perhaps the most important film to come from nazi germany. Leni riefenstahl, center, on a dolly filming her documentary olympia, on the 1936 olympics in berlin. Hitler invited riefenstahl to film the 1936 summer olympics scheduled to be held in berlin, a film which riefenstahl said had been commissioned by the international olympic committee.
Leni riefenstahl s career included work as a dancer, actress, film producer, director, and also a photographer, but the rest of leni riefenstahl s career was shadowed by her history as a documentary maker for germanys third reich in the 1930s. Riefenstahl appeared in the film and answered several questions and detailed the production of her films. See more ideas about leni riefenstahl, berlin olympics, olympia. The continued respect afforded to riefenstahls work makes her an anomaly. Olympia by leni riefenstahl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles. Leni riefenstahl olympia olympic games berlin 1936 1936. Leni riefenstahl s film of the 1936 olympics has been called the greatest olympic film ever made. Signed leni riefenstahl schonheit im olympischen kampf roth. In the 1937 preface to the first edition of this book, leni riefenstahl remarked it is. Jun 14, 2012 in 1936, berlin hosted the olympics and hitler asked director leni riefenstahl to film them. A sports documentary capturing the 1936 summer olympics olympia was directed and produced by the renowned german motion picture producer leni riefenstahl. In 1936, berlin hosted the olympics and hitler asked director leni riefenstahl to film them.
Leni riefenstahl, german film director, actress, producer, and photographer who is best known for her documentaries of the 1930s dramatizing the power and pageantry of the nazi movement. This is a photography book that looks like everything was taken from her olympia documentary on the 1936 olympics in. Riefenstahls work on olympia has been cited as a major influence in modern sports photography. The result was a cinematic coup, but with sinister overtones thu 14 jun 2012 15. A new york times notable book of the year one of the centurys most remarkable and controversial women, leni riefenstahl is an artist of the first order. Correct first edition first printing in the dust jacket of schonheit im olympischen kampf beauty in the olympic games by leni riefenstahl, a legendary photorecord of the 1936 berlin summer olympics the jesse owens olympics, 281 pages of monochrome plates with captions in german, english, french, italian and spanish, including a 30 page pictorial section on the preparation of the film. I am a great admirer of the athletic body in its natural form. Fortunately, politics didnt obscure the perfection of the film olympia, made at the 1936 berlin. Her notable works included triumph of the will and a twopart film on the 1936 olympics. It was for olympia that riefenstahl pioneered numerous cinematographic techniques, such as filming footage with cameras mounted on rails commonly known today as tracking shots.
In the 1937 preface to the first edition of this book, leni riefenstahl remarked it is the timeless document of a great idea a hymn to beauty and competetive endeavour. Held in berlin, under the victoryobsessed eyes of adolf hitler, the 36 games were pursued and produced by the third reich with extraordinary zeal. Here is a stunning book by leni riefenstahl, the worldfamous german photographer and film maker who filmed the 1936 olympic games in berlin. Riefenstahls olympia, her 1938 documentary about the 1936 berlin olympics, was number 37. With footage of the great black sprinter jesse owens, it debunked the nazi aryan myth. Riefenstahl was a wellknown german photographer given the impossible task of. The shameful legacy of the olympic games film the guardian. A dramatic representation of the 1936 berlin olympic games, olympia is told in two parts, the festival of nations and the festival of beauty. Its a large folio volume of still photographs of riefenstahl s filming of her motion picture olympia. Interestingly, it did not appear to be a mere propaganda film, although certainly there was some of that. See all books authored by leni riefenstahl, including memoiren, and people of kau, and more on thriftbooks.
Olympia by leni riefenstahl leni riefenstahl 825307915990. From renowned german director leni riefenstahl comes olympia. Olympia by leni riefenstahl and a great selection of related books. Leni riefenstahl was an incredibly gifted filmmaker, regardless of her politics. Leni shows us the 1936 olympic games in all their glory and through 100s of beautifully printed black and white photographs this is a pristine copy in a pristine dustjacket. Interview with riefenstahl, in montreal star, 20 july 1976. Leni riefenstahl achieved fame as a dancer, actress, photographer, and director, but her entire career is colored by her association with the nazi party. Riefenstahl was a wellknown german photographer given the impossible task of creating a documentary movie of the olympic games as they played out in garmischpartenkirchen. A powerful documentary that stands the test of time to show the extreme gift of one of historys best female directors. Buy riefenstahl olympia by leni riefenstahl online at alibris. This is a very nice used example of leni riefenstahl s magnificent photographic chronicle of the beauty associated with the 1936 olympic competition in berlin, germany. As for riefenstahls film about the 1936 berlin olympics, olympia, it was secretly financed and sponsored by the reich, and it played a key role.
Nazi olympics, beginning with richard mandells groundbreaking book of that title. Leni riefenstahls career included work as a dancer, actress, film producer, director, and also a photographer, but the rest of leni riefenstahls career was shadowed by her history as a documentary maker for germanys third reich in the 1930s. No story of the 1936 berlin summer olympic games would be complete without a short discussion of leni riefenstahls epic motion picture production olympia. Leni riefenstahl books list of books by author leni. On the surface, the film appears to be a very well made sports film, depicting outstanding athletic accomplishments by many individuals and teams from throughout the world. Film director, artist 22aug1902 8sep2003 subject of books. In 1993, riefenstahl was the subject of the awardwinning german documentary film the wonderful, horrible life of leni riefenstahl, directed by ray muller. Leni riefenstahl always insisted that the two most famous films she directed, triumph of the will and olympia, were nothing more than straightforward documentaries. Not that that years summer games were free from the taint of nazism. Berlin was announced as the location of the 1936 olympic games. But art historian michael mackenzie remembers riefenstahl for a different accomplishment. Fortunately, politics didnt obscure the perfection of the film olympia, made at the 1936 berlin olympics, from which these stark, beautiful blackandwhite photographs were made. Leni riefenstahl summer olympics 1936 berlin olympia beauty.
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