Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens) is a filmed record of the 1934 Nazi Party Convention, in Nuremberg. No, it is more than just a record: it is an exultation of Adolf Hitler, who from the moment his plane descends from Valhalla-like clouds is visually characterized as a God on Earth. The "Jewish question" is disposed of with a few fleeting closeups; filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl prefers to concentrate on cheering crowds, precision marching, military bands, and Hitler's climactic speech, all orchestrated, choreographed ...
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Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens) is a filmed record of the 1934 Nazi Party Convention, in Nuremberg. No, it is more than just a record: it is an exultation of Adolf Hitler, who from the moment his plane descends from Valhalla-like clouds is visually characterized as a God on Earth. The "Jewish question" is disposed of with a few fleeting closeups; filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl prefers to concentrate on cheering crowds, precision marching, military bands, and Hitler's climactic speech, all orchestrated, choreographed and illuminated on a scale that makes Griffith and DeMille look like poverty-row directors. It has been alleged that the climactic rally, "spontaneous" Sieg-Heils and all, was pre-planned according to Riefenstahl's specifications, the better to take full advantage of its cinematic potential. Allegedly, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels resented the presence and intrusion of a woman director, but finally had to admit that her images, achieved through the use of 30 cameras and 120 assistants, were worth a thousand speeches. Possibly the most powerful propaganda film ever made, Triumph of the Will is also, in retrospect, one of the most horrifying. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of Triumph of the Will to cart. $25.82, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by Synapse Films.
Add this copy of Triumph of the Will to cart. $25.82, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Synapse Films.
Add this copy of Triumph of the Will (Special Edition) to cart. $49.45, new condition, Sold by Griffin Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Stamford, CT, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Synapse.
Triumph of the Will is one of many important cinematic works of German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003). A propaganda film, this movie is a portrayal of the Nazi Party rallies at Nuremberg in 1934. Riefenstahl makes effective use of light, shadow, sound, symbols, music, and aerial photography. In fact, the movie opens with Adolf Hitler's arrival at Nuremberg; he is on an airplane flying through the clouds much like a scene in a Wagnerian opera or the flight of a Norse god. The version I watched does not have English subtitles but with my small amount of German language background I was able to glean the meaning of the speeches of the various leaders who speak in this film: Josef Goebbels, Julius Streicher, Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler, and many others. If possible, purchase a version with English subtitles. While the nature of this film is controversial, it is an important part of understanding what happened in Germany when the Nazis came to power; it is also a powerful testament showing what propaganda can do to the minds of men.