Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations

Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations(1938)

NR

04/21/1938 (US)Documentary2h 7m

6.8

Overview

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.

Leni Riefenstahl

Director

Leni Riefenstahl

Writer

Top Billed Cast

David Albritton

David Albritton

Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)

Arvo Askola

Arvo Askola

Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)

Jack Beresford

Jack Beresford

Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited)

Erwin Blask

Erwin Blask

Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (uncredited)

Sulo Bärlund

Sulo Bärlund

Self - Shot Put, Finland (uncredited)

Ibolya Csák

Ibolya Csák

Self - High Jump, Hungary (uncredited)

Glenn Cunningham

Glenn Cunningham

Self (uncredited)

Henri de Baillet-Latour

Henri de Baillet-Latour

Self - IOC, Stands with Hitler, with Hurdlers (uncredited)

Philip Edwards

Philip Edwards

Self - 800 Metres, Canada (uncredited)

Donald Finlay

Donald Finlay

Self - 110m Hurdles, Great Britain (uncredited)

Tilly Fleischer

Tilly Fleischer

Self - Javelin Throw, Germany (uncredited)

Wilhelm Frick

Wilhelm Frick

Self - Spectator (uncredited)

Joseph Goebbels

Joseph Goebbels

Self - Spectator (uncredited)

Hermann Göring

Hermann Göring

Self - Spectator (uncredited)

Ernest Harper

Ernest Harper

Self - Marathon, Great Britain (uncredited)

Karl Hein

Karl Hein

Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (uncredited)

Heinz Herman

Heinz Herman

German Flag Carrier (uncredited)

Rudolf Hess

Rudolf Hess

Self - Stands with Hitler (uncredited)

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Self - Declares Games Open (uncredited)

Volmari Iso-Hollo

Volmari Iso-Hollo

Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)

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Part of the Olympia Collection

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.

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