Triumph of the Will

When I first saw Triumph of the Will in the late 80's, it struck me deeply both as a film student and as a Jew. I still struggle, as have many others, to understand how Germans were so utterly swept away by Nazi fervor. You can read endless books trying to climb inside what seems like an alien psychology from musty decades past, and then there is the electrifying power imprisoned in Triumph of the Will. In an inverted way the film reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark: an ancient relic that contains a dormant, still-vital force. This one is reawakened by the simple act of running it through a projector. To feel and not merely see that reflected glory, even decades later in a different society, is Riefenstahl's genius. Damn it, it IS beautiful. And terrible.

This is the best film made by the last "classic" Empire of the XX century. It is a must have. Anyone trying to write something serious about the Third Reich MUST watch it.

I first saw Leni Riefenstahl's, Triumph of the Will, when I was a college freshman in a history of film course. This version also included footage of the 1934 Olympics. Though it was a well made piece of propaganda, it was also the terrifying piece of film I've ever seen. This had to do with her presentaion to the public of how Adolf Hitler's charisma could draw you in and hold your attention, even if you didn't understand a single word he said. This and this alone makes this piece of film a prelude to the most horrifying piece of history the people of the 20th century will ever know.

It is fascinating to watch a film done so beautifully yet all the while focusing on a man who isresponsible for the slaughter of millions of innocent people. Watch itfor the beautiful filmmaking, but also watch it as a cautionary tale. Every political science class should make this film a requirement to teach the effectiveness of film propaganda. This is a movie that grabs you, haunts you, but ultimately, it is a film that you cannot ignore. END

I use excerpts from this film to show in my high school World History class. The video captures Hitler's oratory magic and one can see why the German people fell under his spell. The pictures of the Party rallies are simply amazing as Hitler walks between 200,000 of his followers. This scene is definitely a jaw dropper for my students. I must agree with my fellow reviewer that the film seems to spend a little bit too much time in some areas. For example, when the Party members are marching in formation by Hitler with him saluting them...well, this takes forever and is too long for the attention span of a teenager. Overall, excellent film.

It makes one a touch nervous getting anything by the Nazis, but Leni Riefenstahl is a genius filmmaker. Unlike shallow propaganda, her work gets in your head, a precursor to filmmakers like Scorcese et al.And, btw, The Bible and Mein Kampf have nothing in common!The son of a Dachau liberator.

Triumph is most definately one of the few beautiful works of the world. Filled with wonderful footage - from scenery shots to party rallies - the film is able to take you to one of the most pivotal rallies of all time. You can really feel the energy of the folk and the orators themselves. Leni gets an A++ for this one!

Regardless of the theme and propaganda aspect, Triump of the Will is one of the most important movies ever filmed. It documents the 6th Reich Party Congress that was held in Nuremburg in 1934, and subsequently was awarded the Gold Medal in Venice in 1935, and the Gold Medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937. The crowning glory for Leni Riefenstahl, with the defeat of the Nazis in 1945, her association with the movie and several other Nazi propaganda films nearly destroyed. Up until her death in September 2003, at the age of 101, she vehemently downplayed her association with the Nazis, and attempted to rebuild her reputation through still photography. The nature of her involvement with the Nazis will never be fully known, so it can never be known for certain whether this film was, as Riefenstahl claims, a compromise so that she could continue to exercise her creativity. Whatever the case, Triump of the Will is an important movie, both in terms of its influence on cinematography, and as a historical document. It is a definite must-see for anyone who wants to understand the Nazis, as it epitomizes the regime's skilled use of propaganda to gain and maintain power.

The fact that a "nobody" like Adolf Hitler rose to such power is frightening enough, but thanks to this film we have a recorded history that helps explain WHY. Riefenstahl's glorious filmmaking technique depicts the savagely seductive power of the Fuhrer over the people of Germany and is an important piece of history to help remind us "never to forget" and, especially, to not let it happen again.

I purchased the VHS version of this incredible film. I saw it twice in the past. One time was in college, as part of the curricula was to show students in advertising some of the basic principles that can be applied to the present. However, I must ask this question. Am I mistaken or has this film been edited? I seem to remember a different beginning: Hitler was standing alone at the doorway to the plane,looking out with a dreamlike visionary expression on his face. In addition, I seem to remember footage of that awesome rally at night with the beacons on either side of the audience (was it Nurenberg?), a greater amount of people in traditional German costumes and a display of the "classic" Aryan faces and bodies marching to the music. If I am not mistaken, it is a shame that these scenes were excluded, as it took away from my expectations of a more impressive version of the film. Is it ever possible to purchase an uncut version?