<
BACK
Triumph des Willens/Triump of the Will, was the most famous film made
in the NAZI era. It was a brilliant piece of propaganda film making. This
documentary of the Sixth Nazi Party Congress at Nuremberg It helped fuel the
power of the NAZI state. This powerful film had a tremendous impact on Germans,
especially young Germans. Its sweeping style was later used by American director
Frank Capra for his war documentaries. The director was Leni Riefenstahl. It may
well be the classic propaganda film of all time. The power of the film probably
was a factor in the Allied decision to hold the war crimes trials in Nuremburg.
Filmography
Leni Riefenstahl
The director and editor was Leni Riefenstahl. Hitler reportedly personally
selected her to make the film. She was to wear the moniker "Hitler's filmmaker"
the rest of her life. Her choreographed set pieces with thousands of people
exceed anything DeMille ever attempted. She also brought sports filming into the
modern era in 1936. She used some of the same inovative techniques shown in
Triumph of the Will, in her footage of the Berlin Olympics, released as
Olympiad. Hitler first met Riefenstahl in 1934. He had admired her
cinematic work. It was quite a surprise in Germany when he commissioned her to
make the official film on the Nüremberg Party Congress in which she directed 0.8
million men. Generally Hitler did not approve of women working, especially in
authority positions. Hitler saw her as a movie star as a perfect example of
German womnahood. [Time, February 17, 1936.]
Others
Interestingly the Art Director was a young Albert Speer who had already
caught Hitler's eye. Speer as armaments minister was to play a majo role in orld
War II. Stepp Algeier was the cinematographer. Herbert Windt was responsible for
the music. Siegfried Schulz was the sound designer.
Influence
Triumph des Willens was in many ways a ground breaking production. The
sweeping style of the video images was a first in its own right. The look has
been borrowed ever since by a number of other producers, including Allied
war-propaganda movies shown during the 19 1940s, especially American director
Frank Capra for his war documentaries.
Story
There was no story line to Triumph of the Will. It was a documentary.
Impact
Triumph des Willens/Triump of the Will, was the most famous film made in
the NAZI era. It may well be the classic propaganda film of all time. It was a
brilliant piece of propaganda film making. It is a frightening example of
powerful film propaganda. I am not sure what the impact of the film was in
Germany. I believed that it powerfully stired young Germans. It must have also
appealed to many ordinary Germans who longed for order after the turmoil of the
Weimar Republic. The stunning imagery in the film must have enhanced the thugish
NAZI regime. The film dramatically suggests that all Germany was united behind
the now ruling NAZI party. Such was not the case in 1934, but it was a primary
goal of the NAZIs. The goal was to unify those who were willing to follow and
intimidate or eliminate those who would not. Triump of the Will showcased
the order of the new Germany showed those Germans who were not prepared to
follow what they were up against. After World War II, the film was banned in
Germany and still is. It would no doubt be an effective recruiting device for
today's neo-NAZIs.
The impact outside of Germany is better understood. It freightened Germany's
neighbors. The fervor and martial ardour displayed at this early stage of the
new NAZI state began to show Europe that a new war was coming. The power of the
film probably was a factor in the Allied decision to hold the war crimes trials
in Nuremburg.
Settings
The movie was filmed at the Sixth NAZI Party gathering in Nuremburg during
1934.
Props
The props are quite diverse. Banners, flags, and marching standards were
every where, boldly embazzoed with the swastica. The NAZI party flag had
replaced the Weimar Republic flag of black, red, gold. This was a realtively new
flag and many Germans did not morn its demise. The choice of colors was inspired
by the 1848 revolution. The flag most Germans remembered was the Imperial flag
which was black-white-red--the same colors at least as the NAZI banner. Bugles
and drums accompanied the main prop, endless rows of marching, uniformed
participants. The Hitler Youth and NAZI Strormtroopers (S.A.) were the primary
participants, but the black uniformed S.S. can occasionally be seen at this
early stage of NAZI Germany's development.
Music
Music was an important part of the film's impact. I do not know, however, the
names of the songs.
Issues
The film raises a variety of interesting issues dealing primarily with order
and obedience and the role of the individual in the state.
¡¡
From histclo.hispeed.com
<
BACK