Having directed and acted in many films, Leni Riefenstahl has become a major figure of the Nazi film industry. Her most well-known film Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens, 1935) is still considered the greatest propaganda film of all time. While Riefenstahl claims that the film is a documentary and based on “history”. Susan Sontag 's response is that the film it is seen as a portrayal of a fascist society. A Nazi propaganda tool and not necessarily intended as a fascist viewpoint. Sontag reasons that the film techniques, and the relationship between Leni Riefenstahl and the Nazi leadership as well as the consistent illustration of fascist themes found in the film establishes that Triumph of the Will is fascist and intended to promote and preserve the Nazi ideology.
During the rise of power of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party 's in the 1930 's, Leni Riefenstahl became a household name as a film director, her claim to fame was putting a public face to Hitler. During this time period, it was very rare for the public to know what their leader looked like, and with this film it allowed many of the Germans to finally get to see who they elected into power. Hitler’s goal was the complete eradication of the Jewish peoples, in addition he wanted to spread his ideology and power across Europe. In order to achieve this goal, Hitler needed the support of all of the German citizens. Which lead to Hitler commissioning, Leni Riefenstahl to direct a film that would later be dubbed the
Leni Riefenstahl was one of the most revolutionary and certainly most controversial filmmakers of the early twentieth century. The lasting influence of her innovative filmmaking techniques on twentieth century cinema is undisputed by scholars throughout history, but the exact nature of her work is surrounded by ongoing controversy. Riefenstahl’s production of the feature films “Triumph of the Will” (Source 3) and “Olympia” (Source 1) have left a lasting imprint on history; these films established Riefenstahl’s influential career as a film director under the years of the Nazi regime. Although these films are attributed by scholars and critics to be Riefenstahl’s greatest achievements they are also considered to be her greatest fault, for
Throughout 1939 the Nazis became popular, but not to everyone. The ideal image of a Nazi was to promote German pride and furthermore expressed dissatisfaction towards the Treaty of Versailles. One of the Nazis goals were to help spread anti-Semitism and furthermore recreate their image after the loss in WWI. Adolf Hitler had many and disappointments in his childhood years that influenced the person he became during the Holocaust. Hitler wasn’t always the person whom he was that we now remember.
As the film opened in Germany and around the world it became obvious that Riefenstahl had achieved overall success, beyond all expectations. In America, specifically New York it was called “flawless” and “a highly fascinating fantasy”. The Blue Light was even awarded a silver medal at the first Venice Biennale that year. Riefenstahl still saw herself primarily as an actress, but after her new found success, expected to continue filmmaking as a career. If The Blue Light had not influenced her career path she would not have reached her prominence with her films such as Triumph of the Will and Olympia to come. Riefenstahl did not only gain wider international fame, she also gained the admiration and support of Adolf Hitler. According to Audrey Salkeld, “Hitler was already an admirer of hers, having been won over by her first dance of fluttering veils in her first movie.......From then on, he had followed her career with interest, The Blue Light in particular catching his imagination.” Indeed the success of The Blue Light was one of the determining influences on Riefenstahl’s rise to prominence as she states, “This film was pivotal in my life, not so much because it was my first successful effort as a producer and director, but because Hitler was so fascinated by this film that he insisted I make a documentary about the Party rally in Nuremberg. The result was Triumph of
Although presumptions began to arise, Riefenstahl stated that Triumph of the Will was clearly a factual documentary and stated: “Not a single scene is staged…It is history, pure history” and that she simply filmed what she saw. Susan Sontag’s response in her dissertation Fascinating Fascism concluded that the film is fascist propaganda promoting Nazi ideology but itself is not a about fascism . Sontag was right to the title the film was fascist due to Riefenstahl’s extreme forthright about her infatuation with Hitler. In an interview with Detroit news Riefenstahl stated: “To me Hitler is the greatest man who ever lived. He is really faultless, so simple yet so filled with ,manly power... He is really beautiful,
Triumph of the Will is a documentary of the Nazi Party conference in 1934 in Nuremberg. From the first frame of the film, Riefenstahl captures every essence of how worshiped Hitler
A Nazi sympathiser is referred to be someone who is a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and agrees with opinion, and ideology. Since the end of World War II many have debated whether Leni Riefenstahl was truly a Nazi sympathiser, a propagandist, or purely an artist. Through the analyses of the evidence gathered in this case it is clear that Riefenstahl was not a Nazi sympathizer; she purely did what she had to do to survive, just as every other citizen whom lived through Nazi regime period did. Paragraph 1 Leni Riefenstahl was very passionate about all hobbies and career paths she under took.
In order for Adolf Hitler to become successful, he knew that he had to spread Nazism to the far corners of the world. He accomplished this to some extent by using propaganda. “Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, Hitler established a Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda headed by Joseph Goebbels” (“Nazi Propaganda”). Goebbels was the master propagandist and orator to whom Hitler gave the responsibility of spreading the favorable image of the Nazi regime. The Nazis took control of all means of entertainment in order to spread their beliefs. “The ministry’s aim was to ensure that the Nazi message was successfully communicated through art, music, theater, films, books, radio, educational materials, and the press” (“Nazi Propaganda). The main target of the propaganda was the Jewish race. Goebbels’ “propaganda campaigns created
Leni Riefenstahl, arguably the most renowned female film-maker of all time, and unarguably the most influential, created a number of films that were lauded across the world for technique, innovation and beauty. Leni first entered the world of film making as a dancer and an actress after finding acclaimed director Dr Arnold Fanck. She convinced Fanck of her acting ability and secured a role in one of his films, shortly afterwards she was commissioned by Fanck to make her own films. Under Dr Fanck’s wing she was taught how to go about creating her first feature and with his help she made the film ‘The Blue Light’ - a critical success. It was this film that attracted the attention of Adolf Hitler, who then invited her for a meeting with the intention of having her make what would be known as ‘the ultimate propaganda film’.
Without propaganda the Nazi would not have gotten as far or as powerful as they were. One powerful piece of work was the Nazi film Jud Süß. This is a Nazi propaganda film was released on September 24, 1940 by a Nazi production company named Terra Filmkunst under the order of Joseph Goebbels. For a lot of people this is considered to be one of the most anti-Semitic films that the Nazi’s have ever put into production. I will be going over the overall message of the film and how they go about being anti-Semitic and how powerful this movie actually was for the Nazi party. What went in to this movie and what happened to the actors after the war was over and what was the true power of this anti-Semitic film are a few questions that will be
Through the eyes of an ordinary German in 1935, ‘Triumph of the Will’ would almost certainly instill a great sense of pride as well as a hopeful feeling for the future of Germany. One would certainly be impressed by Hitler’s speeches, as Hitler was a master at appealing to one’s emotion. Hitler’s speeches dug deep into the emotional core of one viewing the film, or attending those rallies and that is shown by the cheers and shouts that he would evoke from the people whenever he spoke. Furthermore, his speeches would allow an ordinary German to feel hope for a new and better Germany under Hitler’s rule, this was crucial. considering the very low and chaotic times that
Adolf Hitler was a man who, in the late 1930's - mid 1940's made a significant mark on history. The Holocaust took place in Germany and Eastern Europe and because of Adolf Hitler nearly 6 million Jews were executed in concentration camps. In 1929 Hitler chose Josef Goebbels as his minister of propaganda. Goebbels goal was to "nazify" the art and culture of Germany. The Nazis spent a lot of money on posters and newspapers, then once they came to power their use of propaganda came into greater affect. Goebbels orchestrated 'rallies' to build support of the propaganda. Hitler used many systems to implement Holocaust including: Propaganda, the relocation of people to the Ghettos, the creation of laws to strip people of their rights, and the use of technology to increase the order of the machinery of genocide.
Adolph Hitler wanted the 1936 Berlin Olympics to be a large scale national spectacle. So that the rest of the world could see the glory of Nazi Germany, he hired film producer Leni
F. M. Cornford, in 1922, described propaganda as "that branch of the art which consists in very nearly deceiving your friends without quite deceiving your enemies. “The Triumph of the Will”, a nazi propaganda movie by Leni Riefenstahal was a better piece of propaganda film then the American propaganda film “Why We Fight” for a few reasons. The first being that Why We Fight indulge the viewer what they should be feeling and thinking about the war with the use of fear tactics and manipulated facts about the Axis power. However, in contrast the Triumph of the Will shape the viewer in such a way that the viewer was made to think that they themselves were coming up with their own conclusions. One form of confusion the Triumph of the Will uses is
Hitler was a German who first obtained power in January 1933 when he became chancellor of Germany. His gift was that he was highly persuasive speaker. He easily appeared to the Germans who at the time was facing many hardships. Hitler knew that in order to unite the people, they needed a common enemy. In this case, it was the Jews. With a united front and an enemy, Hitler’s mass extermination of Jews
Which shows the desire and need to use the film industry as a way to promote the Nazi ideology. They put the money and effort into the film industry to ensure from a propaganda perspective that Germany was made great