Quite simply, What was the film, "Triumph of the Will' about?

The film is a documentary of the Nazi's Nuremburg Rally of 1934. According to one source, "Triumph of Will was an impressive piece of artistic propaganda, glorifying Hitler and portraying the Nazi party as a unified, powerful movement that had rejuvenated the nation" (Bendersky 128).

(Google Images)

Was the film originally intended to be a propaganda film?

No, Hitler and the Nazi leadership commissioned Riefenstahl to film the rally. The film has been described as, "the prototype for a political film used for propaganda purposes" (Marcus 84).

Why was the Nazi Rally held in Nuremburg?

"For the Nazis, the heart of their movement was the magnificent medieval city of Nuremburg, symbolizing the link between Germany's Gothic past and it's Nazi future" (History Place, 1).

Who created this film?

Under Adolf Hitler's order, the Nazi Propaganda Ministry commissioned Leni Riefenstahl, a well known and award winning German filmaker, whom Hitler admired, to make the film. (Hinton 19-20).

Was Riefenstahl a member of the Nazi Party?

No, Riefenstahl was never actually a member of the Nazi Party. Though she was held and detained after the war, she was never charged, but her image suffered a great deal. She is quoted as saying, "I will never get rid of the shadows of the past" (Marcus, 85).

What set this film apart from previous Nazi films of the era?

"Riefenstahl's use of moving cameras, telephoto lenses, distorted perspectives and aerial photography captivated audiences. Her revolutionary approaches towards music and cinematography remain unquestioned" (Economist). In addition, it was a film that had the full support of the party, the Propaganda Ministry and of course, Hitler himself. (dasblauelicht).

Even though "Triumph of the Will" was not intended to be a propaganda film, why was it used as one?

The Nazi Party saw film as a way to reach a large amount of people with their political and cultural views. To them, "cinema was unexcelled in its ability to play upon the emotions" (Welch, 65).

Is the film still available to watch today?

Yes, included is a link that shows a clip from the film. You will see evidence of the triumphant music used in the opening credits and the awe inspiring shots of Hitler's arrival in Nuremburg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddVfcQx-v4



(Google Images-Triumph of the Will)

Is it true that music also played a large role in the film?

Yes, in addition to its praised film style, the music of the film was also praised as an important element of the film's success. According to once source, "The film builds on rhythmic, visual and thematic continuites between shots that, individually, are framed to convey a sense of granduer. The music emphasises the granduer and gives it resonance" (Morgan, 7).

What are some examples of this filming style?

This scene features one of many filming techniques used by Riefenstahl to portray Hitler.

(History Place - Triumph of Hitler, 3)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Works Cited

Works Cited

Bendersky, Joseph W., and Joseph W. Bendersky . A Concise History of Nazi Germany / Joseph W. Bendersky. Vol. 3rd ed. Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.

Used the InfoHawk Catalog. Key Terms: Nazi Cinema. Keyword Anywhere. Source is a book about the key moments in the Nazi Regime. Bendersky is a published author and a published book is a credible source.

Hinton, David B.,. The Films of Leni Riefenstahl / David B. Hinton. Vol. 3rd ed. Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2000.

Used the InfoHawk Catalog. Key Terms: Riefenstahl and Triumph of the Will. Advanced Search, Keywords Anywhere. Source is a book, outlining the work of Riefenstahl. It is credible source that analyzes her work and Hinton provides input from Riefenstahl herself.

"Hitler's Friend; Leni Riefenstahl." The Economist March 10 2007.

Used the Lexis Nexis Database. Key Words: Riefenstahl/Triumph of the Will. Source is a from a popular magazine, The Economist a credible source with a long standing history.

Marcus, Alan. "Reappraising Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will." Film Studies 4.0 (2004): 75-86.

Used Academic Elite Database. Key words: Riefenstahl/Triumph of the Will. Source is an scholarly article from a trade magazine. A credible publication with a scholarly reviewed author.

Morgan, Ben. "Music in Nazi Film: How Different is Triumph of the Will?" Studies in European Cinema 3.1 (2006): 37-53.

Used the Academic Elite Database. Key Words: Nazi Film/Triumph of the Will. Source is a scholarly article from a trade journal. An analyzation of the film about the themes represented in the music of the film, credible source from a credible trade publication and scholarly author.

Riefenstahl, Leni, et al. Triumph of the Will [Videorecording] = Triumph Des Willens : Das Dokument Vom Reichsparteitag 1934 / Gestaltet Von Leni Riefenstahl. Vol. Special ed. Novi, MI : Synapse Films, 2006.

Used InfoHawk Catalog. Key Words: Triumph of the Will. Basic Search used. The film in its entirety, the actual work of Riefenstahl. Used youtube link for use in the blog.

"Triumph of the Will." The Triumph of Hitler. 2001.The History Place. Dec 3 2009. <http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/triumph/tr-will.htm>.

Searched Google. Key words: Triumph of the Will. Source is an educational website for students. Sites published works and is credible source for a brief history on the subject and other historical matters. No specific author cited, but information is accurate compared to other sources.

"Triumph des Willens." Das Blaue Licht: The Art of Leni Rifenstahl. Dec 2 2009. <http://www.dasblauelicht.net/new_page_2.htm>.

Searched Google. Key Words: Riefenstahl/ Triumph of the Will. Site gives overviews and analyzation of the work of Riefenstahl. No specific author cited but is endorsed by the Riefenstahl estate as a credible source of information.

Welch, David. Nazi Propaganda : The Power and the Limitations. London : Totowa, N.J. : Croom Helm ; Barnes & Noble Books, 1983.

Used InfoHawk Catalog. Key Words: Nazi Propaganda/Truimph of the Will. Used advanced search option. Source is a book, Welch is a well published author with numerous books published on the subject of Nazi cinema and propaganda.
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