Release Date
Original Release
April 21, 1938
2h 7m
Olympia: Part One – Festival of the Nations (1938)
Overview
Commissioned to make a propaganda film about the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, director Leni Riefenstahl created a celebration of the human form. This first half of her two-part film opens with a renowned introduction that compares modern Olympians to classical Greek heroes, then 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.
Director
Leni Riefenstahl
Department: Acting
Cast
David Albritton
Self - High Jump, USA (uncredited)
Arvo Askola
Self - 10000 Metres, Finland (uncredited)
Jack Beresford
Self - Carries British Flag (uncredited)
Erwin Blask
Self - Hammer Throw, Germany (uncredited)
Sulo Bärlund
Self - Shot Put, Finland (uncredited)
Ibolya Csák
Self - High Jump, Hungary (uncredited)
Glenn Cunningham
Self (uncredited)
Henri de Baillet-Latour
Self - IOC, Stands with Hitler, with Hurdlers (uncredited)
Philip Edwards
Self - 800 Metres, Canada (uncredited)
Donald Finlay
Self - 110m Hurdles, Great Britain (uncredited)
