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Triumph of the Will [VHS]

Description

Triumph of the Will is one of the most important films ever made. Not because it documents evil--more watchable examples are being made today. And not as a historical example of blind propaganda--those (much shorter) movies are merely laughable now. No, Riefenstahl's masterpiece--and it is a masterpiece, politics aside--combines the strengths of documentary and propaganda into a single, overwhelmingly powerful visual force.

Riefenstahl was hired by the Reich to create an eternal record of the 1934 rally at Nuremberg, and that's exactly what she does. You might not become a Nazi after watching her film, but you will understand too clearly how Germany fell under Hitler's spell. The early crowd scenes remind one of nothing so much as Beatles concert footage (if only their fans were so well behaved!).

Like the fascists it monumentalizes, Triumph of the Will overlooks its own weaknesses--at nearly two hours, the speeches tend to drone on, and the repeated visual motifs are a little over-hypnotic, especially for modern viewers. But the occasional iconic vista (banners lining the streets of Nuremberg, Hitler parting a sea of 200,000 party members standing at attention) will electrify anyone into wakefulness. --Grant Balfour

Triumph of the Will is one of the most important films ever made. Not because it documents evil--more watchable examples are being made today. And not as a historical example of blind propaganda--those (much shorter) movies are merely laughable now. No, Riefenstahl's masterpiece--and it is a masterpiece, politics aside--combines the strengths of documentary and propaganda into a single, overwhelmingly powerful visual force. Riefenstahl was hired by the Reich to create an eternal record of the 1934 rally at Nuremberg, and that's exactly what she does. You might not become a Nazi after watching her film, but you will understand too clearly how Germany fell under Hitler's spell. The early crowd scenes remind one of nothing so much as Beatles concert footage (if only their fans were so well behaved!). Like the fascists it monumentalizes, Triumph of the Will overlooks its own weaknesses--at nearly two hours, the speeches tend to drone on, and the repeated visual motifs are a little over-hypnotic, especially for modern viewers. But the occasional iconic vista (banners lining the streets of Nuremberg, Hitler parting a sea of 200,000 party members standing at attention) will electrify anyone into wakefulness. --Grant Balfour

Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-07-28
Summary: "Good print and presentation of notorious propaganda piece"

(In case you think you're experiencing deja vu, this is a cut-down version of my reply to a previous reviewer)

This DVD is a valuable document to show how an ultra-nationalistic regime plays on xenophobia and scapegoating and mixes it all up with love-of-country. Times of economic downturn (like the 30s and today) always make people more susceptible to extremist thought and paranoia.
The print is very good and the commentary is excellent. It's interesting to find out how the filming of this 'spontaneous' event was so meticulously staged. Hitler's entrance into the city was re-staged and shot a couple of times because the first entrance was not considered satisfactory. There are several other examples of re-shoots and re-staging throughout the film.
While most of the Nazi functionaries are pretty snooze-worthy it's fascinating to see how Hitler constructed the ebb and flow of his speeches. Excerpts commonly show him in full-rant mode but he usually started quietly and did a slow build. This DVD shows how the Nazis manipulated the basest emotions by couching their message in patriotism and what all humans consider 'family values' (love for our children and concern for their welfare). Germans were not unique in falling for this since people are still doing it all over the world every day. This is NOT a reference to our own current or recent political squabbles. To compare any political disagreement between Democrats and Republicans (or Tory & Labour or Greens & Christian Democrats, etc.) to Nazi-ism, as some do freely, is an insult to the victims of Nazi persecution and the WWII war-dead.

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Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2010-06-01
Summary: "A true horror movie (and a blueprint for Obama's propaganda machine)"

"Triumph of the Will" is simply terrifying for many reasons, not the least of which is its applicability to modern America. This film is basically a training manual for the Obama administration's propaganda machine. If you doubt that claim, take this test: In Hitler's speech, replace the word "Jews" with "Tea Party," and suddenly Hitler sounds like a Democratic Party spokesman and/or MSNBC commentator. I can't think of a horror movie that's more frightening.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-05-01
Summary: "Flawless filmmaking on a deeply flawed subject"

This review is for the Synapse Special Edition.

This is probably the greatest film ever made. Its only real competition may be Citizen Kane (Two-Disc Special Edition)and The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection).

Let's get this out of the way - the choice of subject matter (promoting Nazis) for the greatest film ever made is, regrettable, to say the least - but that in no way tarnishes its artistic greatness or can deny its impact. This film transcends any subject matter. In case you don't know, this is a propaganda film for the Third Reich and shows various events and speeches, and the German cityscape, people, and countryside. It's an odd movie and very expressionistic. Not what you'd normally associate with a propaganda film.

It is one of those rare films that resounds throughout artistically. It does so in a truly epic fashion. It's every bit as operatic as Wagner. It fuses audio and video in a way never seen before and rarely seen since. Just watch the opening descent sequence. It's jaw dropping. The music and the visuals are still inspiring. It conjures the descent of a god from heaven. It is truly the work of a master of the craft.

Then watch the longshots. There aren't ANY cameras visible. Also, the staging (the films' speeches are almost entirely staged) of the speeches and the marches is mesmerizing (and obviously inspired several Star Wars scenes, btw like the throne room, etc). You can see visual quotes from this movie in hundreds, perhaps thousands of other films, a testament to its enduring filmic legacy.

Features on this DVD include a commentary by a history professor, who serves to put everything in the proper historical perspective. It's pretty interesting if you're intrigued by WWII history or propaganda.

The windowboxing, I honestly do not like very much, I preferred the full frame. I'm assuming the original was Academy 1.37:1 and this was done to avoid cropping to 1.33:1. Personally I find it profoundly more annoying to look at so much black space, but some purists obviously find this to be important. If you are one of them, take note. If you're not, this is something that may bother you about this edition. The quality of the film transfer is quite good, though.

An absolute must see for any student of film. For cultural historians, ideally seen paired with Capra's series of Allied propaganda films Why We Fight.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-03-23
Summary: "Absolutely essential"

This film brings the early Nazi years to life and shows the enthusiasm of party members for their movement. It is an essential archive of 1930's Germany.

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Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-03-07
Summary: "Overrated filmmaking"

I failed miserably to appreciate Riefenstahl's great art of filmmaking. Should I have given one star to myself then? I don't think so, because I didn't fail to appreciate, for instance, "M", 1931 film by Fritz Lang, his Metropolis (1927), or, say, Russian films Okraina (1933) and Bespridannitsa (1937), or Japanese A Story of Floating Weeds by Ozu, as well as many other films produced before 1940.

As art of propaganda "Triumph Of The Will" does not do its work well either. In the first half, where Riefenstahl shows famous Nazi torch parades, one can barely see what's happening on screen. It looks more like not so large a forest fire than an organized night event with torches. Much more smoke than fire can be seen. The second half of the film is plain boring, with countless militray and paramilitary units marching and marching and marching through the streets and squares of Nuremberg.

As to the content - I tried to watch this film without any prejudice, but nevertheless found all participants, from the lowest to the highest rank, rather uninspiring.

Aesthetics of the Nazi party congress look cheap and tastless in the film. I know that Hitler was able to consolidate the nation, brought to unspeakable misery by the countries which prevailed in the First World War, but I could not find in this film any indication of his famous oratorial skills. The presentation of the Labor Front units for the Führer went on and on, and I could not see why Riefenstahl wanted to spend so much of film time on it.

I saw parts of Riefenstahl's Olympia - wasn't impressed either.