Olympia: The Leni Riefenstahl Archival Collection (1938)

Part I
The film opens up with a film tribute to the history of Greece and the games. We get to see the names of the nations at the time that the torch passes through as it reached Berlin. A much more realistic torch than today's is ran into the stadium with a few pauses to let everyone see just before the final dash to the Olympic torch at the stadium. It would be great to recapture this in the present day. Some of the tribute leads me to believe that our athletes are overly clothed for the sports.

Part II
By now watching Part I, "Festival of the nation" spoiled you. Again this film starts out with the ideal and surrounded by Leni's signature clouds. List is leading you to "field hockey, soccer bicycling, equestrian, aquatic and gymnastic events. Highlights are the Pentathlon and the Decathlon." Remember that some countries were still using horses in the military.

It may be unique reasons that brought you to this point such as Leni or photography, or interest in history, or, or, or. But once the action starts you feel that you are there and get lost in the "who will win what and how." Even being aware of the outcome does not prepare you to "not bite your nails" as you watch each athlete barley besting the next until it is over too soon. I noticed that instead of placing medals over the winners, they used laurel wreaths.
Any way you cut it, this movie is worth watching.

Not as perfect as Part One...but close. Extraordinary footage, especially given the time and circumstances surrounding its filming. Riefenstahl is a master (mistress?!) of her craft and the spirit of athleticism is wonderfully captured. A must-have for your video library.

The quality of the transfer from film to tape is not the best but still very viewable. Seems to contain all the footage of the original version. Does not single/freeze frame well on my VCR, making analysis of technique difficult. Event coverage of track and field events is very good, with the flow of the competition preserved, especially in the field events.