Oscar Tribute to Nazi Filmmaker Draws Ire

AP ^ | 03/02/04 | AP

[Pikamax]

Oscar Tribute to Nazi Filmmaker Draws Ire 13 minutes ago

NEW YORK - A tribute to Nazi-era filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl (news) during the 76th annual Academy Awards (news - web sites) rankled a few Oscar-watchers, who argued the propagandist shouldn't have been included.

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"Are we now giving equal time to Hitler?," Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman told the New York Post. "I don't know what could have been in the mind of the Academy to include her as one of our greatest filmmakers. There are a lot of other dead bigots who don't get honored by putting them on such a list."

During Sunday's ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (news - web sites) honored Riefenstahl in its list of filmmakers who have died recently.

"She had a greatness to her and she had amazing longevity," Sid Gannis, a Hollywood producer and Academy vice president, told the Post. "There was no special debate whatsoever in the decision to include her on the list, and I personally agree with it."

Riefenstahl was considered one of the most effective producers of Third Reich documentaries and Adolph Hitler's favorite filmmaker. She produced Nazi documentaries during the 1930s and never apologized for her association with Hitler, claiming she didn't know about the mass murders. Riefenstahl died at her home near Munich, Germany, in September at age 101.

Guests at a dinner party by Vanity Fair editor Greydon Carter "loudly hissed" during the tribute, according to the Post.

But sentiment was far from unanimous.

"Yes, Hitler was evil, but I think it was proper to have her name there," Elton John (news) told the paper. "She was a great filmmaker, and as an artist myself, I think she deserved to be there."

[Argus]

Guests at a dinner party by Vanity Fair editor Greydon Carter "loudly hissed" during the tribute, according to the Post

Actually, they were probably hissing Elia Kazan, whose picture appeared right before Riefenstahl's.

But I love it when the Hollywood types have to choke on their own politically correct categories. Leni Riefenstahl - great director, great female director, great Nazi??? female director!

[whereasandsoforth]

John Wayne Gacy's paintings were popular, too. Should the Met put up a placque?

I'm SOOOO glad I don't watch network television.

[AntiGuv]

I almost hissed at the TV in my living room when Riefenstahl was shown..

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

I knew this story wouldn't just go away. First Ben Stein in The American Spectator, now the AP...

To all the Riefenstahl apologists on Free Republic... rejoice. Elton John shares your admiration for the Nazi atiste du jour.

[Uncle Miltie]

So Abe can shift himself for Leni or Mel, but is rarely heard regarding Yasser. Huh.

As I said at Synagogue last Friday, I recommend we pay particular attention to the people who are killing us on a daily basis, and it ain't Christians.

[colorado tanker]

The Hollyweirdos were walking out and booing Elia Kazan, an anti-Communist. But they ate up the Nazi. And they have the nerve to call Mel an anti-Semite???

[sergeantdave]

Will Hollywood go on ADL's "hate group" list? Will Hollywood be "watched" for anti-semitic activity? Will the ADL admit that it gives a pass to left wing hate groups?

[Coeur de Lion]

I was surprised that Riefenstahl was honored given the "politically correct" environment so typical of Hollywood. To not honor her though, would've been more than hypocritical. Independent of any connection she may've had with the Nazi's when speaking cinematically her work was revolutionary, using techniques and methods in cinematogrphy and presentation that had no precidence and has been copied by filmmakers. Not honoring Riefenstahl is somewhat akin to not giving Richard Wagner credit for the creation of the leitmotif even though he was a notorious Antisemite, and his work was exploited by the Nazis.

[weegee]

"Yes, Hitler was evil, but I think it was proper to have her name there," Elton John (news) told the paper. "She was a great filmmaker, and as an artist myself, I think she deserved to be there."

Does this mean that Elton John would support a "Lifetime acheivement award" for Fritz Hippler, director of The Eternal Jew (aka Jud Sus 1940 version). After all this is a "significant" film because of the impact that it had on history.

[weegee]

Wagner's work was "exploited" by the Nazis. Leni Riefenstahl WAS a Nazi.

I suppose the question if she was Hitler's mistress does not matter to the Hollywood Left because it's "just sex" and a private matter.

Some directors, like Fritz Lang, refused to produce propaganda for the Nazis and fled Hitler's Germany. It's called "doing the right thing". You can borrow a technique from someone else without praising them.

[pikachu]

Hollywood and others have been 'borrowing' from "Triumph of the Will" and "Olympia" since they were released. Condeming their director for what happened later is like blaming Tim Robbins and Susan Surandon for Bill Clinton.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It depends on how useful a former Nazi is (or was). Von Braun was more useful than Riefenstahl.

[Seruzawa]

Liberal beliefs: Strong centralized govt. Rule of man over rule of law. Anti-smoking legislation. Suppression by govt of incorrect opinions. Nationalized health care. Vegetarianism.

Nazi beliefs: Strong centralized govt. Rule of man over rule of law. Anti-smoking legislation. Suppression by govt of incorrect opinions. Nationalized health care. Vegetarianism.

Hollywood has much in common with Hitler's crew. It's no surprise they would honor a propagandist since you have to go far to find a Hollywood production that doesn't engage in liberal propagandizing.