[CatoRenasci]

Leni Riefenstahl was a very great film director, whose work served an evil regime. Likewise, the great Russian director Sergei Eisenstein's work served the evil Soviet regime. His work is praised, hers less so.

Those who knew Riefenstahl with whom I am acquainted alwasy maintained she wasn't really a Nazi, and I think she has had something of a bad rap.

The full version of Triumph of the Will in German is still, with her Olympia among the very greatest of films.

It's curious that some of the greatest early films, still revered to day, were propaganda pieces: Birth of a Nation, Triumph of the Will, Battleship Potemkin, Grand Illusion, The Great Dictator.

[ffusco]

Leni was an amoral artist who happily produced films for her hero, Adolf. While she was skilled at her craft, she was also completely unable to recognize her pact with evil ( much like Speer, the architect for the regime)

They should have hung that Nazi b*tch 60 years ago.

[ffusco]

Soviet Film director Sergei Eisenstein's work is praised because American "intellectuals" gave the Soviets a pass. No one discusses the Soviet genocide of hundreds of millions. This set of blinders persists: Nazism was almost identical to Stalinism.

[twigs]

Excellent summary. I agree with you.

[OESY]

You have some excellent posts (#8, 26, 27). What is fascinating to me is that the so-called propaganda piece, the film Olympia about the 1936 games, is far more even-handed (read, less nationalistic) than the coverage of today's Olympics by our own networks. Leni has taken some rather negative hits which she does not deserve. Those throwing stones should view her films first.

[montag813]

The full version of Triumph of the Will in German is still, with her Olympia among the very greatest of films.

She was one of the greatest directors who ever lived. "Olympia" was a masterpiece, way above anything which was being produced in Hollywood, and revolutionized the filming of sports. I agree with others that it is unfair that she is reviled and Sergei Eisenstein is revered and studied in film classes to this day.

[montag813]

The full version of Triumph of the Will in German is still, with her Olympia among the very greatest of films.

She was one of the greatest directors who ever lived. "Olympia" was a masterpiece, way above anything which was being produced in Hollywood, and revolutionized the filming of sports. I agree with others that it is unfair that she is reviled and Sergei Eisenstein is revered and studied in film classes to this day.

[DAPFE8900]

Her filming style was very ahead of the time..>And she used color film at a time when it was not being used...So if she was or was not a nazi is a after thought to her achievments!