For a movie that was intended as a hymn of praise to the glories of Aryan-ness, the historical facts made this into the Jesse Owens Show! Even the pure Nazi propaganda (which is everywhere), is gloriously filmed. This is one of the greatest visual treats of all time.
By the way, the online reviewer seems startled by the English narration. As far as I know Riefenstahl did at least two versions (one in English, one in German) and possibly more with the event commentary recorded (mostly) at the time of the event.
My favorite bit (explained in the director's autobiography "Wonderful/Awful life") occurs during a rapid montage taken from the diving. Riefenstahl intentionally inserted some of the film backwards so that the divers fly up out of the water and land on the board! I saw this segment of the movie at least 3 or 4 times before seeing the autobiography and never noticed - now, I cannot avoid noticing.
Part one is definitely more exciting than part 2 since the events in part 2 (boating, etc) do not lend themselves to "exciting" film making.
However, the visual quality of the whole work is magnificent. The shear theatricality of the Marathon (to say nothing of the Jesse Owens sequences) is amazing.
By the way, the online reviewer seems startled by the English narration. As far as I know Riefenstahl did at least two versions (one in English, one in German) and possibly more with the event commentary recorded (mostly) at the time of the event.
My favorite bit (explained in the director's autobiography "Wonderful/Awful life") occurs during a rapid montage taken from the diving. Riefenstahl intentionally inserted some of the film backwards so that the divers fly up out of the water and land on the board! I saw this segment of the movie at least 3 or 4 times before seeing the autobiography and never noticed - now, I cannot avoid noticing.
Part one is definitely more exciting than part 2 since the events in part 2 (boating, etc) do not lend themselves to "exciting" film making.
However, the visual quality of the whole work is magnificent. The shear theatricality of the Marathon (to say nothing of the Jesse Owens sequences) is amazing.