Starting with a long and lyrical overture, evoking the origins of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, Riefenstahl covers twenty-one athletic events in the first half of this two-part love letter to the human body and spirit, culminating with the marathon, where Jesse Owens became the first track and field athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympics.
Part two of Leni Riefenstahl's monumental examination of the 1938 Olympic Games, the cameras leave the main stadium and venture into the many halls and fields deployed for such sports as fencing, polo, cycling, and the modern pentathlon, which was won by American Glenn Morris.
A documentary covering the Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924.
A documentary on the Olympic games of ancient Greece, made during the 1924 games.
A documentary on the 1924 Olympic Game in Paris.
A documentary on the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Made by Istituto Luce, there is an understandable focus on Italian athletes, but it is the first Olympic documentary that describes the techniques of certain events.
A documentary on the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.
A documentary covering the 1948 Olympic Games in St. Moritz.
A documentary covering the 1948 Olympic Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and London, England.
A documentary covering the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway.
A first part of a documentary on the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
A second part of a documentary covering the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
Documentary footage from the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
A documentary covering the 1956 Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
A documentary covering the 1960 Winter Olympic Games in Squaw Valley, California.
Film about the 10th Olympic Games in Grenoble in 1968. Using a subjective camera, Ertaud and Languepin take the pulse of the Games, cutting out the eyes and slowing down the movement when necessary. The dominant figure at the Grenoble Winter Games is Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy, whose three gold medals matched Toni Sailer's 1956 feat. The filmmakers bet on his winning streak, and include commentary from him as he prepares for each race. Another athlete, Marielle Goitschel, is treated insightfully on screen and wins the women's slalom. Ice dancing fans will appreciate the coverage of winner Oleg Protopopov and his partner Ludmila Belousova. President Charles De Gaulle was present for the spectacular Opening Ceremony.
A documentary covering the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.
A documentary covering the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary.
A documentary covering the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
A documentary covering the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville.