This is a documentary from the infamous German filmmaker/actress Leni Riefenstahl. Unlike her slobbery love letter to Hitler ("Triumph of the Will"), "Olympia Part One" and "Olympia Part Two" are surprisingly apolitical as well as exceptionally well made--both they don't make for the best viewing today.The film begins with its most famous scenes--nude actors doing various exercises. They are meant to be the ideals of beauty today--Germanic descendants of the original Greek athletes. Aside from a tiny loincloth covering the men, it's all nude--but not at all salacious. Instead, it comes off like an art film--and is AMAZINGLY artistic in style. You can tell Riefenstahl really made this project a labor of love with the camera-work and brilliant editing. This is why it took two years for the films to make it to German theaters--projects that were WAY overdue.What follows next is a straight retelling of the Berlin Olympics of 1936. The opening ceremonies are shown as are the track & field events--the rest of the events are shown in Part Two. While you do see several images of Hitler on screen and a few Germans in uniforms, these really were unavoidable considering this WAS Nazi Germany and Hitler was the head of state. But, victories by non-Germans and even Black-Americans are given the same screen time as those of Aryans--which really surprised me. This is especially surprising since the Germans actually won the most medals--but in watching the film you might just as soon have assumed the Americans did.On the downside, the film is dry--very dry. The narration is minimal--probably to make the film easier to market abroad. It really will bore the modern viewer to see most of these events. The only upside of this largest portion of the film is that occasionally the camera-work is absolutely brilliant--and better looking than more recent Olympic documentaries. The sum total effect is a film with great scenes and some amazing camera-work BUT will have LOTS of slow portions that haven't aged well because aside from Jesse Owens, you won't recognize anyone! Worth seeing once.

Instead of Triumph of the Will there's surprisingly little politics and propaganda going on in this first part of Riefenstahl's Olympia. Riefenstahl is documenting the athletics in the Olympic Stadium, and yes, Hitler is there, but that's about it. Sure, the German athletes are the best and heroic, and there's a piece in there when the commentator says something like 'the best white European runners against the black giants', but that's about it.Jesse Owens was the star of this Olympics in many ways, and Riefenstahl isn't reluctant to show his big smiles after winning yet another gold medal. Although a lot can be frowned upon in Germany in those days, 'Olympia' isn't as charged as many people believe it to be.Having said that, this first part of Olympia is basically just showing us who won the medals in the Olympic Stadium, and although some of the images are great and there's a beautiful use of slow-motion, it's not really that interesting...6/10.

I've read that this film, which portrays human beauty and athletic success, serves to justify euthanasia of the weak and infirm. If so, does not Da Vinci's David do the same?My belief is that without the historical context, there would not be a single viewer who would suggest that this is propaganda fostered to support the atrocities of the Nazi Regime. As another reviewer suggests: this is no better than an NFL highlight film.Actually, this is better than an NFL highlight film. Highlight films focus only on isolated moments of peak action. Do most of us prefer to just see the winning basket or the last touchdown? It's the game, the show, the story which gives us pleasure - not just the ending or spectacular feat.The beauty of this film and its companion lies in its crafting. The lighting, the camera angles, the sequencing, the pace - everything is blended to produce a thing of beauty. It's like the chef who creates a feast with the same ingredients we manage to render a barely palatable meal. Leni produces a feast - a beautiful feast!

I must admit I don't get it. Reviewers and commenters lavish praise on the brilliant cinematography employed by Ms. Reifenstahl in filming the 1936 Olympics. She is supposed to have poured years of her life into her two-part documentary (this film is part one). Nowadays the NFL puts out weekly and yearly highlight films, and the only difference I see is that one is black and white, the other in colour. For me this is standard documentary, and that's all. My recommendation is that if you do not consider yourself a highbrow film connoisseur or are not interested in the 1936 Olympics this movie may bore you.