TRIUMPH OF THE WILL
© Synapse Films

Mania Grade: A+
Disc Grade: A-
Reviewed Format: DVD
Rated: R
Stars: Adolf Hitler, Martin Bormann, Josef Goebbels, Herman Goring, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, Robert Ley
Writers: Leni Riefenstahl, Walter Ruttman
Director: Leni Riefenstahl
Distributor: Synapse Films
Original Year of Release: 1935
Suggested Retail Price: $34.99
Extras: Windowboxed; German DD mono; English subtitles; audio commentary track; bonus short

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TRIUMPH OF THE WILL

Adolf Hitler, seen arriving via airplane and open car, parading through the streets to the cheers of thousands, is seen as a savior who would lead Germany out of the turmoil they had been mired in since their bitter defeat in the World War. But Hitler isn't the entire focus of the film. More than anything else, TRIUMPH OF THE WILL is a triumph of glorification for the people of Germany. We're given a loving portrait of the strong and hopeful masses, none of whom have the slightest inkling that their team spirit will soon make them cogs in a machine that will destroy them. Throughout all the operatic speeches, displays, songs and parades, the message of racial purity and military strength is barely mentioned. Pride, unity and respect for the working man are the main themes, with platoons of uniformed men carrying shovels, not guns. Is there a vein of sarcasm running beneath the surface of Riefenstahl's imagery? Should we compare the platoons of uniformed men marching stridently into the future to the workers trudging into the maw of the beast in Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS? Is there a warning in how images of smiling, playing individuals gradually give way to grim, tedious masses of uniforms marching in order? That's up to the viewer to decide.

As I watched TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, I became increasingly puzzled. I'd always had the impression that Hitler and Nazis in general were pretty nasty characters. I've seen them try to kick around movie heroes like John Wayne, Bugs Bunny and Indiana Jones. Even today, most champion debate teams most often triumph over their opponents by comparing them to Hitler. But the impression given by this film, which is almost universally praised as a cinema landmark, is overwhelmingly positive. The Nazi leaders are all very charismatic, and their audience is made up of wholesome, likeable working people that adore them. Could I have been wrong about Hitler? He took a desperate, defeated nation and built them into a world power in only a few years. One can't argue with success, and it seems impossible that Hitler could have achieved everything he did and also be the madman some would have us believe. And though he was responsible for the invasion of neighboring countries, it's reasonable to assume that he may just have been invading these countries so that he would not have to defend German's from their attacks on his home soil. Perhaps Hitler, like so many other world leaders, was merely misunderstood.

This DVD edition, which presents the film in near pristine condition, also contains Riefenstahl's 17- minute short film DAY OF FREEDOM. It uses some footage also seen in TRIUMPH, but its focus is showing the demonstrations of military might which are mostly unseen in the feature. The soldiers all appear to be extremely heroic and capable as they set up anti-aircraft guns and race around in tanks and motorcycles. They're certainly inspiring, tempting the viewer to leap up and cheer them on.

So why did the Nazis and their leader Adolph Hitler come to be so hated by people around the world? In his authoritative commentrak, historian Dr. Anthony Santoro gives us a clue. He points out that the word "Nazi" never even appears in TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, and the leaders refer to their party as Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. It may be that the indemnity of Hitler was in fact a case of mistaken identity. After all, everyone was speaking German over there (a language little known here in the USA), and Hitler's identification with the Nazis could well have been some sort of mistranslation.

In his insert essay, Roy Frumkes, the editor of Films In Review, tries to convince us that TRIUMPH OF THE WILL cannot be classified as a documentary since its imagery has obviously been altered and manipulated, but his argument is difficult to accept. Even Hitler's secret alchemical laboratories had not yet developed the computer generated special effects we take for granted today, so there was no way that what we see could have been faked. But still, questions linger. Was Hitler a hero or a villain? Was the Germany portrayed in TRIUMPH a record of fact, or some sort of utopian fantasy? Since Riefenstahl died in 2003, we'll never know the truth. But her message remains plain: the National Socialist party has some inspiring ideas that could teach the leaders of today a few things.

Copyright © 2006 Brian Thomas, author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS.
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