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Triumph of the Will

Play trailer Poster for Triumph of the Will 1935 1h 50m Documentary History Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl's controversial masterwork is an artful work of propaganda showcasing German chancellor and Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally. Edited from over 60 hours' worth of raw footage shot over the course of the rally's four days, the film is visually remarkable in the way it captures the event's enormous scale. Riefenstahl's portentous filming from low angles (to make the small-framed Hitler look imposing and majestic) is often copied and parodied.

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Critics Consensus

Triumph of the Will is impossible to separate from its repugnant political context -- and impossible to deny as a powerfully made piece of cinematic propaganda.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times That Triumph of the Will is a great propaganda film, there is no doubt, and various surveys have named it so. But I doubt that anyone not already a Nazi could be swayed by it. Rated: 4/4 Feb 17, 2016 Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine Making a supreme effort to put aside the socio-ethical considerations this is, in purely cinematic terms, incredible filmmaking. Rated: 5/5 Feb 17, 2016 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Nazis or no, two hours of marching and speechifying is pretty damn dull; maybe this is what they mean by "the banality of evil." Feb 17, 2016 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault As a document of the allure of demonic power, it must be seen and shuddered at. Nov 23, 2022 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia I don't know if it is a major work of documentary cinema, but of course, Riefenstahl frames it with a formal virtuosity that manages to captivate me for its compositional care, despite the reprehensible propaganda diatribes. Full review in Spanish Rated: 7/10 Apr 22, 2022 Full Review David Keyes Cinemaphile.org The movie is the embodiment of an evil and destructive philosophy, but it must remain accessible for both new filmmakers and students of history, especially if it inspires them to contemplate the moral limits of their respective fields. Mar 14, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sachin E I showed this to my cat yesterday. Today he left home to invade Pawland. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/24 Full Review Leaburn O Important historical document that makes you wonder how on earth a nation can collectively turn into sheep, following a bizarre and frankly boring cult leader. I had to fast forward through much of the pageantry and marching because this is one deathly dull film, so I'm not recommending unless you have an interest in seeing just how weird Germans were back in the day. Thankfully, they all seem to have sobered up now. Watched it on YouTube. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/24 Full Review Deke P Great Nazi propaganda film. My 2 1/2 Rt star rating is cuz I agree with most that it was great and stirring, so that would have been 5 stars, but hate Nazis so that would be Zero stars, so compromise at 2 1/2. But it way more than 'passed the time'. I saw it when it was shown at college. I wonder it colleges still allow it today? Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review John R This was really boring. Even if I was a Nazi, I still might find this movie boring. Long parades, lots of speeches and some close ups of the Aryan youth of the day. Not very inspiring. I'm totally willing to admit that I just don't get what made this work. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member I do not support Nazism but that does not mean I can't praise this films production values. Triumph of Will is probably the best propaganda films if all time. It's still holds up well in terms of film history. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/25/22 Full Review Audience Member The greatest documentary ever made. Riefenstahl's art direction is immaculate. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl's controversial masterwork is an artful work of propaganda showcasing German chancellor and Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally. Edited from over 60 hours' worth of raw footage shot over the course of the rally's four days, the film is visually remarkable in the way it captures the event's enormous scale. Riefenstahl's portentous filming from low angles (to make the small-framed Hitler look imposing and majestic) is often copied and parodied.
Director
Leni Riefenstahl
Producer
Leni Riefenstahl
Screenwriter
Leni Riefenstahl, Eberhard Taubert
Genre
Documentary, History, Drama, War
Original Language
German
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 4, 2012
Runtime
1h 50m
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