No your kidding and it has not gotten worse America is a perfect place with golden streets not a state that uses slave labor via prison or wages that per tenement would be treasonous elsewhere. I mean it is not about greed control or playing on the feelings of populous and we all know only two parties are right and it was not supported by hitler in his 1920s 32 parties speech. How dare you! I mean all are wars are justified and if your too big to fail than nothing bad happens and freedom of speech is not under fire to the point where I could be hung for this likely in the future.
You're the best commentator on cinematic history on TH-cam. In addition, you provide clear explanations whenever you're discussing historical context of a film. Great job!
This guys stresses how much the film is not really groundbreaking in terms of propaganda but in fact it really is, not just for propaganda but for cinema over all. It used new and dynamic camera angles and camera use to tell a really effective story and the way it was edited is just genius.
It didn't. All the techniques used had previously existed, the only "groundbreaking" part of it was scale and budget so the shots look new to the layman but all had been done before just on a smaller scale. The Nazis got film reviewers at the time to say this, that is was new stuff all around and the myth has persisted today. There are tons of thesis you can find easily that go into it online. I used to believe this too because it's repeated all the time and fell into the trap, but Nazi propaganda has reach even into today and it's been disproved.
@@PotentialHistory If you say so. But nontheless it is an excellent piece of cinema that should not be underestimated. Even if the techniques existed they are still used in brilliant ways in this film.
In 2080, people will still be accusing the Nazi Party of 1920s to 1945 of doing stuff because they think the party still exists. The American democrats are very paranoid about them. Imagine acting like this over Genghis Khan.
Wow, this was such a well constructed video essay. Helping us all to expand our knowledge of history and illuminating the overwhelming power of propaganda. Great video!
Its interesting that if we talk about movies with a pro-white message, its considered propaganda. If we talk about movies with a anti-white patriarchy message, its considered progressive. The former is considered evil and toxic, while the latter, which frankly makes up about 95% of Hollywood productions, is considered brave and enlightening.
@@onehundredyearsofcinema I looked at Triumph of the Will and It Is Shit. Freak ma son Cult HolyShitWood Scripted Staged Shows Ranting and Rambling Gar Barge.
I remember the first time I actually watched Triumph, I was pretty shocked by how much of the film initially appeared to be like, totally apolitical. So many scenes of German soldiers just… being happy and well-fed, with good shoes and clothes that aren’t falling apart and basic luxuries like that. Germany was just coming out of this epic economic depression, and those scenes always struck me as by far the most powerful in the film.
Was actually expecting either Top Hat , Bride of Frankenstein or The 39 steps . But I am pleasantly suprised . Keep up the good work , I enjoy quality content like this ;D
It is indeed , it's also a good example as an early example of building a cinematic universe . But I love your unpredictability , you are truly one of the best channels out there and never miss to deliver great content.
one thing to say is that in the old greece there never was democracy, pls dont define elected systems as democratics systems... Second : Freedom of democracy is delicate because in its core Democracy is the tyranny of the majority... I dont Think Platoon or whatever he is called in English has the same definiton of "Democracy" when he talks about the ideal city with its political system´... Thank you for the effort invested in your videos...
I think this critique is more than a tad sour grapes. The critique seeks to tear down the film both as a piece of well-crafted propaganda, and as a documentary about a huge public event. It dismisses Triumph of the WiIl as second rate and derivative, but fails to account for the film's enormous power, which would seem to contradict the idea of mediocrity. It criticises it for not mentioning the bloodshed and terror on which the Nazi Party was founded, while at the same time, categorising it as a "propaganda" film rather that a documentary. It would be a pretty piss poor propaganda film that weakened its own message in that way. You can't have it both ways. It criticises Riefenstahl herself for arranging sets and constructing bridges to suit her cinematic intent, not mentioning that that very care about detail is what makes the film, indeed, any film, a success.He criticises the film in general for leaving out what he sees as important facts, not seeming to realise that any film, or book, or painting, or any work of art, is precisely defined by what it leaves out. In fact, "Triumph" is a masterpiece, whether you take it as a propaganda film, or as a documentary, realising that the subject of that documentary was the Rallies, not the history behind them. The most interesting thing about this presentation, is the look at propaganda films of the past. It seems to have wholly missed the point about Triumph of the Will itself.
Exactly. Why on earth would this film address the atrocities committed by the Nazi government when its entire purpose was to galvanize the people? Just because it was in support of a morally terrible cause doesn't mean it can't be technically meritous.
In Aesop’s fable, the fox, after trying unsuccessfully to reach some grapes hanging high over his head, decides that the grapes were probably sour and unappealing rather than admit his defeat. The expression means the same thing, so I don’t think it works in your comment.
The focus of this documentary was to demonstrate how film has been used as propaganda, centering on *Triumph of the Will* as such. This documentary shares that the regime implemented total media control-a point that is historically accurate. The purpose of *Triumph of the Will* was to brainwash the people. An example that today’s populous can relate: Cable News Media (the news entertainment industry.) In my observation, media continues the plight to sway the minds of the people toward each side’s end goal. What most watching don’t realize is that they are two sides to the same coin-their political attempt to control the minds of the people. (The elite believe that they must think for the people because common people aren’t intelligent enough to think for themselves.) Had the focus of this documentary been to view film for its cinematic prowess, then one might view your comment as somewhat viable; however, it was not. A logical fallacy attempts to deflect from the topic at hand by persuading the audience using an error in reasoning. Your argument commits a straw man logical fallacy. You’re not alone! Both sides of most of today’s prominent media outlets commit this fallacy, among others, nearly every day. That is why they call their programs “news entertainment” and NOT the News.
Just discovered your channel, really good content! I'm writing a paper on Leni Riefenstahl and her films rn and this is gave me a ton of knowledge! It's gonna be hard not to ditch the paper and watch more vids
This is excellent and accurate - your political history is accurate as is your film history and analysis. This channel is a treasure and I just subscribed.
What gave you the idea that the allies were democratic? The marshall plan ensured 2 continents were under the military brutality of the USA, Britain had enslaved and was committing genocides in every continent on earth. If anything the Nazis did to Europe what Britain was doing to the rest of the world
Why do you insist on denying the role that the German people themselves played in making this possible? Throughout the video, you make claims about the staged aspects of the film... yet those thousand of people were not forced to be there with smiles on their faces, were they? It is irresponsible to dismiss the pathology of the mob without providing any evidence of their coercion. You do not provide any here. You imply quite simply that the Germans pictured in this film are merely actors, as do many people who in my estimation misunderstand the role of that mechanism in Hitler's rise to power. It's worth reflecting on.
If you look back through history of the formation of the nazi's, it started as a revolution to redistribute wealth to the poor. The economy shit the bed, and many people were laid off, and dying in the streets in hunger. The nazi party rebuilt the wealth of the country, bringing prosperity to the people. Roads and towns lined with clean beautiful flags, bronze and gold statues, plentiful food, work, and housing. People became hypnotized and starstruck with what the nazi party has brought back to their community. From there, the propaganda continued to make wild claims and accusations, and people blindly followed, because they came from poverty, and prospered because of the nazi party.
@@TickyTack23 All true. That is a great example of why the study of History is so necessary, it puts things into context and thus prepares one for the future.
Exactly. It's in fashion right now. It's called "Revisionism"... the "poor" Germans who were tricked into such an evil system... for some of them this statement was true, but for 80% it was not. They embraced the nazism with open arms because it said good things about them and bad things about other peoples of the world. End of story. Any country in that same position would've done the same. It's human nature, it's not "german" nature.
Unfortunately the powers that be feel it necessary to have this film banned in Germany. Treating a mature highly educated populous like the Germans like children is simply ridiculous !
By what metric/standard of measurement? It utilized no new technique, overly long in its application of techniques and repetitious. Watch 16:00 and onward above. Triumph of the Will appeals to the simple minded/naive, given to their baser instincts. Though an interesting curiosity and treatise (by visual media) on the blooming of nazism, it is not a remarkable work.
Jaenus80 Inspiring? Seeing the Nazi party flaunt its power and trying to put their leader on a pedestal is inspiring especially with the historical context we have? I’ve seen it, and while yes, its technical achievements are fine, it’s a morally abhorrent film.
Hi Charlie .. I have now watched all 29 of your videos and want to say how impressed I have been by them all ... interesting, informative and well made .. the amount of work that has clearly gone into each one is obvious .... I notice it's been over two months since this last one and I'm concerned you have stopped making them .. I certainly hope not and eagerly await the next one. Keep up the great work !
Thanks! Don't worry I have no plans of stopping! The last video came out last month, it's about a Japanese director called Hiroshi Shimizu, and the next video will be coming out either Sunday or Monday depending on your timezone! Thanks for watching!
11:10 "....In March he [Hitler] passed the Enabling Act, allowing him to enact policy without the approval of Parliament." U, no. ...It was PARLIAMENT (the Reichstag) which passed the Enabling Act (after the Reichstag fire), which gives us an object lesson in republics (or constitutional, democratic states) committing suicide by voting away their own power. It leaves the question of whether this act of Parliament was even legal - since in natural law an individual (and thus any collectivity of individuals) canNOT agree to bind himself into slavery. (No court following the principles of natural law would recognize the validity of such a contract, agreement, or legislated statute. An individual, even if he can enter into debt or even some kind of indentured servitude, cannot renounce his freedom. He cannot even MAKE HIMSELF a slave of another.) This action by Parliament, combined with the decision of the German Army and Navy to have its personnel swear an oath of allegiance and obedience to the PERSON of Adolph Hitler (in exchange for Hitler eliminating the threat of the S.A. in the 'Night of the Long Knives'), is what sealed the fate of the Republic. ...The Germans simply didn't understand that these two actions were illegal (devoid of true legitimacy under the principles of natural law - which is the basis of all civilized and true law); and that no civilized German was bound by these illegitimate, pseudo-legal acts.
An added point is that the enabling act wasn't passed without intimidation. During the session when it was being voted on there were SA members in the aisles of the Reichstag taken note of and to threaten people who may vote no. Additionally, the enabling act was seen as a constitutional amendment, so it was to require a 2/3rds majority of the people present. But, due to the Reichstag fire decree the Communist party had been banned with most of their delegates locked up, and even some Social Democrats had been locked up, so the main forces who would be voting against the act were prevented from doing so (so on this basis it already wasn't legal) "[T]he majority of deputies already supported the bill, and any deputies who might have been reluctant to vote in favour were intimidated by the SA troops surrounding the meeting. In the end, all parties except the SPD voted in favour of the Enabling Act. With the KPD banned and 26 SPD deputies arrested or in hiding, the final tally was 444 in favour of the Enabling Act against 94 (all Social Democrats) opposed. The Reichstag had adopted the Enabling Act with the support of 83% of the deputies." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_Act_of_1933). So framing it as the parliament committing suicide is a bit of an overstatement. The circumstances surrounding it's approval were far from a free expression of the delegates beliefs. It had precedent in German history (such as during WWI when the Reichstag essentially dissolved itself for the course of the war to allow a more centralized control), and it technically was only for four years. But, of course, once the Nazis had the grip on power they needed when four years were up it simply was rubber stamped by the Reichstag, which effectively had been devolved into sounding board for Hitler's speeches. And a last point, the Center party (a relatively center leaning party) had arguments over voting against the act, and had been swindled into voting for the act by being promised constitutional guarantees but, as with much of what the Nazis promised to other parties, this was reneged on. And systematically each party was eliminated and banned until only the Nazis remained.
I kept thinking either Bride or The 39 Steps was going to be next on your video essays as Triumph always escapes my radar. Most people tend to underestimate propaganda due to the belief they can't easily be swayed where this film explains how the technique works allowing a better understanding how an event came to be when looking absurd through objective lens. Always enjoying these videos, I can't wait to see what happens in 1936.
Every belief system that will be proselytize is propaganda, but the question is what manner of outcome that certain propaganda would do to an individual? And the answer is: "By their fruits you shall know them."
Interesting video, thanks. But you missed something very important about Triumph of the will. It used very advanced production techniques, including getting the (very large and heavy) camera into the crowds, mounting it on vehicles and giving the impression it was almost hand-held, which was very new at the time. This gave TotW a very personal feel, it involved the audience in a very individual sense. In terms of film production, it was years ahead of its time.
Heh. Willy Nibbler. But on a more serious not, I'm ecstatic I've found this channel. I've been searching for a film-historian type on youtube with not much luck until now!
Thank God I found this channel, I am in the works of creating my movie blog and I have been interested in learning more about the history of the film, this channel is what I have been looking for 👌
I really, really like your videos. I've seen them all. The only problem that I have with them it's its sound. Sometimes it's not as great like in this one you had certain pikes in volume.Just that. Thanks for all your work.
Small error at 11:20 : When giving the timeline of Nazis rise you make it sound like the Night of the Long Knives took place in 1933, but it was in june of 1934. Doesn't affect too much though, with respect to this video, so don't worry about it (I just noticed nobody I saw had mentioned it yet).
Fascinating and interesting mini documentary. I am very interested in World War II history and 20th century history. Thanks for opening me to new topic to read about.
Comment at ~0:58 says; "this movie invents very little for itself instead borrowing on techniques that date right back to the origin of cinema...". This is far from reality, Triumph of the Will developed many new techniques and used them as no other film before and for quite some time in the future. Photos from the air, sound, aesthetics, amount of raw footage etc. were very new to the film. Even budget was comparable to today's standards. Germans made big advance in this field as many, many others. We have to be fair even if not agreeing with things Nazis done to others and themselfs.
This in itself is actually propaganda. All of the features and techniques that the film utilised had been done previously, often to superior quality. The only reason we believe this is the case is because the reviewers at the time were nazi supporters and because it had the largest budget of any production in history. Folding ideas made a great video expanding on this, just because they had a couple of good thoughts (smoking causing cancer) doesn't mean we should perpetuate their lies 80 years on
@@passionofthecrust9173 Production budget is estimated at 280.000RM, aproximately 1,6 million dollars today, which i think is extremely cheap considering film lenght and technology at the time. Part of my job is knowing German audio technology from 30's until now, so it surprises me only audio didn't cost more. If you know lots about movie production please let me know titles of previous movies of such quality (doesn't matter what genre it is), lower budget of one that is on the same level if it exists at all, what was real budget and how we know it is truth, etc. Hollywood is example of systematic long time brain washing which badly influences way too many people, consequences are horrible in my opinion. Again, i don't like nazis and never will!!!
I think what this film did really well was demonstrate that the Reich was in full swing--that everyone was onboard and that Hitler was unstoppable. If I was a detractor, or a targeted minority, I would feel absolutely hopeless and alone. And I feel that was Hitler's bigger aim to establish that peer pressure of "everybody loves it, so it's time to fall in line now."
The most important lesson in the last few lines. Missing context and vested interest of the creator are key considerations when critically appraising any media item.
Can you Tell me what else you do ? We like what you do but wonder if you are a film artist and/or a film historian. Thanks for the great work and excellent info.
Will you please attach the full work, so that we understand what you are talking about? Mrs. Riefenstahl, as much as we know, filmed what she found beautiful.
Love that old TV set at the beginning, it was made by the Polish state-owned electronics group Unitra in the 1970-80s. My granddad had exactly that one. You could switch between a total of three chanels, which was fine as there were just two available.
TH-cam, STOP CENSORING TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. LET US WATCH IT FOR OURSELVES. The masses *may* be stupid, but intelligent people have the right to see this film.
Hey, I am Romanian and I didn't know that we made a movie in 1912 :)) I thought cinematography appeared only from the 50's onward here. I've heard there is something called the Romanian New Wave that is getting more and more popular nowadays but unhappily the communist regime slowed down the evolution of cinematography here.
Da. Dar filmul nu este propagandist. Nici nu am participat la Razboaiele balcanice in 1912. Am intrat in 1913 Yes. But this film is not propaganda-based. We didnt even participated in the Balkan Wars n 1912. We actually entered in 1913.
Great video as always! A very important topic - an amazing work has been done. Can we expect an episode about some classic comedy: Laurel and Hardy's golden age or "Modern Times" by Chaplin?
Oh yeah, consumerism good... I want to be fat, don't you dare shame me, it's fatphobia! Why does it matter to you guys that I give all my money to junk food companies in spite of my health... OOOOOOHHHHHH I SEEEEEE! In reality: "Yeah I'm too stupid to even care, keep having my money to give me diabetes, cancer and heart attacks, stop being fatphobic guys!".
Once heard a stager tell me something like “when we read something we retain 10 to 15% of it, when we hear something up to 30% when we see and hear up to 98% of it!” In a word, media in two words, The New Media. Hitler and company knew and know this PowerFULL emotionally influential medium to this day.
Yes and no. A bad example of that is America right now, the country of free speech, yet it is far from being a non-violent country and not fascistic on the international scene. Speech matters if people are really well educated. You may have free speech, but if you are a fool, if bullshit keeps coming out of your mouth, what's the point? "Hey yoyoyo earth is flat beetch lmao I have rightz to say dis" yeah no thanks, I don't want to spend my life correcting people saying that type of stuff, while they fight back vigorously to enforce their own idiocy like we see on the internet daily. "Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something”, quote attributed to Plato. No matter your freedom and rights, you have to remain responsible and work on your critical thinking. Otherwise you end up like a fool alienated to his own culture and society and that's one point that ironically is put forth by marxists and a valid argument to what is happening currently in western countries saying that truth is falsehood, water burns, fire is wet, 2+2="maths is racist", a male shall be a female and vice versa. It's a never ending absurdity contest.
I disagree, Triumph of the Will is an undisputed masterpiece and it was given awards by even France when it came out. Leni Riefenstahl was an incredible director and cinematographer. Her film of the Olympics in 1936 further displays that. Making this movie actually ruined her life. And although tragic, it is a masterpiece. Terrifying as it is. .
Charlie, have you dealt with how propaganda functions in Hollywood movies? For example, how the nobility and appeal of police officers and soldiers have been systematically presented in a way to persuade us of their virtues as protectors of liberty as well as order? That is the world I grew up in (born 1957). All the police shows, as well as the movies.
Mark Woldin Don't get carried away, Mr. Woldin. Not all theater has sinister ulterior motive. lol Why is it you think that soldiers and law enforcement are incorrectly portrayed? First Responders, those who run *toward* the fire, rather than away from it *are heroes*.
The Fuck? Women in Germany had power since the creation of the Weimar Republic in 1919! The Nazis even reduced the freedom of women back to the status of being mothers and housewives.
Great video as always. I'm interested to know how you make your videos - particularly the technical side. How do you edit footage from DVDs etc.? Is there a software you use to convert them?
Thank you for this analysis. Particularly now, important to understand how propaganda works. Add to this how much more quickly it spreads. While I would quibble with the dismissal of Reifenstahl''s often brilliant craft, it was clearly designed to persuade and in service to authoritarianism. And it worked. It's not a documentary, at least in the way we mean it now.
Can you Review Way Out West as the film for 1937 ? It Stars two of the greatest comedians of history - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Pleeeeassse????????😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
15:58 forgets to include the persecution of communists/bolshevists. The stated enemy of the Nazi party was 'judeo-bulshevism'. Anyway, great video man!
An excellent essay on propaganda. My only critique would be to comment that, in a video whose title is the title of an actual film, it seems odd that that film is not mentioned, except peripherally, in the first nine minutes of the video.
His videos are great, but if you're expecting an actual review of the film he's covering, you'll be very disappointed. He instead covers the genre of the film, the history of the genre, and how the film was influential.
Love the footage, but not so much the historical errors. Goebbels did not make Hitler's image as a speaker. Hitler had a natural speaking ability which was generally acknowledged going right back to his earliest speeches to the then tiny DAP, and used his popularity as a speaker to achieve total domination of the party long before the Nazis were handed power by Hindenburg. Also, by the time of the October revolution, there were no "Czarist forces" in Russia to speak of. The government was a provisional government headed by Kerensky and Czarist elements were a distinct minority. The October "revolution" was a coup against non-Bolshevik socialists, chiefly Kerensky and the SR party, who had a sizable majority in the country as the subsequent election to the constituent assembly showed.
"...between the democratic freedom of the Allies and the authoritarianism of the Third Reich." Uh, Stalin was part of the Allies. I wouldn't necessarily consider the USSR a beacon of democracy. 😭
You intersperse too much of your opinions - this film won much acclaim and awards far outside of Germany, including a French award that named it a masterpiece.
Propaganda still happens everywhere. You're just used to it.
Jaenus80 I wouldn’t say it’s mostly happening from the left. It’s coming from all sides of many issues, as is the nature of propaganda.
No your kidding and it has not gotten worse America is a perfect place with golden streets not a state that uses slave labor via prison or wages that per tenement would be treasonous elsewhere. I mean it is not about greed control or playing on the feelings of populous and we all know only two parties are right and it was not supported by hitler in his 1920s 32 parties speech. How dare you! I mean all are wars are justified and if your too big to fail than nothing bad happens and freedom of speech is not under fire to the point where I could be hung for this likely in the future.
@Jaenus80 What About Trump's bullshit? Birther, Truther? Ted Cruz's dad murdering Kennedy?
@@kezdodik1Jews create Propaganda for Israel. Israel is not the Darling of the left
#Im 14 and this is deep
nowadays we have propaganda inside the propaganda
Deep chats
Deep chats
😂
You're the best commentator on cinematic history on TH-cam. In addition, you provide clear explanations whenever you're discussing historical context of a film. Great job!
Cap. He is a fan of russia,comunism and bolsevism.
@@romanianhustler3309 who isn’t ? We are alive because of them
@@Маккензи002 I'm not. We breathe free in spite of them.
Serious bathos when he pronounces 'production' "pra-DOOK-shen".
@@dixonpinfold2582 cool I love u 🤟
To guard against propaganda is to keep oneself well informed and open minded.
This guys stresses how much the film is not really groundbreaking in terms of propaganda but in fact it really is, not just for propaganda but for cinema over all. It used new and dynamic camera angles and camera use to tell a really effective story and the way it was edited is just genius.
It didn't. All the techniques used had previously existed, the only "groundbreaking" part of it was scale and budget so the shots look new to the layman but all had been done before just on a smaller scale. The Nazis got film reviewers at the time to say this, that is was new stuff all around and the myth has persisted today. There are tons of thesis you can find easily that go into it online. I used to believe this too because it's repeated all the time and fell into the trap, but Nazi propaganda has reach even into today and it's been disproved.
@@PotentialHistory If you say so. But nontheless it is an excellent piece of cinema that should not be underestimated. Even if the techniques existed they are still used in brilliant ways in this film.
It is a good film. It is attacked by children who go "Nazis took my childhood" despite being born in the 80s and 90s.
In 2080, people will still be accusing the Nazi Party of 1920s to 1945 of doing stuff because they think the party still exists. The American democrats are very paranoid about them. Imagine acting like this over Genghis Khan.
Wow, this was such a well constructed video essay. Helping us all to expand our knowledge of history and illuminating the overwhelming power of propaganda. Great video!
Thanks man! I just finished watching your video on Randy Newman. Fantastic work! I can't wait to see what you will tackle next.
@@onehundredyearsofcinema i don t see any propaganda. I see just Russian bolsevism propaganda from you
Its interesting that if we talk about movies with a pro-white message, its considered propaganda. If we talk about movies with a anti-white patriarchy message, its considered progressive. The former is considered evil and toxic, while the latter, which frankly makes up about 95% of Hollywood productions, is considered brave and enlightening.
@@romanianhustler3309 I thought it was admirably neutral. It’s not his job to advance your version of events.
@@onehundredyearsofcinema
I looked at Triumph of the Will and It Is Shit. Freak ma son Cult HolyShitWood Scripted Staged Shows Ranting and Rambling Gar Barge.
I remember the first time I actually watched Triumph, I was pretty shocked by how much of the film initially appeared to be like, totally apolitical. So many scenes of German soldiers just… being happy and well-fed, with good shoes and clothes that aren’t falling apart and basic luxuries like that. Germany was just coming out of this epic economic depression, and those scenes always struck me as by far the most powerful in the film.
Was actually expecting either Top Hat , Bride of Frankenstein or The 39 steps . But I am pleasantly suprised . Keep up the good work , I enjoy quality content like this ;D
It was a toss up between this or Bride, as that's probably one of the most beautiful films ever made.
It is indeed , it's also a good example as an early example of building a cinematic universe . But I love your unpredictability , you are truly one of the best channels out there and never miss to deliver great content.
one thing to say is that in the old greece there never was democracy, pls dont define elected systems as democratics systems... Second : Freedom of democracy is delicate because in its core Democracy is the tyranny of the majority...
I dont Think Platoon or whatever he is called in English has the same definiton of "Democracy" when he talks about the ideal city with its political system´...
Thank you for the effort invested in your videos...
I think this critique is more than a tad sour grapes. The critique seeks to tear down the film both as a piece of well-crafted propaganda, and as a documentary about a huge public event. It dismisses Triumph of the WiIl as second rate and derivative, but fails to account for the film's enormous power, which would seem to contradict the idea of mediocrity. It criticises it for not mentioning the bloodshed and terror on which the Nazi Party was founded, while at the same time, categorising it as a "propaganda" film rather that a documentary. It would be a pretty piss poor propaganda film that weakened its own message in that way. You can't have it both ways. It criticises Riefenstahl herself for arranging sets and constructing bridges to suit her cinematic intent, not mentioning that that very care about detail is what makes the film, indeed, any film, a success.He criticises the film in general for leaving out what he sees as important facts, not seeming to realise that any film, or book, or painting, or any work of art, is precisely defined by what it leaves out. In fact, "Triumph" is a masterpiece, whether you take it as a propaganda film, or as a documentary, realising that the subject of that documentary was the Rallies, not the history behind them. The most interesting thing about this presentation, is the look at propaganda films of the past. It seems to have wholly missed the point about Triumph of the Will itself.
a tad sour grapes so smart
....
must be a little bourgeoisie twat
Exactly. Why on earth would this film address the atrocities committed by the Nazi government when its entire purpose was to galvanize the people? Just because it was in support of a morally terrible cause doesn't mean it can't be technically meritous.
In Aesop’s fable, the fox, after trying unsuccessfully to reach some grapes hanging high over his head, decides that the grapes were probably sour and unappealing rather than admit his defeat. The expression means the same thing, so I don’t think it works in your comment.
The focus of this documentary was to demonstrate how film has been used as propaganda, centering on *Triumph of the Will* as such. This documentary shares that the regime implemented total media control-a point that is historically accurate. The purpose of *Triumph of the Will* was to brainwash the people.
An example that today’s populous can relate: Cable News Media (the news entertainment industry.) In my observation, media continues the plight to sway the minds of the people toward each side’s end goal. What most watching don’t realize is that they are two sides to the same coin-their political attempt to control the minds of the people. (The elite believe that they must think for the people because common people aren’t intelligent enough to think for themselves.)
Had the focus of this documentary been to view film for its cinematic prowess, then one might view your comment as somewhat viable; however, it was not.
A logical fallacy attempts to deflect from the topic at hand by persuading the audience using an error in reasoning. Your argument commits a straw man logical fallacy.
You’re not alone! Both sides of most of today’s prominent media outlets commit this fallacy, among others, nearly every day. That is why they call their programs “news entertainment” and NOT the News.
It's a brilliant film, a terrible documentary. Flaherty started it :P
Just discovered your channel, really good content! I'm writing a paper on Leni Riefenstahl and her films rn and this is gave me a ton of knowledge! It's gonna be hard not to ditch the paper and watch more vids
This is excellent and accurate - your political history is accurate as is your film history and analysis. This channel is a treasure and I just subscribed.
Beautiful, amazing way to engage this topic and film. Thank you so much!!!
actual analysis of triumph of the will begins at 10:55
Why
is there any way of getting a transcript of this excellent film?
The intro is ripped almost word for word from a Folding Ideas video on this exact idea.
Lmao.
Folding Ideas sucks tho
In what ways? 1 minute in and nothing is the same so far from the Folding Ideas video.
What gave you the idea that the allies were democratic? The marshall plan ensured 2 continents were under the military brutality of the USA, Britain had enslaved and was committing genocides in every continent on earth. If anything the Nazis did to Europe what Britain was doing to the rest of the world
@@nicholasmwangangi6257 Was anyone claiming that the Allies were democratic?
What is the background music at the beginning of this TH-cam film?
Thank you for offering this glimpse into the subject. Well Wishes for you and yours and all. ❤🧡❤
Time spent: 18 mins 20 seconds
Knowledge gained: 0
Why do you insist on denying the role that the German people themselves played in making this possible?
Throughout the video, you make claims about the staged aspects of the film... yet those thousand of people were not forced to be there with smiles on their faces, were they?
It is irresponsible to dismiss the pathology of the mob without providing any evidence of their coercion. You do not provide any here. You imply quite simply that the Germans pictured in this film are merely actors, as do many people who in my estimation misunderstand the role of that mechanism in Hitler's rise to power.
It's worth reflecting on.
If you look back through history of the formation of the nazi's, it started as a revolution to redistribute wealth to the poor. The economy shit the bed, and many people were laid off, and dying in the streets in hunger. The nazi party rebuilt the wealth of the country, bringing prosperity to the people. Roads and towns lined with clean beautiful flags, bronze and gold statues, plentiful food, work, and housing. People became hypnotized and starstruck with what the nazi party has brought back to their community. From there, the propaganda continued to make wild claims and accusations, and people blindly followed, because they came from poverty, and prospered because of the nazi party.
@@TickyTack23 All true. That is a great example of why the study of History is so necessary, it puts things into context and thus prepares one for the future.
Exactly. It's in fashion right now. It's called "Revisionism"... the "poor" Germans who were tricked into such an evil system... for some of them this statement was true, but for 80% it was not. They embraced the nazism with open arms because it said good things about them and bad things about other peoples of the world. End of story. Any country in that same position would've done the same. It's human nature, it's not "german" nature.
free speech brought me here.
Free speech guided me here
Free speech lead me here
Peer pressure dragged me here
kind of sort of and for how long.... my comments, channels and vids get taken down aaallll the time.
Unfortunately the powers that be feel it necessary to have this film banned in Germany. Treating a mature highly educated populous like the Germans like children is simply ridiculous !
I bet it did, sir.
@@jimreilly6933 Germany has enough trouble with neo-Nazis without it.
That film is a masterpiece.
By what metric/standard of measurement? It utilized no new technique, overly long in its application of techniques and repetitious. Watch 16:00 and onward above. Triumph of the Will appeals to the simple minded/naive, given to their baser instincts. Though an interesting curiosity and treatise (by visual media) on the blooming of nazism, it is not a remarkable work.
Jaenus80 Inspiring? Seeing the Nazi party flaunt its power and trying to put their leader on a pedestal is inspiring especially with the historical context we have? I’ve seen it, and while yes, its technical achievements are fine, it’s a morally abhorrent film.
@@Altar360 "nazis are bad" wow ladies and gentlemen give the guy a hand
@@ExtraVictory Well yeah, its kind of sad that we HAVE to say it. Because 80 years on people still think it was a good idea
@Jaenus80 What inspired you about it?
"Make America Great Again"
Hi Charlie .. I have now watched all 29 of your videos and want to say how impressed I have been by them all ... interesting, informative and well made .. the amount of work that has clearly gone into each one is obvious .... I notice it's been over two months since this last one and I'm concerned you have stopped making them .. I certainly hope not and eagerly await the next one. Keep up the great work !
Thanks! Don't worry I have no plans of stopping! The last video came out last month, it's about a Japanese director called Hiroshi Shimizu, and the next video will be coming out either Sunday or Monday depending on your timezone! Thanks for watching!
One Hundred Years of Cinema Ah ! Missed that one .. cheers !!
Why is youtube afraid to show the Triumph of the Will.?
11:10 "....In March he [Hitler] passed the Enabling Act, allowing him to enact policy without the approval of Parliament."
U, no. ...It was PARLIAMENT (the Reichstag) which passed the Enabling Act (after the Reichstag fire), which gives us an object lesson in republics (or constitutional, democratic states) committing suicide by voting away their own power.
It leaves the question of whether this act of Parliament was even legal - since in natural law an individual (and thus any collectivity of individuals) canNOT agree to bind himself into slavery. (No court following the principles of natural law would recognize the validity of such a contract, agreement, or legislated statute. An individual, even if he can enter into debt or even some kind of indentured servitude, cannot renounce his freedom. He cannot even MAKE HIMSELF a slave of another.)
This action by Parliament, combined with the decision of the German Army and Navy to have its personnel swear an oath of allegiance and obedience to the PERSON of Adolph Hitler (in exchange for Hitler eliminating the threat of the S.A. in the 'Night of the Long Knives'), is what sealed the fate of the Republic. ...The Germans simply didn't understand that these two actions were illegal (devoid of true legitimacy under the principles of natural law - which is the basis of all civilized and true law); and that no civilized German was bound by these illegitimate, pseudo-legal acts.
Very well said!
An added point is that the enabling act wasn't passed without intimidation. During the session when it was being voted on there were SA members in the aisles of the Reichstag taken note of and to threaten people who may vote no. Additionally, the enabling act was seen as a constitutional amendment, so it was to require a 2/3rds majority of the people present. But, due to the Reichstag fire decree the Communist party had been banned with most of their delegates locked up, and even some Social Democrats had been locked up, so the main forces who would be voting against the act were prevented from doing so (so on this basis it already wasn't legal) "[T]he majority of deputies already supported the bill, and any deputies who might have been reluctant to vote in favour were intimidated by the SA troops surrounding the meeting. In the end, all parties except the SPD voted in favour of the Enabling Act. With the KPD banned and 26 SPD deputies arrested or in hiding, the final tally was 444 in favour of the Enabling Act against 94 (all Social Democrats) opposed. The Reichstag had adopted the Enabling Act with the support of 83% of the deputies." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enabling_Act_of_1933).
So framing it as the parliament committing suicide is a bit of an overstatement. The circumstances surrounding it's approval were far from a free expression of the delegates beliefs. It had precedent in German history (such as during WWI when the Reichstag essentially dissolved itself for the course of the war to allow a more centralized control), and it technically was only for four years. But, of course, once the Nazis had the grip on power they needed when four years were up it simply was rubber stamped by the Reichstag, which effectively had been devolved into sounding board for Hitler's speeches.
And a last point, the Center party (a relatively center leaning party) had arguments over voting against the act, and had been swindled into voting for the act by being promised constitutional guarantees but, as with much of what the Nazis promised to other parties, this was reneged on. And systematically each party was eliminated and banned until only the Nazis remained.
I kept thinking either Bride or The 39 Steps was going to be next on your video essays as Triumph always escapes my radar. Most people tend to underestimate propaganda due to the belief they can't easily be swayed where this film explains how the technique works allowing a better understanding how an event came to be when looking absurd through objective lens.
Always enjoying these videos, I can't wait to see what happens in 1936.
God I love this channel so much. Hope to see uploads more frequent (If the videos take a while to make then I can understand)
From what I can tell, Hitler's ideas concerning propaganda were used at Event 201 on 10-18-2019.
^^
This is excellent. Will be sharing with my class.
Wow, I just found out about your channel. I loved this video, even have recommended it to some of my friends. Great job!
such a brilliant analysis!! thank you for putting so much effort to produce such an enlightening piece
Calling Plato a democrat is a slightly unhinged hot take
Does anyone know what the music around 2:00 is
Every belief system that will be proselytize is propaganda, but the question is what manner of outcome that certain propaganda would do to an individual? And the answer is:
"By their fruits you shall know them."
In your opinion is there a fine line between social commentary and propaganda and if so where is it?
Edward Bernays was an important figure in this area. He invented the euphemism: "Public Relations".
I saw him speak at an advtg convention of sorts about 40+ years ago. His mission was to license PR "experts". A strange man.
Wait until you find out that Freud, Bernays and Randolph (owner of Netflix) are one giant Jewish family. Pinnacle of psychological propaganda.
Interesting video, thanks.
But you missed something very important about Triumph of the will. It used very advanced production techniques, including getting the (very large and heavy) camera into the crowds, mounting it on vehicles and giving the impression it was almost hand-held, which was very new at the time. This gave TotW a very personal feel, it involved the audience in a very individual sense. In terms of film production, it was years ahead of its time.
THANK YOU for an objective observation on the artistry behind Riefenstahl's work.
how do i write an synthesis essay on this
Heh. Willy Nibbler.
But on a more serious not, I'm ecstatic I've found this channel. I've been searching for a film-historian type on youtube with not much luck until now!
Thank God I found this channel, I am in the works of creating my movie blog and I have been interested in learning more about the history of the film, this channel is what I have been looking for 👌
Your videos are so well researched and enjoyable to watch...thanks for making them
I really, really like your videos. I've seen them all. The only problem that I have with them it's its sound. Sometimes it's not as great like in this one you had certain pikes in volume.Just that. Thanks for all your work.
Excellent work! Lessons to be learned in the age of the internet.
Small error at 11:20 : When giving the timeline of Nazis rise you make it sound like the Night of the Long Knives took place in 1933, but it was in june of 1934. Doesn't affect too much though, with respect to this video, so don't worry about it (I just noticed nobody I saw had mentioned it yet).
Someone knows there history. Good
It affects because in the film the problems with the SA are addressed as very recent
Fascinating and interesting mini documentary. I am very interested in World War II history and 20th century history.
Thanks for opening me to new topic to read about.
Comment at ~0:58 says; "this movie invents very little for itself instead borrowing on techniques that date right back to the origin of cinema...". This is far from reality, Triumph of the Will developed many new techniques and used them as no other film before and for quite some time in the future. Photos from the air, sound, aesthetics, amount of raw footage etc. were very new to the film. Even budget was comparable to today's standards.
Germans made big advance in this field as many, many others.
We have to be fair even if not agreeing with things Nazis done to others and themselfs.
This in itself is actually propaganda. All of the features and techniques that the film utilised had been done previously, often to superior quality. The only reason we believe this is the case is because the reviewers at the time were nazi supporters and because it had the largest budget of any production in history.
Folding ideas made a great video expanding on this, just because they had a couple of good thoughts (smoking causing cancer) doesn't mean we should perpetuate their lies 80 years on
@@passionofthecrust9173 Production budget is estimated at 280.000RM, aproximately 1,6 million dollars today, which i think is extremely cheap considering film lenght and technology at the time. Part of my job is knowing German audio technology from 30's until now, so it surprises me only audio didn't cost more. If you know lots about movie production please let me know titles of previous movies of such quality (doesn't matter what genre it is), lower budget of one that is on the same level if it exists at all, what was real budget and how we know it is truth, etc. Hollywood is example of systematic long time brain washing which badly influences way too many people, consequences are horrible in my opinion.
Again, i don't like nazis and never will!!!
Ahhh yes the wonderful, free Weimar Republic, how dare those villainous nazis put a stop to that!
It was def a puppet government
Ms. Maisel brought me here. I’m a historian and I’d never heard of “Triumph of the Will” before.
Thanks for this! Especially the closing lines. Context matters.
Appreciating you making this video.
I just watched this and your Casablanca video. I’m doing a comparative study on this and Casablanca for my film class
I think what this film did really well was demonstrate that the Reich was in full swing--that everyone was onboard and that Hitler was unstoppable. If I was a detractor, or a targeted minority, I would feel absolutely hopeless and alone. And I feel that was Hitler's bigger aim to establish that peer pressure of "everybody loves it, so it's time to fall in line now."
And Agaiiiiiiin, and agaiiiiiin, and agaiiiin
The most important lesson in the last few lines. Missing context and vested interest of the creator are key considerations when critically appraising any media item.
thank u for working so hard to create such a detailed and well-spoken video 🌼🌸 it’s very very very appreciated.
I absolutely love your videos and your insight on cinema. Bravo 👏🏻
Where is our best cinema essay maker at? Come back!
Can you Tell me what else you do ? We like what you do but wonder if you are a film artist and/or a film historian. Thanks for the great work and excellent info.
So underrated video
Turn down your music a bit, it drowns out your voice.
14:32
15:33
'General Adolph Takes Over'
th-cam.com/video/KIb10vZX4jM/w-d-xo.html
16:19
Dictators Meet (1934)
th-cam.com/video/j75K5-FU0JY/w-d-xo.html
Charlie Chaplin - When dictators meet
th-cam.com/video/tVLQ8lNd1Pk/w-d-xo.html
Will you please attach the full work, so that we understand what you are talking about? Mrs. Riefenstahl, as much as we know, filmed what she found beautiful.
Great overview and commentary
Love that old TV set at the beginning, it was made by the Polish state-owned electronics group Unitra in the 1970-80s. My granddad had exactly that one. You could switch between a total of three chanels, which was fine as there were just two available.
"The masses/servant class are most easily swayed by the propaganda machine of the political class. They are simple and easy to influence."
Who said that? I assume hitler
Great video
Nicely done!
TH-cam, STOP CENSORING TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. LET US WATCH IT FOR OURSELVES. The masses *may* be stupid, but intelligent people have the right to see this film.
Fascinating. Thanks for this.. I would have upvoted this on Steemit, where my upvote is worth almost a dollar.
What about Hollywood films like casablanca
Hey, I am Romanian and I didn't know that we made a movie in 1912 :)) I thought cinematography appeared only from the 50's onward here. I've heard there is something called the Romanian New Wave that is getting more and more popular nowadays but unhappily the communist regime slowed down the evolution of cinematography here.
Da. Dar filmul nu este propagandist. Nici nu am participat la Razboaiele balcanice in 1912. Am intrat in 1913
Yes. But this film is not propaganda-based. We didnt even participated in the Balkan Wars n 1912. We actually entered in 1913.
Still controlled by adverts what you should wear eat believe its in music games adverts radio TV internet its every where we are controlled right now
Great video as always! A very important topic - an amazing work has been done.
Can we expect an episode about some classic comedy: Laurel and Hardy's golden age or "Modern Times" by Chaplin?
'Metropolis' would be nice too
How else to unify and motivate a population? Watch TV and ads
Mr. Augie And not forgetting the controlling MSM, CNN, ABC, BBC in UK.....
Oh yeah, consumerism good... I want to be fat, don't you dare shame me, it's fatphobia! Why does it matter to you guys that I give all my money to junk food companies in spite of my health... OOOOOOHHHHHH I SEEEEEE!
In reality: "Yeah I'm too stupid to even care, keep having my money to give me diabetes, cancer and heart attacks, stop being fatphobic guys!".
Oh hey. I have a class on Triumph of the Will tomorrow morning. And here I thought I was procrastinating when I logged into TH-cam.
Difficult to understand you - had to turn on the CC to attempt to follow....
11:29 inspired the Be Prepared scene of the marching hyenas in The Lion King.
This was a single film with strong elements of propaganda ! There have been thousands of such films from Hollywood since.
fantastic job-keepit up!!
Once heard a stager tell me something like “when we read something we retain 10 to 15% of it, when we hear something up to 30% when we see and hear up to 98% of it!” In a word, media in two words, The New Media. Hitler and company knew and know this PowerFULL emotionally influential medium to this day.
Censorship ends in violence
Increase freespeach = Increase the peace
Yes and no. A bad example of that is America right now, the country of free speech, yet it is far from being a non-violent country and not fascistic on the international scene. Speech matters if people are really well educated. You may have free speech, but if you are a fool, if bullshit keeps coming out of your mouth, what's the point? "Hey yoyoyo earth is flat beetch lmao I have rightz to say dis" yeah no thanks, I don't want to spend my life correcting people saying that type of stuff, while they fight back vigorously to enforce their own idiocy like we see on the internet daily. "Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something”, quote attributed to Plato. No matter your freedom and rights, you have to remain responsible and work on your critical thinking. Otherwise you end up like a fool alienated to his own culture and society and that's one point that ironically is put forth by marxists and a valid argument to what is happening currently in western countries saying that truth is falsehood, water burns, fire is wet, 2+2="maths is racist", a male shall be a female and vice versa. It's a never ending absurdity contest.
Superb analysis. Well done.
7:50-7:57 is a perfect example of propaganda. Leave your opinions out of it
I disagree, Triumph of the Will is an undisputed masterpiece and it was given awards by even France when it came out. Leni Riefenstahl was an incredible director and cinematographer. Her film of the Olympics in 1936 further displays that.
Making this movie actually ruined her life. And although tragic, it is a masterpiece. Terrifying as it is.
.
actually, in the film itself it is ot anti jew, or racist. that comes later down the line.
Charlie, have you dealt with how propaganda functions in Hollywood movies? For example, how the nobility and appeal of police officers and soldiers have been systematically presented in a way to persuade us of their virtues as protectors of liberty as well as order? That is the world I grew up in (born 1957). All the police shows, as well as the movies.
Mark Woldin Don't get carried away, Mr. Woldin. Not all theater has sinister ulterior motive. lol Why is it you think that soldiers and law enforcement are incorrectly portrayed? First Responders, those who run *toward* the fire, rather than away from it *are heroes*.
Well done commentary - thank you
Riefenstahl was one of the best Directors of that time.
The Fuck? Women in Germany had power since the creation of the Weimar Republic in 1919! The Nazis even reduced the freedom of women back to the status of being mothers and housewives.
How did Germans during this time feel about the film? Were there certain shots or scenes that made them dislike the film?
Great video as always. I'm interested to know how you make your videos - particularly the technical side. How do you edit footage from DVDs etc.? Is there a software you use to convert them?
Thank you for this analysis. Particularly now, important to understand how propaganda works. Add to this how much more quickly it spreads. While I would quibble with the dismissal of Reifenstahl''s often brilliant craft, it was clearly designed to persuade and in service to authoritarianism. And it worked. It's not a documentary, at least in the way we mean it now.
This was a very well-made propaganda film. I'm not surprised it was so effective.
Thanks for the book suggestions
Can you Review Way Out West as the film for 1937 ? It Stars two of the greatest comedians of history - Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Pleeeeassse????????😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
15:58 forgets to include the persecution of communists/bolshevists. The stated enemy of the Nazi party was 'judeo-bulshevism'. Anyway, great video man!
Commies propaganda IS worse than German and killed much more people. And continues to kill
@@vts3164 I wasn't saying commies are victims.
@@vts3164 I don't get your point. Are the crimes of communist totalitarian leaders meant to justify the persecution of socialists?
An excellent essay on propaganda. My only critique would be to comment that, in a video whose title is the title of an actual film, it seems odd that that film is not mentioned, except peripherally, in the first nine minutes of the video.
His videos are great, but if you're expecting an actual review of the film he's covering, you'll be very disappointed. He instead covers the genre of the film, the history of the genre, and how the film was influential.
7:51 the way you even say the words “Democratic” and “authoriTARian” is propaganda: instilling a value in the words with your inflection.
I agree
Well not intentionally perhaps. It doesn't really matter, if you consider that as propaganda, then is everything so, with no great adverse effects.
@@yannatoko9898 yes. Everything is propaganda.
Love the footage, but not so much the historical errors. Goebbels did not make Hitler's image as a speaker. Hitler had a natural speaking ability which was generally acknowledged going right back to his earliest speeches to the then tiny DAP, and used his popularity as a speaker to achieve total domination of the party long before the Nazis were handed power by Hindenburg. Also, by the time of the October revolution, there were no "Czarist forces" in Russia to speak of. The government was a provisional government headed by Kerensky and Czarist elements were a distinct minority. The October "revolution" was a coup against non-Bolshevik socialists, chiefly Kerensky and the SR party, who had a sizable majority in the country as the subsequent election to the constituent assembly showed.
"...between the democratic freedom of the Allies and the authoritarianism of the Third Reich."
Uh, Stalin was part of the Allies. I wouldn't necessarily consider the USSR a beacon of democracy. 😭
They technically wasn’t with the allies they was just working with them
You intersperse too much of your opinions - this film won much acclaim and awards far outside of Germany, including a French award that named it a masterpiece.
I agree.
Excellent work. Thank you.