Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations
Seen it?1938 | 127 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 2 hr 7 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1938: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
Not enough engagement data yet
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Cast & crew
Directed by Leni Riefenstahl
- David AlbrittonSelf (uncredited)
- Arvo AskolaSelf (uncredited)
- Jack BeresfordSelf (uncredited)
- Erwin BlaskSelf (uncredited)
- Sulo BärlundSelf (uncredited)
- Ibolya CsákSelf (uncredited)
- Glenn CunninghamSelf (uncredited)
- Henri de Baillet-LatourSelf (uncredited)
- Philip EdwardsSelf (uncredited)
- Donald FinlaySelf (uncredited)