Olympia (Leni Riefenstahl, 1938)

[knives]

Vertov was for Lenin styled communist, not Stalinist. Though otherwise I agree that some of these laws are excessive.

[Documaniaque]

Vertov was for Lenin styled communist, not Stalinist.

I stand corrected.

So, who knows what cinema archive(s) in Germany posesses the uncut Olympia?

[Class316]

Here's info on the Criterion LD. Even that is only 200 min, when according to Wikipedia it's 226 min.

[antnield]

Amazon updated their product information for the second edition of the BFI Film Classic book for Olympia recently:

 ... In writing this edition, Taylor Downing has been given access to a magnificent new restoration of the original version of the film by the International Olympic Committee.

Are we finally going to see this film get the release that it should? If the IOC are involved I suspect that it could well end up censored though. I doubt they'd want Hitler showing up in something they're involved in.

In the new preface Downing makes it clear that the IOC have restored the version that first premiered in Berlin. They've also restored the self-promoting 'making of' that Riefenstahl commissioned too. (I've reviewed the second edition of the book for the Digital Fix here.)

[TMDaines]

I've got the second edition waiting for me at my home address too. Look forward to reading it in a few weeks. I really hope we get a decent version of this film soon but I'm some what doubtful with all the shit versions that keep coming out too. There's yet another one listed for the UK on Moviemail in the next couple of months.

[Class316]

In the new preface Downing makes it clear that the IOC have restored the version that first premiered in Berlin.

wow I hope that version makes it to blu ray

[Documaniaque]

In the new preface Downing makes it clear that the IOC have restored the version that first premiered in Berlin.

Okay, so it's been restored by the IOC. That's great news. But if no DVD company is currently negotiating the rights from them then we're not seeing a disc anytime soon. Can anyone say that's happening?

An interesting article about the sale of the film to the IOC: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130422-49289.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Class316]

I am convinced we will never see a propper release of this. I found a good deal on the criterion laserdisc. $32 shipped and it's in very nice shape. I have no LD player but I hope to find a way to get it copied to DVD so I'll have the best version possible. After all this is the only home released version approved by Leni herself, right?

[Documaniaque]

Original uncut version shown in Copenhagen festival last year?
http://cphdox.dk/en/screening/ai-weiwei ... er-olympia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It says 239 minutes which sounds promising...