Leni Riefenstahl's show-biz experience began with an experiment: shewanted to know what it felt like to dance on the stage. Success as adancer gave way to film acting when she attracted the attention of filmdirectorArnold Fanck, subsequentlystarring in some of his mountaineering pictures. With Fanck as hermentor, Riefenstahl began directing films.
Her penchant for artistic work earned her acclaim and awards for herfilms across Europe. It was her work onTriumph des Willens (1935), adocumentary commissioned by the Nazi government aboutAdolf Hitler and the Third Reich, thatwould come back to haunt her after the atrocities of World War II.Despite her protests to the contrary, Riefenstahl was considered anintricate part of the Third Reich's propaganda machine. Condemned bythe international community, she did not make another movie for over 50years.
Her penchant for artistic work earned her acclaim and awards for herfilms across Europe. It was her work onTriumph des Willens (1935), adocumentary commissioned by the Nazi government aboutAdolf Hitler and the Third Reich, thatwould come back to haunt her after the atrocities of World War II.Despite her protests to the contrary, Riefenstahl was considered anintricate part of the Third Reich's propaganda machine. Condemned bythe international community, she did not make another movie for over 50years.
BornAugust 22, 1902
DiedSeptember 8, 2003(101)
- Awards
- 4 wins & 2 nominations total
Producer
Director
Actress
- Official site
- Born
- Died
- SpousesHorst KettnerAugust 22, 2003 - September 8, 2003 (her death)
- Other worksWrote "The Last of the Nuba" (1972).
- Publicity listings
- TriviaIn an interview shortly before her death, she stated that if she hadknown thatTriumph des Willens (1935) would have haunted her career, she would have nevermade it.
- QuotesI filmed the truth as it was then. Nothing more.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
