[publisher: Berlin: Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937] First Edition First edition, first printing, an exceptional copy retaining the rare glassine and card slipcase. This photobook was produced alongside Olympia, Riefenstahl's landmark documentary of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Olympia was immediately recognized as truly innovative, experimenting with cutting-edge shooting and editing techniques, winning the Best Foreign Film in Venice following its premiere in 1938. The majority of the images featured in this volume are taken from the film, but the concluding section adds 31 behind-the-scenes production photos. Riefenstahl's legacy has been bitterly contested since the Second World War. Some (including Riefenstahl herself) have attempted to portray her as an independent artist, with a purely aesthetic mission, having little interest in the Nazi programme. It has been argued that her film, in fact, offended the sensibilities of senior Nazis and that Goebbels tried to have it destroyed. However, the consensus has been less forgiving. Susan Sontag, in her essay "Fascinating Fascism", attacked these attempts to sanitize Riefenstahl's reputation, asserting that Olympia was "commissioned and entirely financed by the Nazi government. and facilitated by Goebbels's ministry at every stage of the shooting". However, both the film and book inevitably included images of African-American quadruple gold medallist Jesse Owens, an electrifying ...
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Berlin: im Deutschen Verlag,, Date: 1937. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR at half-title page - " Arthur Kiekebusch su wiedersehen 1937 herrlich (?) Leni Riefenstahl". Arthur Kiekebusch was a German production manager and director, best known for the 1920 silent film "The Woman in the Dolphin" starring Bela Lugosi. He was the assistant production manager, with responsibility for all cameras and lenses, on Riefenstahl's film "Olympia" from which the photographs in this book were taken. He also worked with Leni on her 1935 film "Triumph of the Will" as unit manager and head cameraman. The First Edition book is Very Good Minus, boards bowed, cloth rubbed at corners and spine ends, prior owner name and US address front end page, hinges starting, lacking the dust jacket . Regardless, given their close working relationship, an important and historic association copy in German film making.. SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good Minus/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Association Copy. 1937. im Deutschen Verlag, [US]

[publisher: Berlin, Im Deutschen Verlag] Hardcover First Edition Berlin, Im Deutschen Verlag, 1937. Pleine toile rouge avec lettrage et décor dorés sur le premier plat et le dos, jaquette illustrée, étui d origine avec le tampon de la photographe (pour le premier exemplaire uniquement), 210 x 235 mm. 282 pages et 285 photographies. Avant-propos de Leni Riefenstahl légendées en anglais, allemand, français, italien et espagnol. Les photographies de cet ouvrage sont tirées du film de Léni Riefenstahl "Olympia", tourné lors des jeux Olympiques de l'été 1936. Film largement reconnu pour ses réalisations techniques et esthétiques. "Schönheit Im Olympischen Kampf" est le premier ouvrage où des athlètes ont pu être photographiés de si près. Pour la première partie de son livre, Leni Riefenstahl présente un idéal grec antique à travers des temples et des corps athlétiques. La seconde partie débute avec l'arrivée dans le stade olympique de l'équipe allemande dans un uniforme blanc immaculé sous le regard du Führer, et l'ouvrage se termine avec un aperçu du du tournage du film « Olympia ». - Premier exemplaire avec la photographie de la page 237 inversée et les noms des collaborateurs imprimés à la dernière page dont Willy Zilke où l on lit: « La plupart des images sont des agrandissement du film olympique. Les photos des temps (anciens), des sculptures et des nus sont de Willy Zielke. Arthur Grimm ...
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