User:George Swan/sandbox

Here is a google search for "leni riefenstahl" OR "triumph of the will" "a new hope" lucas The Star Wars Saga: Comedy versus Tragedy And, in the light of the second film, the dark overtones of Empire can even be seen as foreshadowed in A New Hope: above all in the final medal-presentation ceremony, which, as a number of reviewers of the 1977 film commented, bears at points a striking visual resemblance to moments in Leni Riefenstahl's 1934 Nazi propaganda documentary, The Triumph of the Will. J. Hoberman on Triumph of the Will (x2) and the artification of Fascism... It may be more tactful to promote Olympia as Riefenstahl’s magnum opus, but for all its soft-core prurience, slow-motion heroics, and editing sleight of hand, the sports film lacks Triumph of the Will’s taboo frisson and diabolical cool. George Lucas tipped his hat to the film at the end of Star Wars, as did John Milius in the beginning of Red Dawn. Art seems too simple a word to describe this film object. Is it demagogic genius? Nazi porn? Photo-op run amok? Bloody bore? Film maudit? Ga-ga valentine addressed to the Führer? The Influences of Star Wars: Triumph of the Will... What’s rather striking however is the Rebel’s award ceremony at the end of A New Hope is taken directly from Triumph of the Will. ‘Star Wars’ is influenced by the Nazis — and it fails to hold them accountable At times, the “Star Wars” films disconnect Nazism from evil altogether. Lucas famously lifted the heroic Rebellion’s awards ceremony, at the end of “A New Hope” from ”Triumph of the Will.” One could argue that Lucas is complicating the morality of the movie by suggesting that the Rebellion is tainted with evil as well. But there’s nothing in the narrative that supports that reading. Instead, “Triumph of the Will” is alluded to simply because its visuals are grand and impressive. Nazis are used to make the Empire more evil, and they’re used to make the Rebellion look cool.