Luis Trenker Movies

In the 1930s, Leni Riefenstahl was arguably the most important and accomplished female filmmaker of her generation; however, since her primary sponsor was Adolf Hitler, and her best-known work was a hagiographic documentary on the 1934 Nazi Party congress entitled Triumph of the Will, a long and unending debate has raged whether Riefenstahl was a fascist propagandist or a talented artist whose crime was merely doing a job too well. Macht der Bilder: Leni Riefenstahl is an exhaustive two-part look at Riefenstahl's life and work, exploring her early careers as a dancer and actress, reconstructing the making of Triumph of the Will and Olympia (an elaborate and visually striking record of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games), and her later success as a still photographer, cultural anthropologist, and underwater filmmaker. While the film was made with Riefenstahl's participation, director Ray Muller does not shrink from exploring both sides of the issues of her work with the Nazi regime (she claims to have never been a member of the party and to have been unaware of the genocide of Jews and other "undesirables," while Muller presents evidence that strongly suggests the contrary) even as it celebrates her accomplishments and fierce determination (as a girl she could climb mountains in her bare feet, and in her nineties she was still an avid scuba diver). Macht der Bilder: Leni Riefenstahl was released in the United States under the title The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Discover how the population of St. Ulrich honors Luis Trenker, the town's most famous resident. The gathering is in recognition of Trenker's 95th birthday. Only available in German. ~ All Movie Guide

A movie of a man suspected of killing his brother who flees into the Dolomites to face work, danger and temptation. German language only. ~ All Movie Guide

This historical drama features a woodcutter from Kaernten has to battle the French army, and the animosity of his fellow soldiers. This takes place during the Franco-Prussian War, and is only available in German. ~ All Movie Guide

Luis Trenker performed double duty as star and director of the Italian swashbuckler Condottieri (The Knights). Trenker stars as Giovanni, the son of the infamous Catherine di Medici (Ethel Maggi). Nowhere near as unscrupulous or despotic as the rest of the di Medici family, Giovanni strives to make amends for past wrongs in Renaissance-era Florence. It is suggested that the hero is a 15th-century fascist -- and this being a 1937 Italian film, this means that he's one of the "good guys." Condottieri was simultaneously filmed in Italian and German versions, which may explain its peculiar political shadings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The story of Johann August Sutter, the Swiss printer who came to California, and it was on his land that gold was discovered and that set off the California Gold Rush of 1848. ~ All Movie Guide

This fictional story tells of the villagers in the Tirol that are joined by a university student and their fight against Napoleon in 1809. Available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide

Two of Germany's best and busiest directors collaborated on Berge in Flammen (Mountain in Flames). The storyline should be of interest to pro-ecologists, inasmuch as the directors take to task the warmongers of the world for despoiling the natural beauties of the European mountain ranges with their shell-fire. The final outrage occurs during a battle between the Austrians and the Italians in the Dolomites, culminating with the destruction of an entire mountain (hence the film's title). The harrowing images on screen were complemented perfectly by the musical score of Giuseppe Beece. Also known as The Doomed Batallion, Berge in Flammen was filmed in three different languages -- German, English, French -- for a total cost of $150,000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This mystery tells the story of a German ski champion that becomes a guide for a mountain trip. he returns without his client and is charged with murder. This is available in German only. ~ All Movie Guide

Originally titled Der Heilige Berg, Peaks of Destiny is another of the legendary and very well-received "mountain films" of German director/geologist Dr. Arnold Fanck. It also represented the screen debut of Fanck's most celebrated protegee, future director Leni Riefenstahl. The actress is cast as a vampish dancer who comes between best friends and fellow mountaineers Luis Trenker (who likewise became a director of note) and Ernest Peterson. Much of the action takes place on skis, with the outstanding exception of the finale when all three protagonists are stranded on a perilous mountain peak after one of the men tries to kill the other. Though it made hardly a ripple in the U.S., Peaks of Destiny was a huge moneymaker in Europe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide