Movies are a source of entertainment for countless people. They can also be used for other reasons, such as propaganda. Especially during World War II, with so many powerful forces at work, films used as a source of propaganda were a very effective method of gaining support. Leni Riefenstahl and Michael Curtiz did just that. Both of their films, Triumph of Will and Casablanca, were a powerful and influential form of propaganda that was exposed to countless people. Each film was able to effectively persuade its target audience through the use of thoughtful cinematography, plot and theme. The film Triumph of the Will was produced, written and directed by Leni Riefenstahl. She was an actress turned director. He produced numerous influential films, but his most famous film was Triumph of Will. This film was released in March 1935, a few years before World War II. It is a propaganda film starring Adolf Hitler. It is considered a historical documentary and was filmed over the course of 4 days during the Nuremberg Rally. Partly thanks to the new techniques he developed, he would leave a legacy and influence cinema even today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The film's cinematography includes a variety of different angles, a new form of editing, and camera movements which all played a vital role in conveying the overall message, Hitler is powerful and a savior. He used different camera angles to convey the message. Shots that included Hitler were shot from low angles; this technique helped him look majestic, tall and powerful. When he is shot on the podium he takes up most of the frame, this further demonstrates how dominated he is. When shooting with a long focus lens it creates a distorted perception. The viewer can see how all the spectators are small and insignificant, while Hitler is the center of attention. This not only demonstrates the large following he had, but also how he literally stands above everyone else, further suggesting how important he was. When Riefenstahl focuses on people, the shot is from high angles, which shows how they look at Hitler and how they believe he is their savior. Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz and starred Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, was released in 1942. It is set in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1941. The Nazis are gaining control of most of North Africa and Europe and countless people are fleeting in Casablanca. It centers on Rick, a nightclub owner, Ilsa and Laszlo who are part of the resistance and the Nazis. Ilsa and Laszlo are trying to escape from Casablanca to America, but many things stand in their way. It showcases the struggles of refugees under the Nazi regime. Different types of cinematography are used in Casablanca. The most notable would be the use of light. The stark contrast between light and dark gives the film a dark film noir style; through this he shows the psychological depth of the entire film. As it is shot in black and white, the lighting was essential as it established the importance of individual characters and their emotions and shows the darkness and heaviness resulting from the Nazi Party's occupation. One notable scene is when Captain Louis Renault comes looking for Rick. The Captain enters Rick's office but the only thing you see is Rick's shadow cast on the wall. This shows how the Nazi regime is always present and always on guard, and how Rick has his own secrets. Another scene could be whenIlsa looks out the window watching Laszlo leave at night, her face is half dark and half lit, showing how she is torn between her love for him and Rick and, in general, the dark circumstances they find themselves in. Adolf Hitler placed this film into production; he hired Riefenstahl because he wanted something "artistically satisfying." to appeal to individuals who were not necessarily political. The plot of Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of Will was a film that focused on Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party regime. It follows Hitler and his top officials during the Nuremberg Rally, a 4-day event that was basically an annual Nazi party rally, considered a Nazi propaganda event. The film opens with Hitler's plane landing in Nuremberg, where thousands of adoring fans await him. Then you see his caravan heading to the hotel where there are even more people, including men, women and children. Over the course of 4 days there are speeches by numerous Nazi officials, but the most monumental moments are during Hitler's speeches. Casablanca is an amazing film that is both a fun film to watch, but also a very deeply complex political film. Casablanca is considered a piece of propaganda. It was filmed in conjunction with the OWI, or U.S. Office of War Information, in hopes of helping shape American public opinion about the war. Elmer Davis, director of the OWI, said: "The easiest way to inject a propaganda idea into the minds of most people is to let it pass through an entertainment film when they don't realize they're being propagandized." For this reason the plot had to be shaped to fit this narrative. It's essentially about the main protagonist Rick Blaine; who is an isolationist. He owns a nightclub called "Rick's Cafe American". This is where many different types of exchanges take place and it is full of Nazis from the occupying areas and refugees desperate to escape. There is an old romance that blossoms between Bogart and Bergman, but it is eventually cut short once again due to the war. In Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of Will the overarching theme is how Germany will unite and then become a great power, and that will be Hitler. who could bring it to fruition. Throughout the film Adolf is portrayed as the German Messiah, from him descending from the clouds in his plane, to the animals and statues watching him as he passes by. Hitler is depicted as the savior of the German people and the nation. Throughout the film it is also shown how he manages to bring unity into all aspects of their lives. This is shown through a variety of scenes, one of which is during the aerial shot of the army barracks. All the tents are next to each other, proving that all the soldiers are one. This is further reinforced when you see that all the soldiers are not wearing uniform; this once again shows the unity among all men. Throughout the film, there are flags of the old Imperial Germany next to the swastika. There are several examples of confusion between the German people, the state and the Nazi party. After Hitler gives his closing speech, Rudolph Hess says: “The Party is Hitler – and Hitler is Germany just as Germany is Hitler!” Frank Capra, an accomplished filmmaker, explained Triumph of Will as: "it didn't fire guns, it didn't drop bombs, but as a psychological weapon aimed at destroying the will to resist, it was just as lethal." Since this film was produced in collaboration with the OWI, the main themes of Casablanca promote war and anti-fascist ideologies. Humphrey Bogart's character, Rick, and his nightclub symbolize America, the fact that it is a center.