St Moritz 1928 Official Film | The White Stadium

Overview

Arnold Fanck was already famous for his “mountain” films, notably starring Leni Riefenstahl. He and Othmar Gurtner devote the opening sequence to a vivid description of the lake, and the woodland surrounding St. Moritz. We see children engaged in a snowball fight, and skiers training naked on the sunlit mountain slopes. Whether it be the 14-year-old Sonja Henie in figure-skating, or horses and jockeys galloping across the frozen lake in the “skijoring” races, the mood of this brilliant documentary is exhilarating at every level. Technically, the film is superb, using multiple cameras and imaginative viewpoints to convey the Olympic spirit.