Directed by
Greenspan, Bud, American, 1926 - 2010
Written by
Greenspan, Bud, American, 1926 - 2010
Produced by
Greenspan, Bud, American, 1926 - 2010
Narrated by
Owens, Jesse, American, 1913 - 1980
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
1964
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration (Reel 1): 27 Minutes
Length (Film): 975 Feet
Duration (Reel 2): 25 Minutes
Length (Film): 925 Feet
Caption
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
Description
A documentary film with the title Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin. It consists of two reels of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
The documentary opens with aerial footage taken over the city of Berlin with the sound of a helicopter humming in the background. As the helicopter flies over Olympiastadion Berlin, the narrator, Jesse Owens, comments that it was not bombed during WWII. After discussing the global geopolitical climate in 1936, Owens begins to describe his experience participating in the games.
The rest of the documentary consists of archival footage of the 1936 Olympics, such as the Olympic torch relay; the opening ceremony; several shots of Adolf Hitler at the games; footage of some of the events Owens competed in: 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay; as well as a scene in which Owens converses with the son of fellow long jumper Luz Long.
In the final scene, Owens can be seen in a motorcade in New York City, in the voiceover narration, he reports that a bag containing $10, 000 was thrown into his car by an anonymous donor.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Place filmed
Germany, Europe
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Type
sound films
black-and-white films (visual works)
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Athletes
Documentary films
Film
International affairs
Olympics
Race relations
Sports
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.57.1ab
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52ce7a900-be75-4b60-b8b3-10c89318fbec

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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