"Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics.

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

Currently on the Comcast lineup, this is a good one, made in 2016. Not award material, but worth your time. Stephan James plays Owens, Jason Sedeikis (yes, the comedian) plays his track coach at Ohio State, Larry Snyder -- and a cast of thousands (if you count the fans in the German stadium).

Jessie won his 4 golds in the face of the Nazis, but its the side stories that make this one interesting. The friendship on and off track between Owens and the German jumper Luz Long was featured, and it cost Long his life when he was killed in the front lines of the war. He was put there as punishment for helping and fraternizing with Owens. A well done piece of movie here.

Leni Riefenstahl was prominent, played beautifully (compared to written accounts of Leni) by Carice van Houten, filming the games and standing up to Joseph Goebbels -- a chilling figure in this film. Another well-played side story.

Jeremy Irons plays Avery Brundage as a man who was a very mixed bag for a US Olympic Commission president. He pulled 2 Jewish runners from the relay the day before the race because he was as intimidated by Goebbels -- hence Jessie's 4th medal; he replaced one of the runners. For all his prominence, Irons leaves him as a man not likeable.

Lots going on here; the friendship between Owens and Long was played up to emphasize that it was maintained between their families long after the war. Near the end of the film, Owens was to be honored at a dinner event in 1980, but wasn't allowed to walk through the front door with his coach. They made him come in the service entrance for his own award dinner!

Overall a good movie and a great story with details you might not have known. See this one.

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Topic - "Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics. - free.ranger 21:10:57 07/25/17 (7)

RE: "Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics. - Ross 19:08:07 07/31/17 (1)

Good comments - free.ranger 09:47:22 08/01/17 (0)

RE: "Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics. - Bill the K 05:00:46 07/27/17 (2)

The movie shows his teammates accepting him fairly well. - free.ranger 07:29:41 07/27/17 (0)

RE: "Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics. - volunteer 07:05:50 07/27/17 (0)

RE: "Race." Jessie Owens and the 1936 Nazi Olympics. - Rod M 08:01:34 07/26/17 (1)

I think so. Might have been '60. It was a screen script on the scene. - free.ranger 08:49:21 07/26/17 (0)

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