"Day of Freedom" Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Synapse Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision) - Region 0

(aka "Tag Der Freiheit - Unsere Wehrmacht" or "Day of Freedom - Our Armed Forces")

directed by Leni Riefenstahl
Germany 1953

Theatrical Release: December 30, 1935

DVD Comparison:

Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Synapse Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Enrique B Chamorro for all the Screen Caps!

(Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Synapse Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Synapse Films Region 0 - NTSC	Synapse Films Region 0 - NTSC	Warner Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:50:24	16:53	16:50
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.19 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.66 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.56 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will)
Bitrate: Synapse Films (SE)
Bitrate: Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision)
Audio	German DD 2.0	German DD 2.0	German DD 2.0
Subtitles	English	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Synapse Films Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Part of the Triumph of the Will DVD by Synapse Films • Commentary only on Triumph of the Will • VOB file dates: 03/09/01 • 4 page insert DVD Release Date: 04/17/01 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: Synapse Films Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Part of the Triumph of the Will DVD by Synapse Films • Commentary only on Triumph of the Will • VOB file dates: 03/09/01 • 4 page insert DVD Release Date: 04/17/01 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 1	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Part of the Short Vol. 8 - Vision DVD by Warner • Commentary by Dr. Robert von Dassanowksy • VOB file dates: 03/22/00 • No insert DVD Release Date: 05/02/00 Snappercase Chapters 1

Comments

Day of Freedom is available on DVD via two sources, as a supplement on the Triumph of the Will DVD and as one of the documentary pieces on the Short #8 compilation by Warner. Both share the same print damage so they both must be derived from a nitrate print found in the US. Leni Riefenstahl claims that the only interesting central part of the film, a speech by Hitler, is missing from the US remnant. Both DVD's lack subtitles, but the Warner edition contains a commentary track by Dr. Robert Von Dassanowsky, Associate Professor and Chair of Languages and Cultures and Director of Film Studies at the University of Colorado (bio HERE )
It sounds like the commentary track was recorded through a telephone which is a real shame. Dr. Dassanowsky's expertise in German Culture and History clearly comes across in the short 16 minutes he has during the film. The limited time available unfortunately does not allow him the time to develop the intricate web of history that Dr. Santoro can over the almost two hours of Triumph of the Will. Given the short time, Dr. Dassanowsky gets to bring up several interesting topics in relation to Leni Riefenstahl's life and the Nuremberg films.

Day of Freedom by all accounts was an effort to mollify the German armed forces. The generals felt that they had been overlooked, only a short sequence in the middle of Triumph of the Will showcased the army. Riefenstahl retells that Hitler proposed his own "artistic" compromise. He wanted Leni to have Triumph open with a camera slowing tracking down a row of all the "overlooked" generals. This would placate each general's ego. Riefenstahl was bold enough to refuse his suggestion and insist on keeping artistic control over Triumph of the Will.

Leni did agree to return to the 1935 rally and make a film exclusively about the Wehrmacht. She did just that with a small camera crew and quickly went about fulfilling her commitment. Day of Freedom opens with a rather expressionistic style having the solder's profile silhouette against the sky, but then the remainder of the film follows her more conventional "documentary" style. The artistic opening would be a prelude to her dramatic opening for Olympia, but the short film basically mimics the look of Triumph, with some leftover footage even being used from the 1934 rally. Her eye for composition still shows in some short segments, but the primary goal was to showcase the power of the military machine. Leni maintains that it was a minor film made to satisfy the petty jealousies of German generals.

- Enrique B Chamorro

DVD Menus

(Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Synapse Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Synapse Films (Triumph of the Will) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Synapse Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Short Vol. 8 - Vision) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Opens with a "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" expressionist style to be used later in "Olympia".