Der große Sprung

Leni Riefenstahl's second film with director Arnold Fanck was a slapstick comedy, very similar to other comedies produced during that era. Although obviously not quite as important a part for Leni as the role she had as Diotima in Der heilige Berg was, nevertheless this film was a commercial success when it was released.

Synopsis

As the film begins, we meet Gita [Leni Riefenstahl], who lives in the mountains with her six younger brothers and sisters, plus their pet goat, Pippa. One day, while hiking in the mountains with her somewhat incompetent admirer, Toni [Luis Trenker], Gita climbs up in order to get away from him, waiting for him when she arrives at the peak, but then ridiculing him when he finally manages to reach the top himself.

Meanwhile, a rich, spoiled hypochondriac named Michael Treuherz [Hans Schneeberger] has also gone to the mountains with his butler [Paul Graetz] after his doctor prescribed "mountain climbing and a bit of marriage" in order for him to recover from the stresses of city life. Enthusiastic but rather inept, he learns some climbing techniques, but when he falls into a rushing stream and gets caught in a water wheel, Gita discovers him and rescues him by biting through the rope that's holding him.

Treuherz then learns to ski, first from the bungling Toni and then from Gita, who then offers herself as the trophy for a ski race. Even Pippa, the goat, joins in on the race, but it's Treuherz who wins it — and who wins Gita, too — and the film ends showing them years later coming out of their humble cabin with their little son.

Image Galleries

• None (at this time)
• For a downloadable video clip, please see Leni Riefenstahl Video Downloads (Part Three: Miscellaneous Video Clips)

Historical Notes

• Forthcoming!

Analysis & Criticism (On-Site)

• None (at this time)

Web Links

Below are selected external links (to other sites) with information and/or articles about this film. External links to information about other Leni Riefenstahl films can be found in the Web Links section on the main pages for each of those films, or for more general information please see the Selected Leni Riefenstahl Links section of this site.

• The Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

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