Der weiße Rausch

This film was Leni Riefenstahl's second slapstick comedy (the first being Der große Sprung — both films directed by Arnold Fanck), and was the first sound film ever made about skiing, at the same time that it was also Fanck's last on the subject. A significant classic in both these regards, the film also features some of the most beautiful shots of skiing ever made, making it a true landmark in sports films.

Synopsis

This comedy begins with the audience rolling into the ski resort of St. Anton am Arlberg, just as some skiing contests are underway. Observing the ski jumping competitions is young Leni [Leni Riefenstahl], who is obviously very intrigued with the thought of learning how to ski herself. After practicing her jumping that evening (by jumping into her bed), the next morning she sets out to do the real thing, building herself a small ramp and enthusiastically making her first jumps — and landing squarely on her behind each time, of course. Along comes little Lothar [Lothar Ebersberg], who offers his help, and with that Leni is able to have a little more success in her landings.

Meanwhile, two out-of-town carpenters [Guzzi Lantschner & Walter Riml] arrive who also wish to learn how to ski. As Leni begins to take more serious lessons with the local ski instructor, Hannes [Hannes Schneider], the two carpenters endeavour to learn the sport as well, but by teaching themselves through books. The film cuts back and forth between Leni and the two carpenters as they suffer one mishap after another in their quests to master skiing, but eventually Leni learns well enough to win her first race, and the carpenters, too, are beginning to become more and more adept (although still rather clumsy, in their own way!).

A year later, all are skilled enough that they enter the town's annual "fox hunt" on skis (where two skiers play the "foxes," leaving a trail as they go along, and it's the task of a dozen or two other skiers to catch them). Leni and Hannes are chosen to be play the foxes, and many comical things happen as they do their best to elude their pursuers. The foxes are far too clever to be caught, even having enough time to stop and take in a few drinks (a few too many, that is!) along the way, and although they've managed to lose Rudi [Rudi Matt] and their other pursuers completely, by accident the bumbling carpenters manage to get back on their trail. In the end it's not the "fox hunters" who catch their quarry, though, but little Lothar who tricks them. As this splapstick comedy ends, the foxes have now been imprisoned in within a fortress of snow, and are pelted with snowballs until they can only resort to crawling into their "fox hole."

Image Galleries

• Titles/Credits for Der weiße Rausch
• For downloadable video clips, please see Leni Riefenstahl Video Downloads (Part One: The Arnold Fanck Bergfilms)

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)
• Production Stills from Der weiße Rausch (plus Das blaue Licht and Stürme über dem Montblanc)

  Part of the Leni Riefenstahl und der deutsche Bergfilm section of the Virtuelles Filmmuseum of the Universität zu Köln.

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