Film #15: Gold and Glory

[StevePulaski]

Gold and Glory (1953)
Directed by: Hannu Leminen

Rating: ★★
Film #15/53; part of the Criterion Collection's "100 Years of Olympic Film" box-set

The second part of Hannu Leminen's two-part documentary on the 1952 Summer Olympics neither shows the director's style of capturing the games improve in a noteworthy manner nor any better contextualize the previous effort. Gold and Glory, like its predecessor, Where the World Meets, is an incredibly boring showcase of most non-track and field events that took place in Helsinki. Boxing, gymnastics, weight-lifting, swimming, sailing, and equestrian events dominate the better part of this 96-minute affair, and while some of the aforementioned competitions have yet to be seen in previous Olympic documentaries, they aren't given any kind of worthy analysis by the narrators — a theme that was disappointingly present on Where the World Meets too.

Leminen's directing skills do show some considerable skill in part during the framing and editing of the football (soccer) events, which effectively capture the game using a versatile display of close-up and long-shot techniques, as well as the diving sequences, which elegantly capture the human form. Competitors turn and twist their way through the air, astutely boxed in Leminen's tight shots that link together to make for a compelling compilation that easily shines above any sequences previously seen in this or the former documentary.

It was a wise move for Leminen to separate the Helsinki games into two documentaries, but unlike Where the World Meets, which had least made its intent to make an account the running events clear, Gold and Glory lacks a thesis. It still features some track events and its remaining inclusions don't add up to much. It's victim to good intentions but a plethora of instances where the commentary is subpar, the directing is interchangeable, and the approach is underwhelming with its pedestrian qualities.

Directed by: Hannu Leminen.