'' Olympia '' premiered for Hitler 's 49th birthday in 1938 . Its international debut led Riefenstahl to embark on an American publicity tour in an attempt to secure commercial release . In February 1937 , Riefenstahl enthusiastically told a reporter for the '' Detroit News '' , " To me , Hitler is the greatest man who ever lived . He truly is without fault , so simple and at the same time possessed of masculine strength " . She arrived in New York City on 4 November 1938 , five days before '' Kristallnacht '' ( the " Night of the Broken Glass " ) . When news of the event reached the United States , Riefenstahl publicly defended Hitler . On 18 November , she was received by Henry Ford in Detroit . '' Olympia '' was shown at the Chicago Engineers Club two days later . Avery Brundage , President of the International Olympic Committee , praised the film and held Riefenstahl in the highest regard . She negotiated with Louis B. Mayer , and on 8 December , Walt Disney brought her on a three-hour tour showing her the ongoing production of '' Fantasia ''
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Leni Riefenstahl