XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport (1948)

About XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport

XIVth Olympiad: The Glory of Sport is a documentary that depicts the 1948 Summer Olympic Games held in London. Released in 1948, the movie provides an extensive account of the event, from its inauguration to its conclusion. The movie highlights various sports events and profiles some of the most outstanding athletes. This film, with its beautifully captured sporting moments, serves not only as a historical record but as a celebration of the human spirit and collective effort in the post-war period.

Making / Production

This iconic documentary was directed by Castleton Knight and Paul Dickson. The film was produced under the banner of Olympic Films in association with Central Cinema Company Film and The Rank Organisation. The primary challenge during production was to seamlessly blend footage of sports events with commentary, interviews and profiles of individuals and teams, a task which was highly successful.

Actors

• Fanny Blankers-Koen: The Dutch athlete who played herself. She put on a magnificent performance, winning four gold medals.
• Harrison Dillard: The American athlete who played himself and showcased extraordinary speed, clinching the gold in 100m.
• Emil Zátopek: The Czech long-distance runner played himself, he managed to win his first Olympic gold in this Olympics.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This movie marked the first time the Olympic Games were comprehensively filmed for a global audience.
• London was the first city to host the Olympics after World War II, making this a very significant event in the history of the games.
• The 1948 Summer Olympics, or XIV Olympiad, were also known as the "Austerity Games" due to the economic climate and post-war rationing.

Quotes

• "Sport carries its own antidote to excess. In sport, the law of diminishing returns is as operative as elsewhere in life and art."
• "The Olympics, like life, favors the fair player, the good sport."

Music, Soundtrack

• The documentary had a blend of orchestral music to enhance the mood of the various sports events.
• The main theme used in the documentary is the Olympic Fanfare and Theme by Leo Arnaud.