Peaks of Destiny

This UFA production (original German title: Der Heilige Berg) was controversial director and film star Leni Riefenstahl’s first starring film role. Riefenstahl is best known for directing Nazi propaganda films, including Triumph of the Will (1935) and Olympia (1938).

This poster shares some uncomfortable similarities to Nazi design with its use of red, harsh lines that almost look like lightning bolts, and its focus on an Aryan-looking Karl (Louis Trenker). The strange disembodied head of Karl floating at the top of the poster, and the three inexplicable figures at the bottom, do not signify the film’s genre. With the imagery failing to tell us what the film is about it is not surprising the poster includes a lengthy plot summary. As a whole, the poster’s design is unsuccessful in making you want to see the film it advertises.

The NFSA also holds several stills from this film in the Taussig collection. One of the three posters in the NFSA collection has been signed by artist Estelle Waterman.