Force Material Episode LIV: Triumph of the Will

This week, we break down how the Nazis have influenced the Empire, the First Order —and the Rebellion.

This episode is all about how Triumph of the Will — an infamous propaganda film made by Nazis, for Nazis, starring Nazis — influenced George Lucas in the creation of Star Wars, and the wider influence that Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany have had on the Star Wars films over the years.

We begin by discussing Triumph of the Will; director Leni Riefenstahl's relationship with Hitler; and the enduring power of the film as an effective piece of propaganda (02:05).

Then we move on to the impact of Triumph of the Will and the Nazis on George Lucas and his portrayal of the Empire (08:21) and the Rebellion (17:45); and their influence on The First Order (22:31). 

Finally, we look at the parallels between Emperor Palpatine and Adolf Hitler's rise to power (27:52).

Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.