Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A documentary film with the title Jesse Owens Returns to Berlin. It consists of two reels of black-and-white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.

The documentary opens with aerial footage taken over the city of Berlin with the sound of a helicopter humming in the background. As the helicopter flies over Olympiastadion Berlin, the narrator, Jesse Owens, comments that it was not bombed during WWII. After discussing the global geopolitical climate in 1936, Owens begins to describe his experience participating in the games.

The rest of the documentary consists of archival footage of the 1936 Olympics, such as the Olympic torch relay; the opening ceremony; several shots of Adolf Hitler at the games; footage of some of the events Owens competed in: 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay; as well as a scene in which Owens converses with the son of fellow long jumper Luz Long.

In the final scene, Owens can be seen in a motorcade in New York City, in the voiceover narration, he reports that a bag containing $10, 000 was thrown into his car by an anonymous donor.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1964
• Directed by: Bud Greenspan, American, 1926 - 2010
• Written by: Bud Greenspan, American, 1926 - 2010
• Produced by: Bud Greenspan, American, 1926 - 2010
• Narrated by: Jesse Owens, American, 1913 - 1980
• Owned by: D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
• Type: sound films
• Type: black-and-white films (visual works)
• Type: 16mm (photographic film size)
• Medium: acetate film
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 1): 27 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 975 Feet
• Dimensions: Duration (Reel 2): 25 Minutes
• Dimensions: Length (Film): 925 Feet
• Place used: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place filmed: Germany, Europe
• Place filmed: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Athletes
• Topic: Documentary films
• Topic: Film
• Topic: International affairs
• Topic: Olympics
• Topic: Race relations
• Topic: Sports
• Object number: 2017.55.57.1ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Transferred from the DC Public Library
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.