AllMovie

Long before the Olympics became tarnished by the questionable way in which sites for the games were selected, this excellent sports documentary by director Romolo Marcellini and his crew reminds viewers of the games' ideals, true spirit, and emotional impact. Rome is the site of the 1960s summer games filmed here, and an introduction to the city and its history, as well as the history of the games opens the documentary. Stirring scenes of village crowds cheering on the Olympic torch bearer as the flame is carried to the stadium are quickly followed by the spectacular opening celebrations. Then Marcellini logically segues into the highlights of most competitions, from the javelin toss to the decathalon, and swimming to cycling and track. Capturing the emotions of the competitors as well as providing scenic shots of the environment, the documentary easily sustains interest throughout its more than two-hour running time.