Television documentary on the history of the Olympic Winter Games, from 1924 to 1974. The major themes are: the characteristics of international participation; the growing elaborateness of the organization; growing world publicity; commercial patronage of athletes; criticism of professional status of some athletes; sports events; and winning athletes. The following games, and their opening and sometime closing ceremonies, are shown: Chamonix, France, 1924; St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1928; Lake Placid, New York, 1932; Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 1936; Oslo, Norway, 1952; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, 1956; Squaw Valley, USA, 1960; Innsbruck, Austria, 1964; Grenoble, France, 1968; and Sapporo, Japan, 1972. The competitions viewed are: Alpine and cross-country skiing; bob sledding; figure skating; speed skating; luge; and ice hockey. The Winter Olympic champions shown in competition are: Norwegian figure skater, Sonja Henie, 1924; Norwegian skier, Birger Rudd, 1936; Sonja Henie, 1936; US figure skater, Richard Button, 1948; Canadian figure skater, Barbara Ann Scott, 1952; Norwegian ski-jumper, Arnfinn Bergmann, 1952; U.S. speed skater, Ken Henry, 1952; US slalom skier, Andrea Mead Lawrence, 1952; German slalom skiers, Riechert and [Bucher], 1952; Austrian slalom skier, Tony Sailer, 1956; US woman figure skater, Tenley Albright, 1956; US figure skater, Carol Heiss, 1960; Canadian slalom skier, Ann Heggtveit, 1960; Soviet speed skater, Yevgeni Grishin, 1960; Canadian pair figure skaters, Barbara Wagner and Robert Paul, 1960; Austrian down hill skier, Christl Haas, 1964; Dutch figure skater, Sjoujke Dijkstra, 1964; Swedish 50km cross-country skier, Sixtern Jernberg, 1964; Soviet woman speed skater, Lidya Skobilkova, 1964; Canadian slalom skier, Nancy Greene, 1968; US woman figure skater, Peggy Fleming, 1968; Austrian figure skater, Wolfgang Schwarz, 1968; French Alpine skier, Jean-Claude Killy, 1968; US speed skater, Anne Henning, 1972.~Also shown are: Dutch skater, Ard Schenke, 1972; Canadian figure skater, Karen Mangussen, 1972; Austrian woman figure skater, Trixi Shuba, 1972; US figure skater, Janet [Lynn], 1972; Czech figure skater, Onrej Nepel, 1972; Soviet pairs figure skaters, Alexei Oulanov and Irena Rodnina, 1972; Spanish slalom skier, Francisco Fernandez Ochao, 1972; Polish skier, Woiciech Fortuna, 1972; and Japanese skier, Yukio Kasaya, 1972. Footage includes scenes of accidental collisions, injury and wreckage; archival footage of the various Games; Adolph Hitler and his officials opening the Winter Games in Bavaria, 1936; Hitler and Goering viewing a sports event from a balcony; the Soviet hockey team competing; Marilyn Monroe and Bing Crosby at Squaw Valley; and scenes of a spectacular closing event in Sapporo, Japan. Interview with Lord Killanin, the new president of the International Olympic Committee who appraises the recurring difficulties of the Winter Olympic Games. <60mn>
