You Know Who Else Thought 3D Movies Were Great? Hitler

This story has everything: Nazis, 3D movies and Howling III director Philippe Mora.

Sure, Phillipe Mora is well known for his schlocky exploitation films like The Beast Within and The Howling III: The Marsupials, but he’s also a serious artist and has made serious documentaries. His 1970 doc, Swastika, is notable because it presented the first color film of the Hitler’s home movies. Now he’s done it again, unearthing 3D movies made by the Nazis.

“The films are shot on 35mm — apparently with a prism in front of two lenses,” he told Variety. “They were made by an independent studio for Goebbels’ propaganda ministry and referred to as ‘raum film’ — or space film — which may be why no one ever realised since that they were 3D.”

According to Variety the footage found includes “a musical set during a carnival entitled “So Real You Can Touch It” features close up shots of sizzling bratwurst on a barbeque; the other “Six Girls Roll into Weekend” has what may be UFA studio starlets living it up.”

Mora found this footage while researching a new doc, How The Third Reich Was Recorded, which examines the way the Nazis used imagery and film to manipulate reality. Sounds interesting - and a lot like what happens in today’s advertising-saturated world.