Who cares what the motives of Hitler and Goebbels were in having pushed for this to be made? The credit should go to director Josef von Báky for creating a top notch fantasy and Hans Albers for bringing to life one of the classic literary characters of all time. Somehow, the script got through one line of dialog that is as political as this gets. The title character tells someone in imperial Russia that they live to conquer, while Munchhausen exists simply to live. It's a profound moment that may stick with you as indeed he does live, riding around on a cannonball (looking like the wicked witch on her broom as he zooms around a sultan's palace) and heading to the moon after going pretty much everywhere he wants to go in history, from the Russia of Catherine the Great to the Italy of Casanova. His warm and funny personality makes him friends everywhere he goes, even among his enemies.
Certainly, it is obvious what influenced the greatest enemy democracy ever had to put this together, but in a sense, that motive backfires because the creators cleverly hid the desire for individuality inside the film's motives, something that obviously Hitler didn't want. Yes, you can see the easy comparisons to "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Thief of Baghdad" in this, and while certain scenes contain elements of both films and often rival them for the glorious special effects, the film stands out completely on its own. There's a gentility in this that doesn't proclaim any race the master race, but celebrates the world for its diversity, something that wasn't a part of approved Nazi propaganda.
Certainly, it is obvious what influenced the greatest enemy democracy ever had to put this together, but in a sense, that motive backfires because the creators cleverly hid the desire for individuality inside the film's motives, something that obviously Hitler didn't want. Yes, you can see the easy comparisons to "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Thief of Baghdad" in this, and while certain scenes contain elements of both films and often rival them for the glorious special effects, the film stands out completely on its own. There's a gentility in this that doesn't proclaim any race the master race, but celebrates the world for its diversity, something that wasn't a part of approved Nazi propaganda.