No Orchids for Lulu (1962)
"Lulu" (original title)

Director:

Rolf Thiele

Writers:

Rolf Thiele, Frank Wedekind (plays)

Stars:

Nadja Tiller, O.E. Hasse, Hildegard Knef

Cast

Cast overview:
Nadja Tiller	...	Lulu
O.E. Hasse	...	Dr. Schön
Hildegard Knef	...	Baroness Geschwitz
Mario Adorf	...	Rodrigo
Charles Regnier	...	Jack the Ripper
Rudolf Forster	...	Schigolch
Leon Askin	...	Dr. Goll
Sieghardt Rupp	...	Schwarz
Klaus Höring	...	Alva Schön
Fritz von Friedl	...	Hugenberg (as Fritz Friedl)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

remake | based on play | character name in title

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

Austria

Language:

German

Release Date:

August 1962 (Austria)

Also Known As:

No Orchids for Lulu

Filming Locations:

Vienna, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vienna Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Die Büchse der Pandora (1921)

User Reviews

This Pandora's Box Remake is, Unfortunately, Weaker than the Louise Brooks Version

This 1962 remake of Pandora's Box by Austrian director Rolfe Thiel is a lesser vehicle than the 1929 silent version. Nonetheless, it is competently made with good use of black and white cinematography imparting the atmosphere of the Weimar Republic.

Nadja Tiller is by no means incompetent in the lead role but she is by no means as iconic as Louise Brooks. Making her a blonde was probably a good idea to reinforce the notion that this is a different film with a different Lulu but it also makes her that much less memorable than Louise with her trademark appearance.

Liberal use is made of soft-focus photography, emphasising that the film is set in the part and highlighting the vulnerability of its lead.

Overall, though, scenes are less well-orchestrated than in the previous version. There is no ambiguity here as to whether or not Lulu pulls the trigger to kill her lover and there is little tension at the end when Jack the Ripper appears. The murder happens so quickly, one feels the film is very much anti-climactic.

The narrative is told in a straightforward, realist manner and lacks bravura. It is a competently-made film and, perhaps an overlooked one but it is difficult not to compare it to its predecessor and it pales by comparison.