Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

A seductive woman falls in love with a mysterious ship's captain.

Director:

Albert Lewin

Writers:

Albert Lewin (story and screenplay), Omar Khayyam (quotation)

Stars:

James Mason, Ava Gardner, Nigel Patrick

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Mason	...	Hendrik van der Zee
Ava Gardner	...	Pandora Reynolds
Nigel Patrick	...	Stephen Cameron
Sheila Sim	...	Janet
Harold Warrender	...	Geoffrey Fielding
Mario Cabré	...	Juan Montalvo
Marius Goring	...	Reggie Demarest
John Laurie	...	Angus
Pamela Mason	...	Jenny (as Pamela Kellino)
Patricia Raine	...	Peggy
Margarita D'Alvarez	...	Senora Montalvo
La Pillina	...	Spanish dancer
Abraham Sofaer	...	Judge
Francisco Igual	...	Vicente
Guillermo Beltrán	...	Barman

Storyline

Albert Lewin's interpretation of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. In a little Spanish seaport named Esperanza, during the 30s, appears Hendrick van der Zee, the mysterious captain of a yacht (he is the only one aboard). Pandora is a beautiful woman (who men kill and die for). She's never really fallen in love with any man, but she feels very attracted to Hendrick... We are soon taught that Hendrick is the Flying Dutchman, this sailor of the 17th century that has been cursed by God to wander over the seas until the Doomsday... unless a woman is ready to die for him...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost ship | flying dutchman | bullfighter | return from dead | self sacrifice | 

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Taglines:

The Woman of the year in the picture of the year ! [Australia Theatrical]

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pandora

Filming Locations:

Pendine Sands, Carmarthen Bay, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dorkay Productions,Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Esperanza, the name of the fishing village, is the Spanish for 'hope' which was the only thing left after Pandora opened her box in the Greek myth

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Goofs

In the workroom where Stephen is repairing his race car, the words "NON FUMAR" are written on the wall, with the English words "NO SMOKING" beneath. The Spanish is incorrect: it should read "NO FUMAR".

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Quotes

Hendrik: I would long for death; but, death would deny me.

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Connections

Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)

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Soundtracks

Etude #1 In A Flat, Op. 25/1, CT 26,
Aeolian Harp." (uncredited)
Written by Frédéric Chopin
Played by Pandora at her home

User Reviews

Do not be afraid to open the box....

.... cause ,though a bit too long,"Pandora" is an unique film .It is part of those movies in which love refutes everything ,including space and time.It is continuously constructed and when it's over we have the strange feeling of having come full circle.

"Pandora" is wrapped in mystery and it renewed the genre which "Peter Ibbetson "and "portrait of Jennie" had pioneered in the thirties and late forties which "Somewhere in Time" (based on a Richard Matheson novel) would continue in the eighties.

Ava Gardner,the most beautiful woman of that era (and for me the most beautiful woman of all time) is ideally cast as the female lead.Who else could play such a gorgeous creature ?James Mason gives a tormented heartrending performance.

Albert Lewin made few movies but the best of them (the picture of Dorian Gray" "the private Affairs of Bel-Ami" ) are worth seeking out.The only real horror is "Saadia" which even Michel Simon could not redeem.

Ava Gardner and James Mason would play another legendary couple (real this time):Francis-Joseph and Elisabeth of Austria.("Mayerling",Terence Young,1968)