Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

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

Director:

Albert Lewin

Writer:

Albert Lewin (story and screenplay: suggested by the Legend of The Flying Dutchman)

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 (as Guillermo Beltran)

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:

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

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Taglines:

She was the living symbol of the sin that lurks in women!

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

For still photography of Ava Gardner, producer Albert Lewin hired his friend, the famous surrealist artist Man Ray.

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Goofs

According to a banner at the event, the (wheel-driven) land speed record breaking attempt occurs on August 20, 1930. The narration states that Cameron will have to average more than 214 mph. However, the real land speed record at that time - set more than a year earlier, on March 11, 1929 - was 231.446 mph. Beyond this, the thought of Cameron attaining the speeds he does in a car with the unmodified body from an open wheel race car of the time is rather absurd: specially built bodies were already being built to reach these speeds in the 1920s. Beyond the aerodynamic considerations for speed, a potentially even larger problem was creating downforce to provide enough traction at these speeds.

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Quotes

Pandora Reynolds: [singing] Oh, how am I to know, If it's really love, That's found its way here? Oh, how am I to know, Will it linger on, And leave me then? I dare not guess, At this strange happiness, For, oh, How am I to know, Can it be that love, Has come to stay here?

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: According to the legend, the Flying Dutchman was condemned to wander the seas eternally unless he could find a woman who loved him enough to die for him . . . .

THE SEAPORT OF ESPERANZA, ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF SPAIN, ABOUT TWENTY YEARS AGO . . . .

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Connections

Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)

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Soundtracks

You're Driving Me Crazy
(uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Walter Donaldson
Sung by an uncredited male voice

User Reviews

A Little Appreciated Surrealist Minor Classic

Mention Pandora and the Flying Dutchman to a modern audience and you will be met with blank looks...To a public who thrive on Terminator 4,5,6,etc I suspect this film would be completely unknown.Good reason then for enjoying it (and it's type of film) quietly, while letting the rest get on with Hollywood's more obvious offerings. Unfortunately we don't have actors of the quality of James Mason anymore whose presence here is completely convincing as the otherwordly Dutchman of the title. The photography, clever placing of prop statues on moonlit beaches and raised camera angles viewing the coastal location in a surrealist style all help to create the fantasy illusion that echoes the art of the time....(Dali) etc. More than anything the film works precisely because it was made then.....if it was remade today it simply wouldn't work the people aren't around anymore who would make it work in the 'digital' age. Incidentally the 'voiceover'narration works very well..(as it also did in the maligned original version of Blade Runner....now never shown) In all a great film with a haunting quality....not as well known as it should be.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

Filming Locations:

Pendine Sands, Carmarthen Bay, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,466, 9 February 2020

Gross USA:

$17,401

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,805

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dorkay Productions, Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1