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IMDbPro

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

  • 19511951
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
James Mason and Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
In 1930, singer Pandora Reynolds, gorgeous, enigmatic, and fascinated by danger and destruction, has the men of a small Spanish town in despair. Just when race driver Stephen Cameron thinks he's won her, a mysterious yacht appears in the bay whose eerie captain may be the legendary Flying Dutchman. Stephen has an apparently more dangerous rival in the form of an arrogant bullfighter; but Pandora's friendship with the Dutchman may lead them both to a rendezvous with Fate...
Play trailer1:29
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Mystery
A seductive woman falls in love with a mysterious ship's captain.A seductive woman falls in love with a mysterious ship's captain.A seductive woman falls in love with a mysterious ship's captain.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Albert Lewin
  • Writers
    • Albert Lewin(story and screenplay: suggested by the Legend of The Flying Dutchman)
    • George Barrington(based on the writings of)
    • Omar Khayyam(quotation)
  • Stars
    • James Mason
    • Ava Gardner
    • Nigel Patrick
Top credits
  • Director
    • Albert Lewin
  • Writers
    • Albert Lewin(story and screenplay: suggested by the Legend of The Flying Dutchman)
    • George Barrington(based on the writings of)
    • Omar Khayyam(quotation)
  • Stars
    • James Mason
    • Ava Gardner
    • Nigel Patrick
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
    Trailer 1:29
    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman | 4K Restoration | Official US Trailer
    Trailer 0:55
    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman | 4K Restoration | Official US Trailer

    Photos111

    Ava Gardner, Nigel Patrick, and Harold Warrender in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    James Mason and Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    James Mason and Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    James Mason in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    James Mason and Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    James Mason and Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
    Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Hendrik van der Zeeas Hendrik van der Zee
    Ava Gardner
    Ava Gardner
    • Pandora Reynoldsas Pandora Reynolds
    Nigel Patrick
    Nigel Patrick
    • Stephen Cameronas Stephen Cameron
    Sheila Sim
    Sheila Sim
    • Janetas Janet
    Harold Warrender
    Harold Warrender
    • Geoffrey Fieldingas Geoffrey Fielding
    Mario Cabré
    Mario Cabré
    • Juan Montalvoas Juan Montalvo
    Marius Goring
    Marius Goring
    • Reggie Demarestas Reggie Demarest
    John Laurie
    John Laurie
    • Angusas Angus
    Pamela Mason
    Pamela Mason
    • Jennyas Jenny
    • (as Pamela Kellino)
    Patricia Raine
    • Peggyas Peggy
    Margarita D'Alvarez
    • Senora Montalvoas Senora Montalvo
    La Pillina
    • Spanish Danceras Spanish Dancer
    Abraham Sofaer
    Abraham Sofaer
    • Judgeas Judge
    Francisco Igual
    • Vicenteas Vicente
    Guillermo Beltrán
    • Barmanas Barman
    • (as Guillermo Beltran)
    Lilli Molnar
    • Geoffrey's Housekeeperas Geoffrey's Housekeeper
    • (as Lila Molnar)
    Phoebe Hodgson
    • Dressmakeras Dressmaker
    Gabriel Carmona
    • Member of Montalvo's Cuadrillaas Member of Montalvo's Cuadrilla
    • Director
      • Albert Lewin
    • Writers
      • Albert Lewin(story and screenplay: suggested by the Legend of The Flying Dutchman)
      • George Barrington(based on the writings of) (uncredited)
      • Omar Khayyam(quotation) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas showed up for the location shoot of the race car speed test on the beach at Pendine Sands, which was near his home in Wales. He can be spotted briefly at the start of the scene, around 1:11:03-04, as the hatless man in the brown jacket and beige trousers at the extreme left of the crowd in the background (ignoring the family of three on the left) about one-third of the picture's width in from the left. This is the first known surviving motion picture footage of Thomas.
    • 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".
    • Quotes

      Geoffrey Fielding: To understand one human soul is like trying to empty the sea with a cup.

    • 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 . . . .
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Une histoire seule (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      You're Driving Me Crazy
      (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Walter Donaldson

      Sung by an uncredited male voice

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    Absorbing, intense, and beautiful
    Albert Lewin's work as director had not impressed me prior to seeing "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" I found myself frankly quite bored by his version of Maugham's "The Moon and Sixpence" as well as "The Private Affairs of Bel Ami". "The Picture of Dorian Gray" has quite the reputation, but I unfortunately haven't seen it yet.

    'Exceeded expectations' cannot begin to describe how surprised I was at how absorbing, intense, captivating, and utterly gorgeous "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" is. Sure, there are flaws, mostly in the script which occasionally seems to think it's smarter than it actually is and goes for the sort of intrusive voice-over narration that never fails to annoy, but also in scenes where Lewin's decisions as director become frustrating and in the score which is generally quite good but often overbearing.

    Regardless of its flaws, "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" is a literate, creative, fairly original, and exceptionally well-acted film, with the exceptional feature of being photographed by Jack Cardiff OBE, who was on quite a run going into this film having photographed the three Powell/Pressburger classics from the 40's: "A Matter of Life and Death", "Black Narcissus", and "The Red Shoes" as well as the underrated if not exactly great 1949 Hitchcock offering "Under Capricorn". James Mason and Ava Gardner are really excellent here in the lead roles.

    I was not looking forward to "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" but I found myself very pleasantly surprised by it. It's far from a perfect film but I did find it to be quite excellent; even the melodrama that tends to bother me in romances from this era of film worked in the context of this film. A surprisingly good film, overall.

    8/10
    helpful•43
    3
    • ametaphysicalshark
    • Jun 17, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Catalan
    • Also known as
      • Pandora und der fliegende Holländer
    • Filming locations
      • Tossa de Mar, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Dorkay Productions
      • Romulus Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,401
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,466
      • Feb 9, 2020
    • Gross worldwide
      • $31,805
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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