Büchse der Pandora, Die (1929)

Director:

Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Writers:

Frank Wedekind (plays)
Ladislaus Vajda (scenario)
(more)

Release Date:

22 February 1930 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

The rise and inevitable fall of an amoral but naive young woman whose insouciant eroticism inspires lust and violence in those around her.

Plot Keywords:

Stabbed To Death | Show Business | Death Wish | Trapeze Artist | Fashion Designer

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Louise Brooks	...	Lulu
Fritz Kortner	...	Dr. Ludwig Schön
Francis Lederer	...	Alwa Schön (as Franz Lederer)
Carl Goetz	...	Schigolch
Krafft-Raschig	...	Rodrigo Quast
Alice Roberts	...	Gräfin Geschwitz - Countess Anna Geschwitz
Daisy D'Ora	...	Charlotte Marie Adelaide v. Zarnikow - braut Dr. Schöns - Dr. Schön's Bride (as Daisy d'Ora)
Gustav Diessl	...	Jack the Ripper (as Gustav Diesel)
Michael von Newlinsky	...	Marquis Casti-Piani (as Michael v. Newlinsky)
Sig Arno	...	Der inspizient - the instructor (as Siegfried Arno)

Directed by
Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Writing credits
Frank Wedekind		(plays "Erdgeist" and "Die Büchse der Pandora")
Ladislaus Vajda		(scenario)
Joseph Fleisler		titles (uncredited)
Georg Wilhelm Pabst		uncredited

Produced by
Heinz Landsmann	....	producer
Seymour Nebenzal	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Stuart Oderman		(uncredited)
William P. Perry		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Günther Krampf

Film Editing by
Joseph Fleisler		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Andrej Andrejew		(as Andrejew)
Gottlieb Hesch		(as Hesch)
Ernö Metzner		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Gottlieb Hesch		(uncredited)

Production Management
Georg C. Horetsky	....	production manager (as Georg C. Horsetzky)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marc Sorkin	....	assistant director
Paul Falkenberg	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Marcel Tuszkay	....	graphic designer

Production Companies

• Nero-Film AG

Distributors

• Süd-Film (1929) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Moviegraphs Inc. (1929) (USA) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1984) (Finland) (TV) (1992)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cult & Classic (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmmuseum München (????) (worldwide) (all media) (as Film Museum München)
• Grapevine Video (video)
• Janus Films (????) (USA) (all media)
• Sultan Video (VHS)
• Video Dimensions (VHS)

Also Known As:

Pandora's Box (UK) (USA)
Lulu
The Box of Pandora (International: English title)

Runtime:

110 min (VHS version) | Belgium:152 min (Copy with French titles at Brussels Musée du Cinéma) | 131 min (original version) (21.4 fps) | USA:109 min | Germany:133 min (restored version)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:A (1929) | Portugal:(Banned) (1936-1945) | Norway:(Banned) (1929) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | UK:PG (1993) | Germany:(Banned) (1933-1945) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:17 (original release) | Argentina:13 | Finland:(Banned) (1929) | Sweden:(Banned)

Filming Locations:

Nero-Film Studio, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Nero-Film AG

Trivia:

Fritz Kortner reportedly did not like or respect Louise Brooks, whom he didn't consider a trained actress.

Quotes:

Schigolch: You should only play when you're sure to win.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu (1998)

A Classic

Describing a film like PANDORA'S BOX is difficult. As a sterling example of German Expressionism you know it's not a piece of fluff. It's complex, deep, and not for the sitcom and Star Trek crowds. You have to lose yourself in it, and that is to lose yourself in Louise Brooks as PANDORA'S BOX is her movie. Not to diminish the genius of G.W. Pabst but it is Brooks that dominates this movie like so few actors can do. Without Brooks this movie could not exist.

Whew. And what's it about you may ask? It's a morality play made and set in the Berlin of 1928. While I watched the film I could not shake the knowledge of the cataclysm that was to be unleashed on Germany in five short years. In a way Pabst knew it too. (I was particularly weirded by the prominent display of a menorah in one of the Berlin apartment sets.)

I recommend that everyone that loves movies should at some point find the video store in their neighborhood that stocks old movies, rent PANDORA'S BOX, and experience it for themselves.