Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

85% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(496 ratings)

Many cineastes consider Pandora and the Flying Dutchman as the masterpiece of filmmaker Albert Lewin, while others write the film off as a pretentious bore. Ava Gardner stars as Pandora Reynolds, a predatory creature who destroys the lives of all men who've been unfortunate enough to fall in love… More Many cineastes consider Pandora and the Flying Dutchman as the masterpiece of filmmaker Albert Lewin, while others write the film off as a pretentious bore. Ava Gardner stars as Pandora Reynolds, a predatory creature who destroys the lives of all men who've been unfortunate enough to fall in love with her. Enter Hendrick van der Zee (James Mason), a mystical figure who proves to be Pandora's match. It turns out that van der Zee is the legendary 17th Flying Dutchman, whose spirit is doomed to wander the earth until he is able to find a woman willing to love him with all her heart -- and thereby sacrifice her own life. Further elaboration would spoil the film for potential Lewin enthusiasts. Suffice it to say that the director's many cinematic obsessions (cat figurines, Egyptology, obscure literary allusions) are exercised to their fullest potential. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Albert Lewin
Written By: Albert Lewin
Genres: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Oct 15, 1951 Limited
On DVD: May 23, 2000
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Lacks imagination.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Its unique oddball blend of fatalistic Hemingway-esque masculinity, swoony romance and mythology, literary allusions...and grab bag of styles...makes Pandora and the Flying Dutchman nearly as hypnotic as the romance it retells. [Blu-ray]
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
... there is a grace to the literary elegance and poetic dialogue of his script, and to the rich mix of European history, myths ancient and contemporary and Spanish culture...
Derek Malcolm, This is London
Jack Cardiff's superb Technicolor cinematography looks as beautiful as Gardner and that's substantially the reason the film has stood the test of time.
Andrew Pulver, Guardian [UK]
It's one of those unclassifiable efforts that threaten permanently to topple over the edge of ridiculousness, but somehow manage to avoid it.
David Hughes, Empire Magazine
A timeless tale, beautifully remastered.
Adrian Turner, Radio Times
It's an acquired taste, perhaps, but Lewin was a genuine maverick talent.
Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix
Lewin's pseudo-Somerset Maugham story is pretentious and unconvincing, descending into fantasy hokum involving sailor ghosts and a cursed protagonist who's been undead since the 16th century.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Passionate, classical, mysterious and surreal all at once.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Intiguing, but slow-moving Albert Lewin film

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

truly bizarre. you'll have to watch and judge for yourself if it's wildly romantic or ridiculously over the top. it's as if the archers had directed 'the fountain'...not quite as good but more fun. a gorgeous looking film. some call this lewin's… More
truly bizarre. you'll have to watch and judge for yourself if it's wildly romantic or ridiculously over the top. it's as if the archers had directed 'the fountain'...not quite as good but more fun. a gorgeous looking film. some call this lewin's masterpiece but i'll take 'the picture of dorian gray'
Chris B

While I wouldn't consider "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" a masterpiece or a lost piece of cinematic perfection, it's beautiful cinematography captured in beautiful technicolor and strong performances make it a beauty to behold. The film has a very dream-like… More
While I wouldn't consider "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" a masterpiece or a lost piece of cinematic perfection, it's beautiful cinematography captured in beautiful technicolor and strong performances make it a beauty to behold. The film has a very dream-like feel to it and the deliberate pacing of the film only adds more to this mood that suits both the story and film wonderfully! While many critics at the time of the film's theatrical release criticized Ava Gardner's performances, saying it was too cold and contrived, I think it suits the role flawlessly. James Mason gives a powerful portrayal of the Dutchman who after murdering his wife out of false suspicion of her infidelity is cursed to sail the seas until Judgement day. Of course the catch is that if he finds love (He is allowed to walk the earth for six months every seven years in search of a woman willing to love him and die for him.) then the curse will be broken and he can find peace. This is one of many films to have been lovingly restored thanks to the involvement and devotion of Martin Scorsese who should be given loads of credit for his passion in bringing this and many other Classic films back to their former glory on Blu-ray! This is certainly a very hard film to classify or stick in a certain genre and is more like a lucid dream that combines mysticism and melodrama to form a wonderful romance film that is so much more then it's separate pieces.