Pandora's Box (1929)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jennifer X

  
  The original melodrama. Louise Brooks is sooo sexy.

• AJ V

  
  Brooks plays a girl who plays around with men, she doesn't want to be thought of as a prostitute or anything though, she never goes with guys she doesn't like. She marries an older man, but he believes he has ruined his reputation by doing so, so he decides they must die… More
  Brooks plays a girl who plays around with men, she doesn't want to be thought of as a prostitute or anything though, she never goes with guys she doesn't like. She marries an older man, but he believes he has ruined his reputation by doing so, so he decides they must die together. She doesn't think that's a good idea, but he ends up killing himself anyway, and she is blamed for his murder. She goes on the run with the guy's son, and they gamble away all their money. I wanted to write my own summary of this movie because the one on Flixster tells you about Jack the Ripper as if he played an important part throughout the film, but really we only see him in the end, which I don't want to give away. I didn't like this movie much because the story was pretty confusing most of the time, I think mainly because there aren't enough title cards (the written dialogue shown). Also, I thought the ending was stupid. I did like the movie for Brooks' acting and the interesting characters, so it's not a bad movie. Overall, it's okay.

• Stella D

  
  it's hard to imagine the audience reaction to this when it premiered 80 (!) years ago. with frank sexual themes, lesbianism, prostitution and murder they couldn't have gone much further without lulu appearing stark naked. louise brooks looks amazing and gives a remarkable… More
  it's hard to imagine the audience reaction to this when it premiered 80 (!) years ago. with frank sexual themes, lesbianism, prostitution and murder they couldn't have gone much further without lulu appearing stark naked. louise brooks looks amazing and gives a remarkable performance. lulu's not a bad girl really; she just wants to be loved. i liked the piano score too; very evocative

• Randy T

  
  <i>Pandora's Box</i> is a landmark film and an eye-opening experience for anyone who still thinks silent pictures are simplistic and benign. Louise Brooks' "Lulu" is iconic in every sense of the word. From her graceful form to her soft focus closeups… More
  <i>Pandora's Box</i> is a landmark film and an eye-opening experience for anyone who still thinks silent pictures are simplistic and benign. Louise Brooks' "Lulu" is iconic in every sense of the word. From her graceful form to her soft focus closeups to the way she approached and embraced the character, Brooks is as close to pure graphic stylization as anything I've ever witnessed. She's utterly desirable and yet completely unobtainable. Her personification of femininity might have represented new-found freedom for women of that era but, as a man, I found her to be joyously frustrating.

• Cassandra M

  
  For his movie "Die Büchse Der Pandora (Panodra's Box)", G.W. Pabst took together the tragedies "Der Erdgeist" and "Die Büchse Der Pandora", forming the famous Lulu-diptych written by German dramatist Frank Wedekind (1864-1918), an important ancestor… More
  For his movie "Die Büchse Der Pandora (Panodra's Box)", G.W. Pabst took together the tragedies "Der Erdgeist" and "Die Büchse Der Pandora", forming the famous Lulu-diptych written by German dramatist Frank Wedekind (1864-1918), an important ancestor of literary expressionism, who wrote amongst other works "Frühlings Erwachen" that caused many scandals. What is congenial about this movie, is not only the fact, that Louise Brooks is doubtless the best Lulu ever seen (in theater as well as on the screen), but how G.W. Pabst managed to amalgamate this two literary masterpieces of the time of sexual liberation in Europe. It is a real pity, that not more of Pabst work can be reached in the US and that most of his work is not available at all on DVD.

• Tim S

  
  One of the best silent films I have ever seen (not that I have seen a lot). Louise Brooks is one of the most captivating screen presence's of all time. She is not only beautiful, but the performance she gives is way beyond her time. Considering she doesn't have any lines to… More
  One of the best silent films I have ever seen (not that I have seen a lot). Louise Brooks is one of the most captivating screen presence's of all time. She is not only beautiful, but the performance she gives is way beyond her time. Considering she doesn't have any lines to deal with, its quite a feat to watch. The cinematography is gorgeous (the use of smoke is really nice) and the final act is amazing. It's a film that stands the test of time.

• jay n

  
  Expressionistic classic, Louise Brooks is wildly sensual.

• Luke B

  
  Prostitution, muder, gambling, lesbians. Who said silent films couldn't be raw and racy. A film so controversial in its day, most countries had their own edit of the film. Told in 8 seperate acts, each one working as a short film within itself. The film is suprisingly modern,… More
  Prostitution, muder, gambling, lesbians. Who said silent films couldn't be raw and racy. A film so controversial in its day, most countries had their own edit of the film. Told in 8 seperate acts, each one working as a short film within itself. The film is suprisingly modern, dealing with the curse of celebrity. Lulu will do anything to become famous, and the men around her will do anything for her. The film is never dull, always progressing the story forward. We are treated to a delightfully surprising yet dark ending. Louise Brooks is very naturalistic, and it is to the credit of the film that the performances are restrained and yet clear.

• Anastasia B

  
  Superbly shot by GW Pabst, this silent-era treasure of the late 20s has only one weakness: it's too long for it's own sake. Maybe I shouldn't have watched the uncut version. Whatever. It's completely worth the time if you see the restored version. Louise Brooks… More
  Superbly shot by GW Pabst, this silent-era treasure of the late 20s has only one weakness: it's too long for it's own sake. Maybe I shouldn't have watched the uncut version. Whatever. It's completely worth the time if you see the restored version. Louise Brooks simply shines like a diamond and the expressiveness of the actors and actresses of the silent medium is astonishing.

• Emily B

  
  Amazing film. Louise Brooks is just mesmerising, my eyes were fixed on her the whole time. Has a great moody, sexual atmosphere throughout. Overall a must see of the silent era.

• Grifty G

  
  Louise Brooks is gorgeous. Not now, then.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings