MovieChat Forums > Die Büchse der Pandora (1930) Discussion > What is with this movie?

What is with this movie?

posted 16 years ago by jtyroler
5 replies | jump to latest

I think it's fantastic and have had a crush on Louise Brooks ever since I first saw a photo of her many years ago. There is something about this movie that really takes hold of so many people. How many people have written scores for this? How many articles have been written about "Pandora's Box" and Louise Brooks?

I don't really know why this film and Louise Brooks have cast a spell on so many people. Does anyone know why they're are so attached to this movie and/or Louise Brooks?

[–] winonaforever2 16 years ago

I think it's because it was ahead of its time, there's a lot of sexuality even though it's mostly hidden. A film like that could never have been done in Hollywood. It's also her expression, her eyes, her movements.That's what I like the most about it. I also fell very sad at the end, because you feel sorry for her, but she sort of brought that upon herself as well. Reminded me a bit of mata-hari with Greta Garbo, although quite different of course.
But I wouldn't recommend this film for someone who can't appreciate classic movies or anything like that.

[–] kerrydragon 10 years ago

I love her haircut and vitality in this film,as well as the fashionable feel to it.I just wonder why such a beauty,would want so many old ugly men.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] Prof_Lostiswitz 9 years ago

Whatever Pabst had in mind, this movie works very nicely. Pabst afterwards said to Brooks "you are Lulu, and you will end up the same way". This proves that he sympathized with the way she played the part, even if his prediction wasn't 100% accurate.

[–] activista 8 years ago

Well, the film itself, like a number of European films I've seen from that era, seems more realistic and is more frank and open about sex than you would have ever seen from a Hollywood movie at that time (typical of most Europeans films to the day,though.) And Louise Brooks was just plain fun to watch in this film---she had a genuinely lively onscreen presence that keeps you watching the film. She also looks like she had a lot of fun doing the film, despite the fact that she couldn't speak a lick of German (most of the cast spoke totally different languages,too) from what I read in a bio about her. If she'd had the common sense to go elsewhere in Europe and capitalize on the few starring roles she'd gotten, she probably would have been an even bigger star in Europe, but she was more interested in living the life of a bon vivant than building an actual career. A shame, because she clearly had the charisma and presence to have become one.