Pandora And The Flying Dutchman

Originally released in 1951 in sumptuous Technicolor, Pandora And The Flying Dutchman is a romantic interpretation of the legend of the cursed Dutch captain doomed to sail the oceans for all eternity – only the true love of a woman can lift the curse. Here, the Dutchman (James Mason) in question is one Hendrik van der Zee (the name, Henrik of the sea’, is a giveaway in itself) who set sail in the 17th century and is now anchored outside a small Spanish fishing village in the late 1940’s. Enter local femme fatale Pandora Reynolds (Ava Gardner), a spoiled society beauty whose pastime are expensive clothes and bling, as well as breaking men’s hearts. Mythology meets cinematic fiction when Pandora’s and Hendrik’s path cross.

The story is told through archaeologist Geoffrey Fielding (Harold Warrender), who becomes witness to the drama unfolding both ashore and at sea. Jack Cardiff’s breathtaking photography, combined with exotic locations, infuse an ethereal quality to the whole production. The pace is rather slow at times, particularly in the first half of the movie; however, things speed up as tension and action gradually increase.

Pandora And The Flying Dutchman was a production made independently of Hollywood studios, and its original camera negative has been presumed lost for several decades. Working from a nitrate separation positive and other sources, the film has been restored by George Eastman House in cooperation with The Douris Corporation.

Unavailable theatrically for many years and never available on Home Entertainment, director Albert Lewin’s film (he also wrote and produced) is a little masterpiece.
It is screening from May 14th at BFI Southbank (as part of the Jack Cardiff retrospective) and Key Cities on brand new 35mm prints and in Digital Cinema format. Not to be missed!