Pandora’s Box (1929): Pabst’s Stunning, Controversial Version of Wedekind’s Plays, Starring American Louise Brooks in her Best-Known Role (Lesbian, Censorship)
Georg Wilhelm Pabst directed Pandora’s Box, a German silent drama starring Louise Brooks, Fritz Kortner, and Francis Lederer.
The film follows Lulu, a seductive woman whose uninhibited nature brings ruin to herself and all those around her.
The film is based on Frank Wedekind’s plays Erdgeist (“Earth Spirit.” 1895) and Die Büchse der Pandora (“Pandora’s Box,” 1904).
Grade: B+ (**** out of *****)
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Theatrical poster
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Dismissed by critics on its initial release, Pandora’s Box was later rediscovered and reevaluated by film scholars and critics, becoming a classic (and even cult) movie of Weimar German cinema.
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Narrative Structure (Detailed Synopsis)
Lulu, the mistress of respected, middle-aged newspaper publisher Dr. Ludwig Schön, is delighted when an old man, her “first patron,” Schigolch, shows up at the door of her apartment.
However, when Schön arrives, she makes Schigolch hide on the balcony. Schön plans to marry Charlotte von Zarnikow, the daughter of the Minister of the Interior, and Lulu tries to change his mind. However, he departs, upon discovering the disreputable-looking Schigolch.
Schigolch introduces Lulu to Rodrigo Quast, who asks her to join his new variety act.
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Louise Brooks
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Brooks c. 1926
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Lulu visits her best friend Alwa, who’s Schön’s son, and he proposes to have her star in his son’s musical production to get her off his hands. Lulu refuses to perform in front of her rival, seducing him instead.
A defeated Schön resigns himself to marrying Lulu. While the wedding reception is underway, he finds Lulu playfully cavorting with Schigolch and Quast in the bedchamber. He threatens to shoot the interlopers, but Lulu claims that Schigolch is her father, and the men escape.
Once alone, Schön insists his wife shoot herself, and the gun goes off in the ensuing struggle, killing Schön.
At her trial, Lulu is sentenced to five years for manslaughter. However, Schigolch and Quast trigger fire alarm and spirit her away.
Alwa confesses his feelings for her and they flee the country.
Countess Augusta Geschwitz, infatuated with Lulu, lets the fugitive use her passport.
On the train, Lulu is recognized by Marquis Casti-Piani, who blackmails her; he also suggests hiding place, a ship used as illegal gambling den.
Casti-Piani sells Lulu to an Egyptian for his brothel. Lulu, Geschwitz, Alwa, Schigolch, and Quast are now passengers on the gambling ship. Quast blackmails Lulu for financing his new act.
Desperate for money, Alwa cheats at cards and is caught. Schigolch persuades reluctant Geschwitz to lure Quast to a stateroom, where she kills him. Lulu, Schigolch, and Alwa flee in rowboat as the police arrive.
They end up in squalor in a drafty London garret. On Christmas Eve, driven to prostitution, Lulu picks a remorseful Jack the Ripper. Though he has no money, she invites him to her lodging anyway. Jack is touched and secretly throws away his knife.
Although he genuinely likes her, Jack spots a knife and is unable to resist his urge to kill.
Unaware of Lulu’s fate, Schigolch celebrates with revelers, fulfilling his wish to eat Christmas pudding while a broken Alwa (who sees Jack leave) follows a Salvation Army parade.
Brooks was born as Mary Louise Brooks on November 14, 1906 in Cherryvke, Kansas, U.S.; she died August 8, 1985 (aged 78) in Rochester, N.Y. U.S.
Cast
Louise Brooks as Lulu
Fritz Kortner as Dr. Ludwig Schön
Francis Lederer as Alwa Schön
Carl Goetz as Schigolch
Krafft-Raschig as Rodrigo Quast
Alice Roberts as Countess Augusta Geschwitz
Daisy D’ora as Charlotte Marie Adelaide von Zarnikow
Gustav Diessl as Jack the Ripper
Michael von Newlinsky as Marquis Casti-Piani
Sigfried Arno as The Stage Manager
Credits:
Directed by G. W. Pabst
Written by G.W. Pabst, Ladislaus Vajda, based on Frank Wedekind’s plays, Die Büchse der Pandora (“Pandora’s Box”) and Erdgeist (“Earth Spirit”)
Produced by Seymour Nebenzal
Cinematography Günther Krampf
Production company: Nero-Film A.G.
Distributed by Süd-Film
Release date: January 30, 1929
Running time: 133 minutes
German intertitles
