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| Pandora's Box - Criterion Collection | 
 enlarge | Director: Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Actors: Louise Brooks, Fritz Kortner, Francis Lederer, Carl Goetz, Krafft-raschig
Studio: Criterion
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $23.99
You Save: $15.96 (40%)
New (33) Used (14) Collectible (2) from $23.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 15487
Format: Black & White, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: German (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 133
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.6 x 1
MPN: CC1656DDVD
UPC: 715515020626
EAN: 0715515020626
ASIN: B000HT3QBO
Theatrical Release Date: 1929
Release Date: November 28, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Never viewed. New.
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Amazon.com
G.W. Pabst's Pandora's Box serves as a filmic window into the decadent Weimar Republic because of its tauntingly beautiful star, Louise Brooks. Brooks, encompassing the very essence of sexual allure and mystery, is iconically linked to her character, Lulu, the dancer-turned-streetwalker who captivates all men in her path with her elusive beauty. Set in Berlin, 1928, Pandora's Box is about Lulu, an aspiring star whose patron, Dr. Schoen (Fritz Kortner), finds loyalty to his fiance impossible because of Lulu's unsurpassed charm. Schoen's son, Alwa, also falls in love with Lulu until a series of tragic incidents render them destitute in London, where Lulu resorts to prostitution and, in a final devastating scene, picks up her final john, Jack the Ripper. In the silent film era, Brooks's expressive face and graceful movements enabled her to epitomize a Roaring Twenties' version of feminism: innocence underpinned by sexual innuendo. Key scenes in Pandora's Box, such as when Lulu thrills at Dr. Schoen's fiance discovering he and Lulu embraced, or when Lulu's gleaming eyes mimic Jack the Ripper's polished knife blade, are radically risque examples of all-time seductive cinematic moments. The Criterion Collection's beautifully packaged release of Pandora's Box features a thorough booklet of essays and photos, as well as a biographical documentary about Brooks and an interview with Pabst's son, Michael. After languishing in obscurity for many years preceding her death in the '80s, Louise Brooks will now forever be remembered as Lulu, Hollywood's finest vixen. --Trinie Dalton
Product Description
One of the masters of early German cinema G.W. Pabst had an innate talent for discovering actresses (including Greta Garbo). And perhaps none of his female stars shone brighter than Kansas native and onetime Ziegfeld girl Louise Brooks whose legendary persona was defined by Pabst's lurid controversial melodrama Pandora's Box. Sensationally modern the film follows the downward spiral of the fiery brash yet innocent showgirl Lulu whose sexual vivacity has a devastating effect on everyone with whom she comes in contact. Daring and stylish Pandora's Box is one of silent cinema's great masterworks and a testament to Brooks' dazzling individuality.Special Features:"Lulu in Berlin" (48 minutes) a rare 1971 interview with BrooksAudio commentary by film scholars Thomas Elsaesser and Mary Ann Doane"Louise Brooks: Looking for Lulu" a 1998 documentaryNew restored high-definition digital transferFour different musical scoresA new video interview with documentarian Richard LeacockA new interview with G. W. Pabst's son MichaelNew and improved English subtitle translationKenneth Tynan's famous essay "The Girl in the Black Helmet"New essay by film critic J. HobermanA chapter from Louise Brooks' memoir discussing her relationship with PabstSystem Requirements:Running Time: 133 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 715515020626 Manufacturer No: CC1656DDVD
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| Customer Reviews: Read 24 more reviews...
 The Highwater Mark Of German Silent Cinema. November 30, 2006
53 out of 55 found this review helpful
This is not my personal opinion (I prefer F. W. Murnau's FAUST) but it is the general consensus regarding this groundbreaking adult film which made a screen icon out of Louise Brooks and assured G.W. Pabst his place in cinema history. The movie is based on two plays (EARTH SPIRIT and PANDORA'S BOX) by controversial German playwright Frank Wedekind who wrote them at the dawn of the 20th Century with the deliberate intent of shocking his middle class audience by talking bluntly about the consequences of sex, violence, and hypocrisy. Austrian composer Alban Berg would later use them as the source of his unfinished opera LULU.
G.W. Pabst already had a reputation as a director of German neo-realism thanks to the 1925 Greta Garbo film THE JOYLESS STREET (influenced by D.W. Griffith's ISN'T LIFE WONDERFUL of 1924). In the sound era he would make the film version of THE THREEPENNY OPERA (1931). PANDORA'S BOX mixes realism and German expressionism in equal amounts to tell the story of a naive dancer/prostitute and the tragedy she brings to everyone who tries to become close to her. It's amazing how Pabst saw something in Louise Brooks that no one else did and then brought it out so effectively onscreen. From the performances to the lighting, the editing and the camerawork, to the relentlessly downbeat mood, PANDORA'S BOX is a true landmark of the cinema (silent and sound) that anyone seriously interested in film should experience.
Finally available in the U.S. on DVD, this Criterion 2 disc set is all that you could ask for. The print for its age (1928) looks great and you get the choice of 4 different background scores which show how important music is to silent cinema. Each one makes it a different viewing experience. My personal favorite is Peer Ruben's modern orchestral score although you also get classical, cabaret, and piano to choose from. It also comes with 2 documentaries on Louise Brooks, informed commentary, and a 90 page booklet. Now that's the way to treat a cinema classic!
The best DVD release of 2006!!! December 2, 2006
44 out of 48 found this review helpful
I recently received my copy of the newly released version of "Pandora's Box" from Criterion and I can honestly tell you this is my vote for THE best release of 2006,bar none!!
To start with just picking this set up is impressive in itself!It comes in a handsome light and dark gray cardboard slip case almost an inch thick and inside it contains a two disk set absolutely loaded with fabulous and unexpectedly surprising extras AND a thick booklet!
The two disc set itself has the nice light and dark gray theme carried on for IT'S covering.When you slip the DVD into your player the screen gives you the usual surround and stereo audio options.However it also gives you your pick of FOUR(yes FOUR!!)different scores in which to choose from when viewing the movie.This is totally unprecedented in my experience.The scores are piano,orchestral(an approximation of what the late 20s European theater goer might have experienced),cabaret(a light and whimsical small band style) and modern orchestral.All these choices are absolutely wonderful but my favourite is the piano.However just having these options in the first place helps place this collection right at the top of the heap.
And if this wasn't enough film studies professor T.Elaessan and author Mary Ann Doanne together offer up a nice and very informative optional commentary on the film....one which I recommend at some point you give a listen to.And things don't stop there my friends!!
Two wonderful documentaries are also included.First is one I had heard of but had never seen called "Lulu in Berlin" produced back in 1984 by Richard Leacock and Susan Woll.It's a delightful film and mainly revolves around an interview of Louise in her home in Rochester,N.Y. a few years earlier.This comes in at around 48 minutes.
The other documentary is one that many Brooks fans will know that has come and gone on both DVD and VHS called "Louise Brooks:Looking for Lulu".That's right the self same documentary made by Hugh Hefner back in 1998 with commentary by Shirley MacLaine!!!This finishes in at about 60 minutes.
If this hasn't put you flat on your back by now I'm going to execute the coup de'gras.There are also two other interviews included here.One is with Richard Leacock the co-producer of "Lulu in Berlin" and the other with G.W.Pabsts' son Michael.Criterion went back about a year ago and interviewed these two just for this upcoming collection!
Next is the astounding and beautifully bound 98 page(from inside cover to inside cover) booklet.The booklet contains information relative to the movie plus three super articles.The first is by Village Voice film critic J.Hoberman,the second a reprint of Kenneth Tynans'article on Brooks "The Girl in the Black Helmet" first published in "Sight and Sound" magazine in June/79 and lastly Louises' own piece titled "Pabst and Lulu" taken from her own book "Lulu in Hollywood".The booklet throughout is lavishly illustrated.A great primer for the novice or a great read for the seasoned Brooksie fans!
The only soft spot in this entire release is on the techincal side.Even though it could be considered minor or "picky" by some I think in all fairness it should be brought to your attention.The print itself I don't think is quite as good as it could have been.It is a composite print from the Munich Film Museum/Pabst Collection who's two main sources seem to be Nero and Janus films.When I saw Janus appear on the screen my heart sank because I have never known Janus to release anything but severely slashed and inferior product.In fact the 1986 VHS release by Embassy was a Janus print and it came in at about 110 minutes.
The blurb in the included booklet reveals just a small portion of the restoration process on the print which included removing dust and dirt but that's about all.It's a shame the same care that was lavished on Kinos' "Metropolis" release(see my review on that) wasn't extended to this one because it would certainly have made a difference.While this print does show its' age with the usual scratches and streaks evident in many films of this era(maybe a bit more than I'd like!) the most disappointing defect however is the recurring problem of the film going in and out of focus periodically.This is usually a sign of film shrinkage and its' uneven traversing during processing.I have only seen prints of this film like this and was hoping that this release would somehow come from another superior source which would have no such problem.While the Munich Museum doesn't seem to have such a print in its' hands it certainly doesn't totally rule out its' existence.Having said that however I must admit that they certainly did the best they could with what they did have on hand and they have also released the longest print of Pandoras Box I have ever seen which comes in at two hours and 11 minutes!! All inter-titles are in German with English sub-titles.
In conclusion Criterion,as usual,has gone the extra mile and delivered a product everyone at every level of its' issue can be proud of.The above mentioned technical flaw aside this release is to me without doubt the BEST release of 2006.This is a higher priced set to be sure as are most of Criterions' products but you can be sure that a Criterion product is a superior product and with all the extras you are getting in this release in many ways it is a steal.And it is a release that no serious collector should be without!
Still fascinating today September 3, 2006
29 out of 36 found this review helpful
The story is timeless and still holds your attention today. I was amazed as to how modern the film is its self. Probably the best know of G.W. Pabst's works. Being a film from the silent era gives this film a collector's value; yet five minutes into viewing and you do not realize it is silent.
LuLu (Louise Brooks) an amoral entertainer in 1928 Berlin, is having fun taking men for all they have and snubbing those that may care for her. After moving to London she is still in the habit of entertaining men at her place. She is about to open Pandora's Box as she has no idea who she has lured up to her place.
If you are looking for an ending with a moral statement you will be disappointed as it is more of a Quid pro quo.
If it is not already included on the media you picked for this film there is an available separate documentary Produced in 1998 for Turner Classic Movies called "Looking for Lulu", narrated by Shirley MacLaine, which is almost as interesting as this film.
One of a Kind Silent Film Star October 11, 2006
26 out of 36 found this review helpful
I bought Pandora's Box on VHS from Amazon some time ago and was impressed with Brook's subtle and disaffected but altogether timelessly erotic performance, made all the more amazing considering its great age (although Berlin in the late 1920s was totally unlike Hollywood, or even New York, in terms of liberal lifestyle). I had already seen Brooks' similar performance in Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), along with her charming flapper-girl-next-door appearance in The Show Off (1926). But I didn't really warm up to the actress until I read the engaging, articulate essays she had penned in the latter part of her fascinating life. In my opinion, her inciteful and thoroughly entertaining writing style confirms that she could have been both an extraordinarily successful actress and writer if she hadn't been what many have viewed as a self-destructive loner. However, Brooks consistently disdained fame, money, success and all the other outward prerequisites of conventional happiness in order to be a truly liberated human being. For better or worse, she succeeded in the effort, and expressed no regrets.
It is all too easy to become infatuated with the ghost of Louise Brooks, who in my opinion is the most beautiful actress who ever lived. But to truly understand this person you'll want to read her essays (collected in "Lulu in Hollywood," with an introduction by Kenneth Tynan) along with Barry Paris' excellent book, "Louise Brooks - A Biography." Paris' 600-page biography of Brooks is a scholarly masterpiece -- comprehensive, well researched, and brilliantly provocative, and I guarantee that you will know Brooks personally when you have finished reading it.
As a Christian, I cannot recommend the lifestyle Brooks advocated and led. But if you (like me) love silent films and are fascinated with the impossibly-distant world of the 1920s, I think you'll find that Louise Brooks epitomizes both more than any other star of that era.
As for the 2-disc DVD set, it's simply great. The digitally remastered Pandora's Box is the best I've seen to date, and the four separate musical scores really add to the film. The filmed interview with Brooks late in her life is worth the DVD's price alone. This and the many other extras make Pandora's Box a fantastic bargain and a treasured addition to any silent film collection.
LEGENDARY CLASSSIC FINALLY ON DVD..... September 3, 2006
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
This film is a must for silent film lovers and connoiseurs of film in general. G.W.Pabst directed and co-scripted a mesmerizing story (based on two plays) and filmed it in Germany with the stunning American actress Louise Brooks. She plays Lulu, a beautiful child/woman who doesn't understand the effect (and destruction) her open sexuality has on those around her. Considered daring in it's day, "Pandora's Box" still carries the emotional and sexual charge it did in 1928, thanks to Brook's striking beauty and performance and Pabst's straight-on directing of the story and it's subject matter---including a Lesbian countess who also falls for and helps Lulu when she's arrested for murder. Lulu is more or less an innocent in that she sees nothing wrong with sex therefore she can't understand the problems she unwittingly causes because others take her seriously and seek to possess her. Criterion is presenting a two disc set of this legendary film and it's been a long time coming. See also Pabst's other excellent German silent with Brooks made the following year (1929) "Diary of a Lost Girl", available from Kino. It's a fine companion piece to "Pandora" with Brooks playing another beautiful and misunderstood waif who ends up in a bordello. Both are collector's items and deserve viewing by modern audiences who are interested in the evolution of film as art.
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