Pandora's Box review
By
Zamy from London
- 3
- 0
16th August 2004
I have been debating whether to give this film 4 of 5 stars. It's not perfect and is too melodramatic for my taste and director Pabst's style can appear a bit crude at times. What swings it for me is undoubtedly the performance of Louise Brooks. Her animated face lights up the screen and she gives out an amazing sexual allure. Here is a courtesan who knows how to draw the men who can keep her in style. Yet her body is, how shall we say, rather modestly endowed. Sadly her career went into downward spiral and this disc has an interesting documentary on Louise's career and decline into alcoholic obscurity for some 30 years. This film is an excellent introduction to silent films, where the pictures are the whole story. Who needs sound when we can watch Lulu weave her wordless charm in the world dominated by powerful and cruel men. Pity about the end; for me Lulu should go on forever.
