Pandora's Box

Pandora's Box (1929) (German: Die Büchse der Pandora) is a German silent melodrama based loosely on Frank Wedekind's plays Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, 1895) and Die Büchse der Pandora (1904). Directed by Austrian filmaker Georg Wilhelm Pabst, the film stars Louise Brooks as Lulu, Fritz Kortner as Dr. Schön, Francis Lederer as Alwa Schön and Alice Roberts as Countess Geschwitz. The plot revolves around Lulu persuading her wealthy lover Dr. Schön to ma... more

Pandora's Box (1929) (German: Die Büchse der Pandora) is a German silent melodrama based loosely on Frank Wedekind's plays Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, 1895) and Die Büchse der Pandora (1904). Directed by Austrian filmaker Georg Wilhelm Pabst, the film stars Louise Brooks as Lulu, Fritz Kortner as Dr. Schön, Francis Lederer as Alwa Schön and Alice Roberts as Countess Geschwitz. The plot revolves around Lulu persuading her wealthy lover Dr. Schön to marry her. Later in a fit of jealous rage he pulls a gun during an argument, a scuffle ensues, and she shoots him. Lulu escapes to London with the doctor's son Alwa where Lulu takes up residence but meets with a tragic ending. Louise Brooks stars as Lulu, a young and impulsive vaudeville performer whose raw sexuality and uninhibited nature bring about the downfall of almost everyone she meets. She marries a respectable newspaper publisher, but soon drives him into insanity, climaxing in an incident in which she accidentally shoots him to death.... less