Of Sexual Hate and Lonely Death

[randy_byers]

Gordon Thomas has written a wonderful history, appreciation, and analysis of G.W. Pabst's silent classic, Pandora's Box (Die Büchse der Pandora, 1929). Lots of interesting gossip about who slept with whom (or at least who slept with Louise Brooks), too, plus some great lines. About the Wedekind play the movie is based on, Thomas writes, "Lulu, as she murders or degrades all the men in her path, is paradoxically as innocent as the flowers, yet, as she’s framed by Wedekind’s humorless dialog, she seems tough as nails and pretty damn knowing, a whore with a heart of pig-iron."

It's completely spoiler-ridden, so caveat lector. He has a great feel for how the movie means.

Comments

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I bought the Criterion edition two months ago, but still haven't watched it. Your link will provide a nice addendum when I do.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you took a peek, but it is specifically a response to the Criterion release.