Pandora's Box (Die Büchse der Pandora)

The restoration of this film was supported by the Initiative for

Digitization of the Federal Government's Representative for Culture and Media,

after a resolution of the German Parliament.

Pandora's Box premiered on February 9, 1929 in Berlin and wasn't a success at the time.

The film became famous after the rediscovery of Louise Brooks in the 1950s, initiated by

her admirers Henri Langlois of the Cinémathèque Française and James Card of Eastman House.

As far as we know, neither the original negative nor a print

has been preserved from the year of its production.

The only material available are prints made in the 1950s and 1960s from heavily damaged negatives.

The only way to show Pabst's images again in their original beauty was digital restoration.

Three surviving prints were put at our disposition:

a negative, made in 1952 by the Cinémathèque Française,

a print of 1970 from the Gosfilmofond of Russia

and a print of 1964 from the Národní Filmový Archive in Prague.

The prints were given to us by those archives and the Cinecitta di Bologna.

Combining those three prints, it was possible to restore the sequence of Pabst's

famous flowing montage and to replace the missing frames and scenes as far as possibe.

With digital restoration we tried to match the photographic characteristics

of the different material in order to create a stylistic whole.

Some damages still remain, for the time being.

From the restored version we made 35mm negatives and prints, as well as a digital copy.

The editing follows closely a working print Enno Patalas made in the 1980s for the Munich Film Museum.

The intertitles are from a list Gero Gandert found in the Swedish Riksarkivet.

Recommended projecting speed: 20 fps

PANDORA'S BOX Variations on the theme of Frank Wedekind's LULU

Screenplay by LADISLAUS VAJDA Production Manager GEORG C. HORSETZKY Directed by GEORG WILHELM PABST

ACT ONE

You've done well for yourself!

We haven't seen each other in such a long time!

Are you still dancing?

You've forgotten everything. You should have stayed with me.

In that old garret? I'd have run away for sure.

This newspaper editor Dr. Schön looks after you nicely,

but one friend doesn't guarantee our future.

We must put you on the stage for all the world to see!

And I've brought just the man to do that.

His name is Rodrigo Quast, and he wants to stage a big variety act with you.

Dr. Schön is coming!

I'm getting married!

You won't kiss me just because you're getting married?

The whole town is talking about us. I'm jeopardizing my position.

Don't you see that we must put an end to this?

You'll have to kill me to get rid of me.

He was my first... patron!

One did the best that one could.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

"Minister of the Interior Dr. von Zarnikow wishes to announce

the marriage of his daughter, Charlotte Marie Adelaide,

to Dr. Ludwig Schön, Editor in Chief."

I'm warning you again, my child:

Dr. Schön's behavior makes this marriage impossible!

Don't worry, Father. I don't care about gossip!

Alwa, here are the costume designs for your revue!

How's Lulu?

Father must give her up.

His marriage can't be postponed any longer.

The famous Rodrigo Quast wants to do a big variety number with me!

We're already rehearsing!

Alwa is my best friend,

the only one who never wants anything from me.

Or do you want nothing from me because you don't love me?

My dear Geschwitz, you must design a costume like that for me too!

Is she really this beautiful?

I thought I told you never to visit me!

I didn't come to see you!

Please get me volume K of the dictionary.

Then it's settled - come see me tomorrow.

Why don't you marry Lulu, Father?

One doesn't marry such women! It would be suicide!

What did she want here?

I believe she wants to break into show business.

Someone wants to stage a trapeze act with her.

No, not a trapeze act! She'll appear in your revue.

She can dance a bit. My newspaper will guarantee her success.

Just one thing, my boy: Beware of that woman!

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

Nonsense! You should have done the trapeze act with me!

I'm not going on!

You must talk some sense into her!

Maybe we'll do that variety number after all!

I'll dance for the whole world, but not for that woman!

Tell them to start!

Where's Lulu?

No smoking here!

Satisfied now, Alwa?

Now I'll marry Lulu! It'll be the death of me!

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

I'd be a real scoundrel

if I didn't lay a rose on my little Lulu's bridal bed!

Father, I'm going away tonight... for a long time.

He's my father!

If only you'd come with me!

I can't live without you any longer!

You'll miss your train!

Take it!

Kill yourself!

Kill yourself

so that you don't drive me to murder as well!

END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

Your Honors...

I've painted a bleak picture of a tragic life.