Rating: 
Summary: One of the most hilariously wooden performances!!!
Review: The above performance I'm referring to is that of mario Cabre, Ava Gardner's toreador torch in real life at the time. In this film he gives what has got to be one of, if not the, most (although unintendedly) wooden performances in cinematic history! Gardner was involved with some of the most fascinating and talented men ever in the entertainment industry--Rooney, Shaw, Sinatra, Duff, Taylor, Scott, etc.--and it is unfortunate she did not use her influence to get any of them in her films because in this one exception with a hopeless novice, even Cabre's good looks and lithe body can't save his appallingly bad acting (also debut, by the way). Not to be missed for this alone! He makes someone like Victor Mature or George Raft seem absolutely Shakespearan!!! With that rant over, I will move on. "Pandora" is an otherworldly romance about a centuries-ago sea captain who unjsutly murdered his wife for unfaithfulness and as a result the gods have doomed him to a wretched, ghostly existence on the high seas for eternity, the only escape being if he can find a woman during his brief sojourns on earth who truly loves him and is willing to sacrifice her life, thus permitting him to finally die. James Mason gives his usual fine performance as the ghostly Dutchman, imbuing his character with vulnerability behind the cool surface. As for Ava Gardner--can one ever have enough words about her? Even if not for the painful acting of the aforementioned Cabre, this film would be worth it alone just to see the ravishing Gardner in sumptious technicolor. Surely one of the most beautiful women who even existed, she is more than believable as Pandora, the restless and disatisfied playgirl who is adored by many men and brings them ruin, but is never touched by love herself until she meets the Dutchman. A mystical romance in the mold of the depthful and haunting "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with that other Circe of the Cinema Gene Tierney, although "Pandora" is somewhat superficial, I found it entertaining enough and it's worth it, as I mentioned earlier, if you want to see arguably the worst acting in movie history and inarguably one of the most gorgeous women in film!
Rating:
Summary: One of the most hilariously wooden performances!!!
Review: The above performance I'm referring to is that of mario Cabre, Ava Gardner's toreador torch in real life at the time. In this film he gives what has got to be one of, if not the, most (although unintendedly) wooden performances in cinematic history! Gardner was involved with some of the most fascinating and talented men ever in the entertainment industry--Rooney, Shaw, Sinatra, Duff, Taylor, Scott, etc.--and it is unfortunate she did not use her influence to get any of them in her films because in this one exception with a hopeless novice, even Cabre's good looks and lithe body can't save his appallingly bad acting (also debut, by the way). Not to be missed for this alone! He makes someone like Victor Mature or George Raft seem absolutely Shakespearan!!! With that rant over, I will move on. "Pandora" is an otherworldly romance about a centuries-ago sea captain who unjsutly murdered his wife for unfaithfulness and as a result the gods have doomed him to a wretched, ghostly existence on the high seas for eternity, the only escape being if he can find a woman during his brief sojourns on earth who truly loves him and is willing to sacrifice her life, thus permitting him to finally die. James Mason gives his usual fine performance as the ghostly Dutchman, imbuing his character with vulnerability behind the cool surface. As for Ava Gardner--can one ever have enough words about her? Even if not for the painful acting of the aforementioned Cabre, this film would be worth it alone just to see the ravishing Gardner in sumptious technicolor. Surely one of the most beautiful women who even existed, she is more than believable as Pandora, the restless and disatisfied playgirl who is adored by many men and brings them ruin, but is never touched by love herself until she meets the Dutchman. A mystical romance in the mold of the depthful and haunting "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with that other Circe of the Cinema Gene Tierney, although "Pandora" is somewhat superficial, I found it entertaining enough and it's worth it, as I mentioned earlier, if you want to see arguably the worst acting in movie history and inarguably one of the most gorgeous women in film!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a look, due to James Mason and Jack Cardiff
Review: The fantasy / romance premise for this film is an interesting one, but the execution of the plot leaves quite a lot to be desired and much of the dialogue is quite lame and stilted. The plot has been covered well by others, no need to add more about that. James Mason's central character is the best thing about the film. He is extraordinary (as usual). Ava Gardner is very lovely to look upon (although her gowns are far closer to 1951 than to the 1930 time frame), but her acting is rather lackluster (as usual). However, far worse performances are given by Mario Cabre' and Sheila Sim (extreme under-playing and over-playing respectively). The Spanish location photography is great, as to be expected from the legendary cinematographer, Jack Cardiff. The direction is adequate, but no better. The telecine transfer on this DVD is poor in places, with color timing way off at times (sometimes with a purplish cast) and falls seriously short of what a Technicolor print can deliver. The print this was transferred from has considerable damage at the start and end of reels (can't be missed with scratches, dirt, and multiple cue marks). There are several splices, most producing a loud pop in the audio. Some simple re-making of the splices or blooping them would have helped a lot. Some scenes are way too dark to easily watch, and generally the picture is very grainy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful DVD format
Review: The ulitmate love story. With 'Pandora' being one my top favorites of all time, I was disappointed in the VHS copy. This DVD format, although just a bit scratchy at the beginning is what I've been waiting for. Gone is that awful redness of the VHS. The night scenes are still a little dark, but I still give it a thumbs up. I loved it. A must have for Ava and James lovers!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Estupendo! fantastico! me encanto!
Review: This is a super film that brings together so many good actors. It may be a little dated but with a bit of imagination it is a very acceptable way to spend a couple of hours and boring it certainly is not. To watch the film and visit Tossa de mar on the Costa Brava in Spain where it was shot is a great experience.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful escape from reality
Review: This movie is a very deep and philosophical story of the Flying Dutchman. A man doomed to roam the seven seas for eternity unless he meets someone who loves him enough to die for him. There are wonderful quotations from 'Dover Beach' and 'Omar Khayyam' which say so much. If you want an escape from reality and enjoy well made movies with deep characters then this is THE movie. One of James Mason's great performances, in my opinion, and a great performance by Ava Gardner. Nothing wooden about it!!
Rating:
Summary: Masterful Kitsch!
Review: When this movie was released in 1951, it was met with yawns and boredom at the box office. It took an entire generation before people began to appreciate the campy element in this sumptuous, over-the-top movie. This film is undoubtedly a perfect example of unintentional kitsch, a masterful and entertaining look at what Hollywood was churning out in the lethargic early 50's.James Mason and Ava Gardner are both spectacularly beautiful people, but their talents in the acting department are as divergent as you can get. Mason was brilliant in anything, Ava was, by her own admission, quite a dismal actress. Her limitations show up continually here, and she isn't helped by some of the most inane dialogue ever penned. Mason plays a man doomed to roam the sea until he finds true love and (you guessed it!), he finds it in the gorgeous Ava Gardner. Unfortunately, their screen chemistry is basically nil, perhaps because in 1951, Ava was pining for Sinatra and had no eyes for the aloof Mr. Mason. In any case, the script, sets and dialogue are hilariously bad, but in a touching and wonderful way. There are also some redeeming virtues in the production and some genuinely divine moments. You have to see it to believe it. The quality on this DVD is quite good and the audio is a vast improvement over the VHS version. Enjoy this decadent romp which takes itself too seriously, but wallow at the collective onscreen beauty of the two co-stars and the occasional flash of brilliance.
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