Pandora and the Flying Dutchman **** (1951, Ava Gardner, James Mason, Nigel Patrick, Sheila Sim) – Classic Movie Review 3804

Writer-director Albert Lewin’s gorgeous 1951 British romance showcases Ava Gardner at her most drop-dead gorgeous as Pandora Reynolds, an American nightclub singer staying over in Spain. James Mason plays Hendrick ven der Zee, the ship’s captain condemned to eternal life, who dangerously kindles the flames of love in Pandora.

Passion is preferred to logic in this weird and wonderful fantasy romantic movie that is utterly lovely to look at in glorious Technicolor, beautifully captured by ace British cinematographer Jack Cardiff.

Basing his screenplay on the legend of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman as filtered through the opera by Richard Wagner, this is a most fascinating labour of love from the splendidly eccentric writer-director Albert Lewin.

Also in the cast are Nigel Patrick as Stephen Cameron, Sheila Sim as Janet, Harold Warrender as Geoffrey Fielding, Mario Cabré, John Laurie, Pamela Kellino [Mason], Marius Goring, Patricia Raine, Abraham Sofaer and John Carew.

Sheila Sim, Lady Attenborough, best known for A Canterbury Tale (1944) and Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, died on January 19 2016, aged 93. She was married for nearly 70 years to Richard Attenborough.

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