HTF Blu-Ray Review: PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN BLU-RAY

Studio: Kino

Year: 1951

Rated: Not Rated

Film Length: 2 hours, 3 minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Audio: English LPCM 2.0

Release Date: August 9, 2010

The Movie

What happens when the beautiful woman immune from falling in love meets the man who needs to find love above anything else? This is the question posed in this technicolor film by writer/director Albert Lewin(The Picture of Dorian Gray). Ava Gardner plays Pandora Reynolds, who is seemingly the original "belle dame sans merci" who toys with men’s affections out of boredom and spite. James Mason is Hendrik Van Der Zee, a mysterious Dutchman who appears one day on the shores of the Spanish fishing village of Esperanza.

A number of critics have commented that this film is "dream-like." Martin Scorsese is a fan of this film and he has commented that: "Watching this film is like entering a strange and wonderful dream." There is no question that Pandora and the Flying Dutchman has a somnolent pace but that is not a bad thing when the film is as well crafted as this one. The events in the film take place primarily over a 6 month period, with the exception of some flashbacks. Scenes and events flow seamlessly from one to the other, leaving the viewer with the impression that the passage of time is as imperceptible in the film story as it is in a real dream.

I had never seen this film prior to its Blu-ray release, and I found it to be very immersive, consistent with the film-maker’s intent. Much of Pandora was filmed on location on the coasts of Spain which undoubtedly enhances its unique look. This was Gardner’s first technicolor film and she was arguably at the peak of her career during this film. Mason also shines as the mysterious Dutchman who arrives in Esperanza.  Pandora also benefits from having the talents behind the camera of acclaimed cinematographer Jack Cardiff(The African Queen).

Video

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman appears on Blu-Ray in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This edition was produced in 1080p from the 35mm negative restored in 2009 by The Film Foundation, George Eastman House, and Douris UK Ltd. Colors are extremely vibrant and some have complained that the color timing is not consistent with the original release. I cannot judge that but I would comment that the colors do not appear unnatural(except possibly where intended) and the day for night scenes have an appropriately dark hue. Film grain is minimally present. There are multiple scratches and other minor film damage present here that were probably invisible on previous DVD releases. For those who have been spoiled with the sublime restorations of other films like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind, the video quality is somewhat of a disappointment. There is no question that considerable restoration efforts were made on this film, however, it seems that more restoration could still be done in the future to bring this release up to standard with the other examples in this review. The opening credits are especially poor but video quality improves substantially after that. On the plus side, the clarity of image brings out warts and all on the quality of the film which makes the viewer always feel like a film is being viewed rather than a DVD overcooked with DNR and edge enhancement.

Audio

The English lossless PCM 2.0 Audio track is good, given the limitations inherent in the original recording. There is some minor inconsistency of sound volume that can still persist after digital cleanup but this never interferes with the immersive quality of the film.

Special Features

The special features include all of the following:

Alternate Opening Titles (2:26): The UK version had a different quotation in the opening credits. This feature shows the alternate opening titles.

El Torero de Cordoba (17:26): This documentary of the career of toreador Manuel Rodriguez Manolete was produced in Spanish on black and white film in 1947 and is shown here with English subtitles. Manolete was the inspiration for the character of Montalvo, played in the film by Mario Cabre, who actually started his career as a toreador.

Comparison of Restoration (5:49): Even though the video quality is far from perfect in this transfer, this special feature demonstrates the full extent of restoration that occurred with comparisons of the 35mm technicolor film and the negative restored in 2009.

Theatrical Trailers: Three different trailers for Pandora are included: the original U.S. trailer(2:58), an abridged black and white trailer(2:01), and a modern style trailer produced for the 2010 re-release in the UK(1:32).

Stills Galleries: There are 2 categories, film stills and production stills, which may be viewed using the left and right selection arrows on your remote control.

Conclusion

Pandora and the Flying Dutchman is an intriguing and entertaining romantic film with two classic actors at the top of their game. If you want a fast-paced film, you had better look elsewhere, but if you can drop yourself into the somnolent pace of this film, you may find much to enjoy here. The video quality is good, not great, for Blu-ray, and it is disappointing that more could not have been done to further the restoration efforts. The audio is definitely better than the video, and the special features, while not comprehensive, add some context to the film. Pandora and the Flying Dutchman on Blu-ray is recommended for fans of romantic films and is mandatory viewing for fans of Ava Gardner and James Mason.