Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (restoration comparisons)

http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=1096
35mm TECHNICOLOR RESTORATION
Presented by The Film Foundation, George Eastman House & Douris UK Ltd.
In this timeless romantic fantasy from director Albert Lewin, Ava Gardner stars as a nightclub singer vacationing in Spain, with whom all men fall hopelessly in love. But Pandora, never having known true love, is indifferent to her suitors' affections. Until, one evening, she swims out to a mysterious yacht and meets its captain (James Mason). Mastered in HD from the 35mm negative of the 2009 restoration, this Kino edition preserves Jack Cardiff's (The Red Shoes) vivid Technicolor cinematography with breathtaking clarity.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Albert
• Lewin
• Ava
• Gardner
• James
• Mason

[legatofancier]

Wish I could have heard Jack Cardiff weigh in on this question. The story's mood seems better served by the original print to me.

[shahidaly1]

all i know is that Ava Gardner is more beautiful than Angelina Jolie.

[carmenjones411]

@rlaycock I agree. I think I like the dark moodiness of the original print better. I'm sticking with the original.

[rlaycock]

I really appreciate you posting this comparison. The story and actors are magnificent. It's a great movie restored or not. So how do the two versions compare?

Pandora is one of my personal favorites. I used to watch it a couple times a year on TV in the 60s. It's a dark story and it was shot that way. The dancers are in a Taverna under gas and candlelight not on stage at the Ed Sullivan show. I think the technicians have spoiled the mood. I'd go with the original print.

[frafroggy]

this is one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen

[TIBOBO2006]

I agree with "zasu321"...;-)

[jerryaltman]

This wasn't a good technicolor print, because full color technicolor print do not fade, and so colors do not change. If the colors in the restoration, if well reserched, was different from the print, it's a signal this print had wrong color balance.

The restorer always try to find the best sources to set the right color, so if they used a different color from this print, it's because they presume this print was not well made, or made with wrong color balance.

[KrazyKartoonKid]

Great restoration, Kino.

[zasu321]

Nice job cleaning up the print. Too bad you couldn't do anything to clean up Mr. Mason's teeth!