--- title: "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, with praise clustering around Jack Cardiff’s Technicolor cinematography and Ava Gardner’s screen presence. The photography wins approval even from reviewers who dislike the film, while admirers find its romance alluring and its blend of myth and atmosphere effective. Gardner’s magnetism is a recurring point of praise, alongside appreciation of her pairing with James Mason and the ease of her dialogue delivery. The spread is wide, however, with reservations about lingering scenery and heavy sentimentality becoming outright objections among the dissenters. Variety finds the mood persistently sombre and depressing, and Gardner less distinctive, though it praises Mason and Cardiff. The Independent admires the visual allure but considers the story increasingly absurd. The main division is over how much the romantic mood sustains the film when the storytelling slows or strains belief. ## Los Angeles Times — Edwin Schallert Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2020. Schallert praises the film as a distinctive, romantically alluring creation. He singles out its scenic beauty and performances, while noting that lingering mood and scenery excursions interrupt the story. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-20/pandora-flying-dutchman-ava-gardner-james-mason) ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2010. The critic finds the film deliriously romantic and deserving of its restored re-release. They single out Ava Gardner’s magnetic performance and Jack Cardiff’s Technicolor cinematography for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pandora-flying-dutchman-review/) ## Evening Standard — The Standard Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The piece is strongly positive, calling the film a Technicolor masterpiece that has stood the test of time. It singles out Jack Cardiff’s superb Technicolor cinematography as a major reason for its lasting appeal. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman-is-a-technicolor-masterpiece-7419894.html) ## The Guardian — Andrew Pulver Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2010. Pulver finds the film an extraordinary, wonderfully effective blend of myth, romance and documentary. He particularly praises Ava Gardner’s screen presence and the film’s early Technicolor cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/may/13/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman-review) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. 11 May 2010. The printed four-star rating indicates a positive verdict. The visible metadata highlights Lewin’s unusual background, but the review text is unavailable to identify a specific point of praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1950. The review finds the film persistently somber and depressing, with Ava Gardner less distinctive. It singles out James Mason’s performance and Jack Cardiff’s color photography as the production’s standout qualities. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1950/film/reviews/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman-1200416919/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2010. The critic finds the film a silly, increasingly absurd farrago, despite its visual allure. They single out Jack Cardiff’s Technicolor and Ava Gardner’s beauty for admiration. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman-albert-lewin-123-mins-pg-1972594.html) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 8.0. 13 February 2020. Crump finds the film a sumptuous, macabre romance made timeless by Gardner’s performance. He especially praises her magnetic screen presence and the playful ease of her dialogue delivery. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ava-gardner/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2010. Kermode finds the film powerful and engaging, despite its heavy sentimentality. She singles out the electric pairing of James Mason and Ava Gardner for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/pandora-and-the-flying-dutchman.md