Pandora And The Flying Dutchman (1951)

Set in 1930s Spain (although no attempt is made to resemble the period), an American playgirl (Ava Gardner) drifts from one affair to another, breaking hearts along the way. But when she meets a mysterious yachtsman (James Mason), she falls in love for the first time and willing to sacrifice everything for love. Written and directed by Albert Lewin (PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY), this is a rather silly romantic fantasy based on the legend of the flying Dutchman, a sailor condemned to wander the seas eternally until he finds a woman willing to die for him. The film takes itself incredibly seriously and we get over two hours of it. I'm a sucker for a good love story but this one crawls at a snail's pace. Not much is required of Mason other than to brood which he does skillfully but Ava Gardner (looking incredibly gorgeous) isn't a strong enough actress (at this stage of her career) to make her loopy dialogue sound believable. Visually, the film is sumptuous looking thank to Jack Cardiff's (THE RED SHOES) luscious cinematography. With Nigel Patrick, Marius Goring, Abraham Sofaer, Sheila Sim, Mario Cabre and Harold Warrender.