Pabst's "Diary of a Lost Girl."

Films/DVD Asylum

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One of the two collaboration's between the 20's icon Louise Brooks (Lulu) and the German giant, Pabst.
I have owned and enjoyed the VHS of "Pandora's Box" for years and have kept the expected pleasure of this film as one would a fine wine, heightening the pleasure through anticipation.
Alas, it is pale, thin, and insipid when compared to the other.
For one, it paints such a rosy picture of a brothel that a poor girl would have been crazy not to have seen it as the profession of choice. No drugs, no sickness, no violence... just lots of champagne and fun!
Second, there is a scene that is the most anti-Semitic I've ever witnessed--and it goes on and on. Quite as bad as anything in old Vaudeville which made fun of African-Americans.
The plot?
Dumb beyond belief and incredible, even for its day.
A beautiful and very young girl is seduced by an employee of her father, becomes pregnant, has the child (which is given away), is thrown from the house into a wayward girls' home (which isn't portrayed as particulary bad), escapes to the streets and a bordello, etc.
Louise, which is the only reason to see the film, is radiant and Pabst does a wonderful job of lighting her beauty. In one memorable scene, perhaps only so for the truly smitten such as I, Lulu's character is seen offstage putting the finishing touches on her "helmet" hair as a dance troupe entertains on stage. Without a cut, Lulu leaves her grooming, takes a breath, and dances onstage, pirouetting through the troupe in one continuous fluid unforgettable motion.

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Topic - Pabst's "Diary of a Lost Girl." - tinear 05:22:08 03/01/07 (8)

IMHO, both films are supurb; it's just that Pandora's Box is a somewhat better realized, richer film overall. - Audiophilander 10:08:36 03/01/07 (1)

Thanks for the slight condescension, though probably not meant - tinear 10:54:26 03/01/07 (0)

a nice read nt - Jimmy NYC 06:01:02 03/01/07 (0)

The only Pabst i like is "Blue Ribbon" - Eldragon 05:41:14 03/01/07 (4)

Pandora's Box is a classic with one of film's great female performances. - tinear 10:48:30 03/01/07 (0)

Your comment seems a bit more Blue Velvet (via Frank Booth) than Blue Ribbon, if you know what I mean. (nt) - Audiophilander 09:15:17 03/01/07 (2)

"Mommy, mommy, baby wants to fuck!" (nt - Eldragon 10:34:45 03/01/07 (1)

That;'s going to get you a memo. nt - Analog Scott 16:40:25 03/01/07 (0)

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