20. A Horror Film Shot by Jack Cardiff

The fishermen of a village have found the bodies of a man and woman in their nets, as archaeologist Geoffrey Fielding (Harold Warrender) looks to the camera to tell us their story.

Pandora Reynolds (Ava Gardner) is the kind of femme fatale that can watch a man off himself in front of her and then comment on how boring he was. She tests the men of the village, like making them give up something they love just to be with her. For example, race car driver Stephen Cameron (Nigel Patrick) must drive his beloved vehicle into the sea.

But sea caption Hendrik van der Zee (James Mason) may be the man who breaks her. Perhaps he’s not even a man, as Geoffrey thinks that he’s the Flying Dutchman, a 16th-century ship captain who murdered his unfaithful wife and spoke against God at his trial before being given an escape on a new ship. There, the Dutchman learned that his wife was innocent and to atone for his crime, he gets six months every seven years to find a woman who will die for him. Otherwise, he is cursed to sail forever.

Pandora does fall in love with him, but Hendrik refuses to let her die. Another of the many rivals for her affection, Juan Montalvo (Mario Cabré) murders him, only for Hendrik to return in the audience of Juan’s bullfight. Shocked, he doesn’t see the bull coming and it gores him to death.

Despite agreeing to marry Stephen, Pandora loves the boat captain. She swims out to his ship and learns the truth: He is the Dutchman and she looks exacly like his dead wife. She asks how long they have together if she is to die. He replies that the perfectness of their love places them outside of time just as a storm destroys the ship.

Only Geoffrey knows the truth, saying, “May the consummation of your love endure as long as the punishment that made you worthy of it!”

Directed and written by Albert Lewin (The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Living Idol), this film had sets designed by Man Ray. He also painted the painting of Pandora in the movie.

Man, doomed romance, gorgeous art and Ava Gardner, all in one movie. I loved it!