Pandora’s Box
June 1st, 2006
Louise Brooks is incredible in GW Pabst’s lurid 1929 tale of a revue dancer, based on the Wedekind play. The plot lost me a bit in the end, but man, the first hour is perfection. Film Forum is about to show a restored version with live piano accompaniment. Read Jürgen’s review
Die Weisse Hölle vom Piz Palü
March 29th, 2006
Like “Snakes on a Plane,” “the white hell of Piz Palü” has become a bit of a stock phrase around here, indicating the dangers of letting me administer the Netflix queue all by myself. Directed in 1929 by Dr. Arnold Franck, the father of the mountain film, and G.W. Pabst, this Alpine adventure stars Leni Riefenstahl as one of the many people who climb up the mountain and get into trouble. Some awesome avalanche footage, a lot of ice, majestic peaks, etc. Somebody’s wife falls into a glacier and freezes over.
