In the 1929 film Pandora’s Box, American actress Louise Brooks played the lead character Lulu. The German-language film was directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst and is based primarily on plays by Frank Wedekind.
Brooks’s performance as Lulu became the defining feature of the film. Lulu is a charismatic and destructive figure whose relationships drive the story through scandal, violence, and tragedy. The role established the film as one of the best-known showcases for Brooks’s screen persona.
Pandora’s Box was made during the transition from silent cinema to sound. It is generally treated as a silent film, though surviving versions and releases may include musical accompaniment or added presentation elements.
The film is often confused with other works using the Pandora title, including a 1951 French film and a 2008 Turkish film. The 1929 production is specifically the German film associated with Pabst and Brooks.