Pandora’s Box is the 1929 film adaptation of Frank Wedekind’s plays that uses the German title Die Büchse der Pandora. G. W. Pabst directed the film, with Louise Brooks playing Lulu.
The German title literally refers to Pandora’s box, while the film’s story comes from Wedekind’s dramas Earth Spirit and Pandora’s Box. It follows Lulu through a series of relationships and scandals, transforming the ancient image of a container releasing trouble into a modern character study.
The film is frequently associated with the silent cinema of the Weimar Republic. Its title can cause confusion because Die Büchse der Pandora is also the German title used for other adaptations and releases related to Wedekind’s material. The 1929 Pabst film is the specific work identified by its director, year, and famous lead performance.