Ava Gardner played Pandora in the 1951 science-fiction romance Pandora and the Flying Dutchman.
The film was directed by Albert Lewin and stars Gardner as Pandora Reynolds. James Mason plays Hendrik van der Zee, the mysterious Flying Dutchman figure. The story combines romance, supernatural legend, and fatalistic drama rather than retelling Hesiod’s account of Pandora’s jar.
Gardner was one of Hollywood’s leading stars during the 1950s. Her performance helped make the film notable for its atmosphere, Mediterranean locations, and stylized visual approach. The title uses the name Pandora to signal a woman associated with mystery and destructive consequences.
The film should not be confused with Pabst’s 1929 Pandora’s Box, which stars Louise Brooks as Lulu. The two productions share a Pandora-related title but are separate works with different directors, casts, plots, and sources.