• Pabst’s film features an enthralling narrative and rich characterizations
  • Louise Brooks and her tragic character, Lulu, are/were so influential to the time and to cinema lore (see films and outright homages by Tarantino (hair by Uma in pulp fiction), Demme (Melanie Griffith in something wild), Fassbinder (actual film lola– 1981) and Demy (ditto- character and film named lola – 1961)—Brooks herself was a pop icon in the late 20’s and early 30’s from this film
  • A rich study on the male gaze
  • The structure of the film is set up in act’s- each scene/setting is an act—if they move from her room to the theater that’s a new act
  • Great tracking shot in act 1 when she seals the deal (temporarily) on opening seduction
  • Film and character defined an era—hair, backless dress and scantily dressed clothes
  • It’s to Brooks’ credit as an actress that you find yourself rooting for her
  • Endlessly trendy and fashionable- she dances with a woman, who is in love with her- obviously risqué  for 1929
  • Act 3 the variety show and act 4 the wedding is loaded with mise-en-scene- really well done but this isn’t Von Sternberg certainly with what he does with the frame, Murnau with the camera or von Stroheim with the overall obsessive level of detail—as far as comparisons with peers from that era
  • Love the operatic death scene in act 4- probably the best act- greek tragedy like the actual Pandora—there’s a Han Solo-carbonite-like gorgeous artwork in the backdrop in the frames
  • Close up in big moments- the film clearly influenced Demme (something wild finale, silence of the lambs)
  • It’s a large story, ambitious, epic and prophetic
  • That’s a quick great shot in act 7 of the camera going below deck with the characters as they descent into gambling
  • Reminds me of greed from von Stroheim—statement on the times of the 20’s- nihilistic
  • Brooks’ Lulu is likeable but she’s absolutely toxic as well- it’s a story of male gaze and survival for her but it also works as a tale of morality for the men who fall for her— she’s a victim and the culprit
  • Interesting Jack the Ripper ending- ending in male gaze turned deadly
  • HR quality stretching to a MS- top 5 of the year- HR/MS border