The 1951 film "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" brings the ancient legend to modern times. The story includes a scholar-archaeologist trying to identify some ancient coins by using coin catalogs. The film stars James Mason as Hendrik van der Zee, the Flying Dutchman, and Ava Gardner as Pandora, a woman who falls in love with him. One small part of the film has an archaeologist ask the Dutchman about an old coin, and several scenes show coins and coin catalogs.

The film starts in the Spanish coast town of Esperanza in 1930, before the Fascist takeover. A number of British expatriates live there, along with the beautiful American woman, Pandora Reynolds. Although many men have pursued Pandora, she has never found a man to love, and enjoys making her boyfriends give up things for her. Archaeologist Stephen Cameron is one of the group, he also narrates the film.

Stephen is a man of many interests, including numismatics.

Pandora tells British race car driver Stephen Cameron that she will marry him in six months if he pushes his racecar off a cliff into the ocean. A yacht arrives in the harbor, and Pandora, intrigued, swims out to the boat. On board she meets the reserved Hendrik van der Zee, who does not respond to her charms. He is civil to her, and she invites him to join her group.

Geoffrey finds that Hendrik is more knowledgeable about antiquities than he is, and decides to ask Hendrik for help in identifying a coin. He never gets the coin identified as he finds Hendrik and Pandora together.

Stephen leaves and his maid takes a coffee break at his table.

The desk is covered with coin catalogs, and there is a tray of coins (ancient?). Stephen takes to coin over to Hendrik's land residence but finds Pandora there. He heads back home to work on another project. Geoffrey has an old 17th century manuscript, supposedly an autobiography of the Flying Dutchman. He asks Hendrik for help in translating it to English, and while translating the book, Hendrik narrates the story of the Dutchman, without referring to the book, and Geoffrey realizes that Hendrik is the Dutchman.

Coin catalogs and coin trays are on the table. Hendrik was the captain of a Dutch sailing ship in the early 17th century. He came back from a voyage and suspected that his young beautiful wife had been unfaithful. In a rage, he stabbed her to death. For this he is cursed to live forever and sail the seas until a woman is willing to die for him. Every seven years he is allowed to come ashore for six months to search for the lady.

Pandora is wearing a medallion which looks like an ancient coin with the amphora design. The Dutchman's six months are up and he moves back onto his boat. Geoffrey, thinking that Hendrik has sailed away, loans Pandora the translated manuscript.

Coin catalogs are still on the table but have been straightened up. Hendrik's boat is still in the harbor and Pandora goes out to join him.

Pandora sees that Hendrik has repainted his painting of her.

Hendrik tells Pandora who he is an what will happen. Later their bodies are found on the beach, along with a copy of Omar Khayyám's Rubáiyát.

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

James Mason as Hendrik van der Zee
Ava Gardner as Pandora Reynolds
Nigel Patrick as Stephen Cameron
Director: Albert Lewin
Writers: Albert Lewin