Diary of a Lost Girl

Released Sep 27, 1929

1h 36m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

In Germany, chemist's daughter Thymian (Louise Brooks) is raped by her father's assistant. When she becomes pregnant and bears a child but refuses to marry her assaulter, her outraged father sends her to a brutal reformatory. Thymian soon escapes with a friend, Erika (Edith Meinhard), only to learn that her child has died. She then finds Erika working at a brothel and, with no other option, joins her. Gradually, Thymian works her way higher by marrying a count, but her past haunts her.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's not the equal of Pandora's Box, but [Brooks's] performance is on the same high level.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

[A] deliciously sordid soap opera.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 21, 2014

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A masterpiece of the silent era, and a showcase for one of the silver screen's greatest stars.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 7, 2019

Full Review

Lewis Porteous

The Skinny

What rescues the movie from quaint anonymity is the nausea-inducing darkness that permeates its every frame

Rated: 4/5

Nov 20, 2014

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It's the brilliant performance by the radiantly beautiful Brooks that makes this otherwise forgettable soap opera story memorable.

Rated: B

Jun 22, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 29, 2005

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william d

While watching this movie I was reminded of Chaplin's quote regarding the advent of sound: "Just when we were getting it right it was over." Diary of a Lost Girl could be the peak of silent drama (silent comedy hit its stride much earlier). Every actor conveys the entire emotional spectrum with just facial expressions and body language. Louise Brooks is beautiful and Pabst's direction is superb.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another masterpiece from G.W. Pabst and Louise Brooks which in ways is more satisfying than their earlier work, "Pandora's Box."

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

david f

This classic silent film is a sympathetic portrayal of a young woman who gets caught up in the hypocritical sexual mores of society, breaks with her family, is institutionalized, becomes a whore with a heart of gold, and makes a redemptive case for a little more love in society.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Not really convincing story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

andrey k

As always a crafty film filled with social issues of the time, and with incomparable beauty Louise Brooks, from Pabst. Indeed a little more love would help a lot.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Im not a huge fan of silent films, but this one is actually pretty interesting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Director

Louise Brooks

Thymiane

Fritz Rasp

Meinert

Josef Rovenský

Robert Henning

Sybille Schmitz

Elisabeth

Valeska Gert

The director's wife

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Synopsis

In Germany, chemist's daughter Thymian (Louise Brooks) is raped by her father's assistant. When she becomes pregnant and bears a child but refuses to marry her assaulter, her outraged father sends her to a brutal reformatory. Thymian soon escapes with a friend, Erika (Edith Meinhard), only to learn that her child has died. She then finds Erika working at a brothel and, with no other option, joins her. Gradually, Thymian works her way higher by marrying a count, but her past haunts her.

Director: Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Producer: Georg Wilhelm Pabst
Screenwriter: Margarete Böhme, Rudolf Leonhardt
Distributor: Kino Video, Grapevine Video
Production Co: Hom-AG für Filmfabrikation, Pabst-Film
Genre: Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1929, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 31, 2015
Runtime: 1h 36m
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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