Discover
-
Bob Harris
Music -
Pamela Davies
Continuity -
Stanley Kubrick
Director -
George Partleton
Makeup Artist -
William C. Andrews
Art Direction -
Robert Cartwright
Set Dresser -
Len Shilton
Sound Recordist -
Barbara Gillett
Wardrobe Master
-
Wuchak 2/19/2024 7:20:55PM
**_An attractive 14 years-old girl knows the power over males she has… and wields it_** A middle-aged professor of French literature (James Mason) spends the summer in New Hampshire where he becomes infatuated by a 14 years-old girl (Sue Lyon), the daughter of the woman who rents him a room (Shelley Winters). Nothing good will come from this attraction if he cannot keep it in check. Helmed by Stanley Kubrick based on the book by Vladimir Nabokov, "Lolita" (1962) is a B&W black comedy and psychological drama that was controversial in its day (and still is) so the physical intimacy of the adult-minor relationship is only hinted at. Sue Lyon turned 15 during shooting and is surprisingly a good actress at such a young age. Don’t expect much exploitation of her beauty, though, beyond an early scene of her in a two-piece bathing suit. The character of Quilty has less of a role in the book and is believable. He’s basically a dark shadow of Humbert, mirroring Humbert's carnal qualities. Unfortunately, Kubrick allowed Peters Sellers to get out-of-control in the part, which spoils it (and the movie). Don’t get me wrong, Peter Sellers has great charisma, even here, but too many of his Quilty scenes are nonsensical or implausible. The two worst examples are: When he shows up at that hotel and has that eye-rolling (ad-libbed) conversation on the porch while looking in the opposite direction of Humbert. Later he shows up at Humbert’s abode masquerading as a school psychiatrist threatening to have a group of therapists come over to observe Lolita's homelife, unless she can be in his play. Why Sure! It doesn’t help that Humbert curiously goes along with both without question. While overlong by at least half an hour, the cast is a highlight and the drama is fairly compelling and sometimes amusing despite the quaint datedness of the production and the eye-rolling Quilty scenes. The film runs 2 hours, 32 minutes, and was shot in both America and England. GRADE: B-
Christopher Lee
Kharis, the Mummy (archive footage) (uncredited)Peter Cushing
John Banning (archive footage) (uncredited)James Mason
Prof. Humbert HumbertShelley Winters
Charlotte HazeGuy Standeven
Stagehand (uncredited)Lois Maxwell
Nurse Mary LoreJim Brady
Police Convention Attendant (uncredited)Peter Sellers
Clare Quilty