Lolita (1962)
I was haunted by stories my grandpa told me about Lolita years before I first saw it, namely how nasty the movie was and how many loopholes the filmmakers had to jump through to get the pedicure scene past the censors. Even though the Hays Code was no longer powerful, there was still a sense of decency in 1962, and Lolita practically broke it.
I’m not spoiling anything, by the way. The opening credits are shown over a closeup of Sue Lyon’s toes. The first scene—the scenes are punctuated by lots of “suggestive” blackouts, so get used to them—is of an outraged, emotional James Mason who points a gun at a hungover Peter Sellars, who tries to talk and stall for time. Peter Sellars is so incredibly annoying, creepy, and disgusting, he pretty much ruins the movie. I learned later that his part wasn’t initially so large, but that he kept ad-libbing and director Stanley Kubrick liked what he was doing so much he expanded his role. I wish he hadn’t. I could probably have watched it a second time if it weren’t for Peter Sellars. I beg you, if you’ve never seen him in a movie, don’t rent Lolita yet. You will hate him the rest of your life.
After the first scene, the movie goes back in time; I think the movie would have been stronger if it started after the first scene. Everyone’s waiting to see Sue Lyon, and they’d get to see her that much sooner! Reportedly, about 800 girls auditioned for the title role. Sue was only fifteen years old when she filmed her scenes with the fifty-three-year-old James Mason; I wonder what her parents were thinking. There’s so much interesting trivia about this movie and the initial casting choices; Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, David Niven, Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov, and Charles Boyer were all offered the part before James Mason was freed from his Broadway commitments.
I’m not spoiling anything, by the way. The opening credits are shown over a closeup of Sue Lyon’s toes. The first scene—the scenes are punctuated by lots of “suggestive” blackouts, so get used to them—is of an outraged, emotional James Mason who points a gun at a hungover Peter Sellars, who tries to talk and stall for time. Peter Sellars is so incredibly annoying, creepy, and disgusting, he pretty much ruins the movie. I learned later that his part wasn’t initially so large, but that he kept ad-libbing and director Stanley Kubrick liked what he was doing so much he expanded his role. I wish he hadn’t. I could probably have watched it a second time if it weren’t for Peter Sellars. I beg you, if you’ve never seen him in a movie, don’t rent Lolita yet. You will hate him the rest of your life.
After the first scene, the movie goes back in time; I think the movie would have been stronger if it started after the first scene. Everyone’s waiting to see Sue Lyon, and they’d get to see her that much sooner! Reportedly, about 800 girls auditioned for the title role. Sue was only fifteen years old when she filmed her scenes with the fifty-three-year-old James Mason; I wonder what her parents were thinking. There’s so much interesting trivia about this movie and the initial casting choices; Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Rex Harrison, Errol Flynn, David Niven, Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov, and Charles Boyer were all offered the part before James Mason was freed from his Broadway commitments.
Anyway, James Mason is looking to rent a room, and Shelley Winters nearly drowns in her sea of drool as she shows him the spare room in her house. He clearly isn’t interested, in her or her room, but when she shows him the garden outside and he sees her daughter Sue Lyon in a bikini, he decides to become their new lodger. So starts an incredibly disgusting love triangle between mother, daughter, and lodger. James is a respectable author and professor, and with his sensitivity and restraint—yes, that word does apply to the first half of the movie—it’s totally understandable why Sue would develop a crush on the handsome, older man. And Sue is so unbelievable beautiful, it’s almost understandable why James loses his mind in his attraction to her.
Obviously, if you’re uncomfortable with this subject matter, you’re not going to want to rent Lolita. And if you’re just in the mood for a steamy good time, this isn’t the movie for you. Maybe the remake has more steamy scenes, but this version of Lolita is much more involved in the psychological aspects of their relationship. Restraint and palpable tension are the overwhelming themes to the film, so be prepared if you rent it. Keep in mind it was made in 1962, and the mere fact that the film was made was a miracle, so there’s no nudity or sex scenes that would be necessary for modern audiences.
I like James Mason very much, and it’s only because of my fondness for him that Lolita didn’t ruin my opinion of him. If this was the first movie of his I’d seen, I probably wouldn’t like him at all. There’s no denying that he’s a very handsome man and a very good actor, but his character is pretty unlikable. Yes, you feel sorry for him that he’s dominated by inappropriate lust, but to Shelley, he acts like a jerk. Shelley doesn’t do anything wrong; she falls in love with an available man her own age and gets treated unfairly. For example, she writes him a love letter and as he reads it aloud, he bursts out laughing. She’s been given a very sympathetic character, and I’m sure your heart will go out to her in this film.
If you really like James Mason and want to see one of his iconic films, go ahead and rent this one, but know what you’re getting into. This is a heavy, psychological drama, not a steamy romance. He does a very good job, but the story is a bit disturbing, so it’s not the type of movie you’ll want to watch over and over again. But, at least you’ll be able to say you’ve seen it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. And just as obviously, since the entire movie involves an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More James Mason movies here!
Obviously, if you’re uncomfortable with this subject matter, you’re not going to want to rent Lolita. And if you’re just in the mood for a steamy good time, this isn’t the movie for you. Maybe the remake has more steamy scenes, but this version of Lolita is much more involved in the psychological aspects of their relationship. Restraint and palpable tension are the overwhelming themes to the film, so be prepared if you rent it. Keep in mind it was made in 1962, and the mere fact that the film was made was a miracle, so there’s no nudity or sex scenes that would be necessary for modern audiences.
I like James Mason very much, and it’s only because of my fondness for him that Lolita didn’t ruin my opinion of him. If this was the first movie of his I’d seen, I probably wouldn’t like him at all. There’s no denying that he’s a very handsome man and a very good actor, but his character is pretty unlikable. Yes, you feel sorry for him that he’s dominated by inappropriate lust, but to Shelley, he acts like a jerk. Shelley doesn’t do anything wrong; she falls in love with an available man her own age and gets treated unfairly. For example, she writes him a love letter and as he reads it aloud, he bursts out laughing. She’s been given a very sympathetic character, and I’m sure your heart will go out to her in this film.
If you really like James Mason and want to see one of his iconic films, go ahead and rent this one, but know what you’re getting into. This is a heavy, psychological drama, not a steamy romance. He does a very good job, but the story is a bit disturbing, so it’s not the type of movie you’ll want to watch over and over again. But, at least you’ll be able to say you’ve seen it.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. And just as obviously, since the entire movie involves an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More James Mason movies here!