Lolita [M]

When Professor Humbert comes to Ramsdale, New Hampshire, his is instantly smitten with his landlady’s precocious daughter Lolita. Marrying Charlotte, the landlady so that me might be closer to Lolita, Humbert develops a strong possessive attitude towards her and when disaster befalls Charlotte, a bizarre love triangle emerges with Lolita as its apex. 

From director Stanley Kubrick, the genius who brought us such films as The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, and Eyes Wide Shut, comes this intriguing black and white drama that explores the theme of sexual obsession filled with drama, suspense, romance, and manipulation. 

When Professor Humbert comes to Ramsdale, New Hampshire, his is instantly smitten with his landlady’s beautiful and precocious daughter, Lolita. Marrying Charlotte, the landlady, so that he might get closer to Lolita, Humbert soon develops a strong possessive attitude towards her and when disaster befalls poor Charlotte, a bizarre love triangle forms that will only bring about the demise of the victims of the young temptress Lolita. 

The film begins at the end, a clever plot device used to engage the audience. The story and drama itself is rather subdued and the power of the film comes from the performances from its actors. 

James Mason stars as Humbert and he was perfect. Gentlemanly and polite to begin with, he gradually develops into a jealous and obsessive psycho and his performance was very empowering and deeply moving. 

Shelley Winters stars as Charlotte and hers was a particularly powerful performance. Playing a mother who is bitterly jealous of her daughter must be an emotional strain and Shelley delivered a performance that was persistent, trying, and at the same time deeply melancholy. She played a very tragic role and I congratulate her. 

Peter Sellars plays the role of Clare Quilty and he was genius. It’s amazing how he can fit so many words into a minute and still articulate each one perfectly. He delivered a performance that was engaging, but also provided the film with a little comic relief to play against the drama. Kudos. 

Starring Sue Lyon as the teenage temptress herself, Lolita is a great classic that is filled with drama, romance, obsession, manipulation, slapstick comedy, and murder. It’s definitely a film you have to see at least once.