• Latest
African Queen (1951)

Lolita (1962)

June 1, 2021

Vermont Hunter Education Courses

March 15, 2023

Vermont Philharmonic and Green Mountain Youth Symphony Present “Awakenings: Music of Young Composers”

March 15, 2023

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) Joins in Month-Long March for Meals Celebration with Communities Nationwide

March 15, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Divorce, Italian Style (1961)

March 15, 2023

Following Successful Public Pressure Campaign to Lower the Cost of Eli Lilly’s Insulin, Sanders and Bush Introduce Bill to Finish the Job and Cap the Price at $20 Per Vial

March 15, 2023
Udderly Crazy 4-H Club Members Take Part In 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

Udderly Crazy 4-H Club Members Take Part In 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

March 7, 2023
Hunger Free Vermont Receives $36,090 Nourishing Neighbors Grant from Shaw’s Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbor Campaign

Hunger Free Vermont Receives $36,090 Nourishing Neighbors Grant from Shaw’s Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbor Campaign

March 7, 2023
African Queen (1951)

La Strada (“The Road”) – 1954

March 7, 2023

Scammers May Be Targeting Your Smart TV

March 7, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

My Spring Obsession

March 7, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)

February 28, 2023

Lyndon Institute to Sponsor NEK Career and Apprenticeship Fair in April

February 28, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Lolita (1962)

Four Stars

vt-world by vt-world
June 1, 2021
in Max's View
0
African Queen (1951)

The law makes it abundantly clear that sex with someone under 18 is unacceptable.

But because it is such an uncomfortable, forbidden topic, we don’t get taught why it is an unforgivable crime.

“Lolita” certainly isn’t Stanley Kubrick’s best film. But it is his most convincing. Kubrick makes statutory rape feel disgusting, disgraceful, and destructive.

When we first meet Dr. Humbert Humbert (James Mason), he doesn’t seem like such a bad guy. Humbert is a British professor who is coming to America for a teaching gig.

Humbert rents a room in the house of an annoying, libidinous widow and he puts up with her as best he can. Humbert’s real problems begin when he meets his landlady’s teenage daughter Lolita (Sue Lyon).

Humbert has an instant crush on Lolita. He watches her. He thinks of her while he’s having sex with her mother. Gross, to be sure, but not yet criminal.

The crush evolves creepily into obsession. Humbert wants nothing else in life than to be with Lolita. Disturbingly, he convinces himself that she wants the same. Kubrick shows us how a self-centered man can mistake a girl’s friendliness and flirtatiousness for actual attraction.

When Lolita’s mom dies, Humbert makes his move. By acting as the teen’s official guardian, they can live a seemingly normal domestic life while having an illicit affair.

Humbert has everything he wanted; he has triumphed. Not so fast. Humbert gets the girl – but in the process he loses his soul, and his mind. Stanley Kubrick demonstrates that Humbert’s relationship with Lolita isn’t just wrong, it is completely self-destructive.

Humbert has to be both father and boyfriend to a teenage girl, and that is an unenviable task. He ends up angry and possessive. He’s scared of losing her and scared of being caught. And he’s right to be scared.

In the hands of most directors, “Lolita” would be a straight-forward drama. Or a thriller, with Humbert as the villain. But Stanley Kubrick chose to make a comedy, and his unorthodox decision makes sense. Humbert isn’t just a monster, he is an embarrassing loser. We are right to chuckle and squirm as the professor ruins two lives with one insane decision after another.

I’m amazed at James Mason’s commitment to the role of Dr. Humbert. Mason was one of the biggest movie stars in the UK. He did not have to risk it all to play a disgusting pedophile. But he does a marvelous job. We hate Humbert with all our might but we still feel his humanity and his suffering.

Sue Lyon is perfect in an equally challenging role. She is a normal teenager: emotional, rebellious, and irresponsible. We see that she needs genuine love and all she gets is selfish adults who want to use her. Ultimately, Lolita is put into the unwinnable position of choosing to submit to Humbert or go away alone to an orphanage.   

“Lolita” is a triumph of cinematic vision and bravery. It’s one thing to tell people that sex with someone under 18 is unacceptable. It’s another thing to prove it convincingly. This movie should be mandatory viewing in every high school.

Previous Post

Ikiru (To Live) – 1952

Next Post

Montpelier Alive Announces June Art Walk in the Capital City

Next Post

Montpelier Alive Announces June Art Walk in the Capital City

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In