Laaahlita

The MPAA’s implementation of the Hay’s code lasted until 1968, Kubrick’s Lolita came out in 1962. This explains the humorous ads they put out advertising the film “How Did They Ever Make a Movie Out of Lolita??” It was indeed hard to see how the filmmakers could successfully navigate the sexuality-laden subject of pedophilia and still adhere to film codes. I think Nabokov kind of sacrificed the image of vulnerable Dolores that we had glimpses of in the novel, in order to make the film acceptable. The character was always Lolita, and she was (although decidedly childish at times), fast talking, witty, independent, and basically you were never afraid that she was getting taken advantage of. The film sort of began with her in a position of authority – the mother was a babbling romantic compared to Lolita’s mature cynic. In fact it seemed that Humbert was the one in an inferior position. The film had kind of a uncanny, encroaching tone towards the middle and the end, such that you almost felt sorry for Humbert. Lolita was in control, Humbert was not. He had Quilty following him in various disguises, in cars, and could never really “enjoy” the fruits of his labor because he was in constant paranoia. Even Lolita is cruel and cynical towards him, like she has a full grasp on his intentions. I feel like the power dynamic was shifted – from the novel we got some one well versed in manipulation, but from the movie, when we were not adhering to the innermost thoughts of a single perspective, Humbert seemed much more vulnerable than he let on. I’d wondered if, in Nabokov’s mind, the film was a chance for him to put the reality (what he imagined as the reality when writing the book initially) of Humbert’s situation out there. The novel is his diary, so we only hear from his very biased perspective, but the camera is alienated from Humbert’s mind so we can see the truth of the situation: He is not a confident manipulator, but a desperate one.

I read some things online about how the 1997 version is better because the relationship between Lolita and Humbert is more uncomfortable. But despite the restrictions that influenced its material, I consider the 1962 version more of a treasure because the screenplay

was written by Nabokov.

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Tags: Lolita, Lolita Film, Nabokov, Sue Lyon

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 4th, 2013 at 3:41 pm and is filed under April 9, Rachel Kisty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.