Trivia
James Mason was the first choice of director Stanley Kubrick and producer James B. Harris for the role of Humbert Humbert, but he initially declined due to a Broadway engagement. Laurence Olivier then refused the part, apparently on the advice of his agents. Kubrick considered Peter Ustinov, but decided against him. Harris then suggested David Niven; Niven accepted the part, but then withdrew for fear the sponsors of his TV show, Four Star Playhouse, would object. Mason then withdrew from his play and got the part. Harris denies claims that Noel Coward also rejected the role.
Share this
Peter Sellers modeled the voice of his character Clare Quilty on that of his director, Stanley Kubrick.
Share this
Sue Lyon was chosen for the title role partly due to the size of her breasts. Stanley Kubrick had been warned that the censors felt strongly about the use of a less developed actress to portray the sexually active 14-year-old.
Share this
The famous heart-shaped sunglasses that Lolita wears appear only in publicity photos taken by Bert Stern; Lolita wears cat eye sunglasses in the movie.
Share this
Since the censors would allow nothing close to a suggestion of pedophilia, Lolita's age had to be increased from 12 in Vladimir Nabokov's original novel to 14 for the film. They also objected to a scene where Humbert Humbert was to gaze at Lolita's picture while in bed with her mother Charlotte; in the end, the scene was filmed with Charlotte lying fully dressed on the bed and Humbert lying beside her wearing a robe.
Share this
Stanley Kubrick originally wanted Joey Heatherton for the title role of Lolita, but Heatherton's father Ray Heatherton said no for fear his daughter would be typecast as a promiscuous sex kitten.
Share this
Hayley Mills also turned down the role of Lolita. At the time, her father, John Mills was credited with the decision. Later, Walt Disney was blamed.
Share this
Vladimir Nabokov's original screenplay diverged greatly from the novel, but only a portion of it was used by Stanley Kubrick, even though Nabokov gets screen credit. Nabokov later published it as "Lolita: A Screenplay". The unused screenplay featured an Alfred Hitchcock-like cameo for Nabokov, who is referred to as "that nut with a butterfly net" (Nabokov was well known as an amateur lepidopterist). Although he generally admired the movie adaptation of his book, Nabokov regretted the waste of his time in writing a screenplay which was altered so drastically during filming.
Share this
The Humbert Humbert role was originally offered to Cary Grant, who turned it down in indignation.
Share this
The name of Vivian Darkbloom is an anagram of "Vladimir Nabokov". Quilty's description of Judo matches with her is a direct address of the nature of the relationship between character and creator.
Share this
Stanley Kubrick's first choice for composing the score was Bernard Herrmann, but the composer balked at having to use Bob Harris' "Theme from Lolita" in his score.
Share this
The distinctive Flemish-Gothic spires of the Delaware & Hudson Building in Albany, New York can be seen in the background, as Humbert drives to Lolita's house near the end of the movie. This would indicate that she was living in or near the town Rensselaer.
Share this
Sue Lyon went horse-back riding everyday after filming. Kubrick told her, "If you get thrown, roll over. Don't hurt your face."
Share this
At one point Lolita mentions hanging out with friends named Rex and Roy. Both of these names mean "king" (Rex in Latin and Roy in French).
Share this
According to Elstree Studios records, Lolita was filmed from Nov 1960 to Feb 1961. The studio charged £34,000 for the sound stage rentals. Sadly, the sound stages used for the film were demolished to make way for a Tesco store.
Share this
The Edgar Allen Poe poem Humbert reads to Lolita is "Ulalume." According to an ear-witness at a Poe recitation of the poem, the author pronounced the title as "You-la-loom."
Share this
Sue Lyon's outstanding performance as "Lolita" earned her the "Most Promising Female Newcomer" award at the 1963 Golden Globes.
Share this
Although story takes place all across the United States, many of major sets and exteriors (hotel, hospitals, even residential streets), clearly look more like locales in England, where picture was actually shot.
Share this
When Humbert is waiting to pick up Lolita in the Camp Climax lodge, he idly strokes the head of a taxidermied beaver, providing a sexually suggestive sight gag.
Share this
Director Trademark
Stanley Kubrick:
[bathroom/toilet]
The first Kubrick film in which showing a shot of a bathroom/toilet became his trademark. He would repeat this in every film since until his death in 1999.
Share this
Spoilers
One ending that was considered was to have Humbert and Lolita get married in a state that allowed young people to wed; this ending was considered in order to appease the censors.
Share this
