Lola (1970)
"Twinky" (original title)

A middle aged writer of pornographic novels meets and falls in love with a sixteen year old school girl. This alone is cause for concern but when the couple get married and move to America,... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Norman Thaddeus Vane (story), Norman Thaddeus Vane (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Bronson, Orson Bean, Susan George

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Bronson	...	Scott Wardman
Orson Bean	...	Hal
Susan George	...	Twinky
Honor Blackman	...	Mummy
Michael Craig	...	Daddy
Paul Ford	...	Mr. Wardman, Scott's father
Jack Hawkins	...	Judge Millington-Draper
Trevor Howard	...	Lola's grandfather
Lionel Jeffries	...	Solicitor
Kay Medford	...	Mrs. Wardman, Scott's mother
Robert Morley	...	Judge Roxborough
Peggy Aitchison	...	Mrs. Finchley
Tony Arpino	...	New York Judge
Eric Barker	...	Scottish Clerk
Erik Chitty	...	Lawyer's Elderly Client

Storyline

A middle aged writer of pornographic novels meets and falls in love with a sixteen year old school girl. This alone is cause for concern but when the couple get married and move to America, the trouble (and fun) really begins.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | pornographic novel | may december romance | new york city | lolita | 

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Taglines:

Theirs was a forbidden love. (dvd)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Comedy

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

Italy UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 May 1970 (France)

Also Known As:

London Affair

Filming Locations:

Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bino Cicogna, Eurofilm, Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in 1969, not released in the US until 1971.

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Soundtracks

"Cockatoo Time"
(uncredited)
Music by John Malcolm
Francis Day & Hunter Music Ltd

User Reviews

Somewhat silly but still very touching

**SPOILERS** Having fallen head over heels for American writer Scott Waldman, Charles Bronson, 16 year-old London school-girl Lola, Susan George,initiates a love affair with the much older man that goes from puppy love to a full-fledged affair to marriage and then finally to the sad realization that their relationship wasn't meant to be; and then have the two go their own separate ways as the movie ends.

Charles Bronson in a role that you'd never expect him to be in is both sensitive and touching, which is a Herculean task on his part, as 39 year old writer Scott Wardman. And young and leggy Susan George, who was 18 at the time, is also both touching and delightful as Lola as the two turn heads every were they go in the movie from London to New York City.

Scott who's really not at first in love with the very frisky and overbearing Lola falls for her more out of not wanting to hurt Lola feelings then anything else. Scott even leaves his what seems like fiancé Ursla,Sue Llyod,for the young and perky Lola without as much as a second thought.

Lola's parents who at first are shocked with her relationship with an older man and writer of "Adult Novels" later give in and give the two their consent to marry. Before you know it the two lovebirds are married in Glasgow Scotland and off to New York City to meet Scott's parents, who are about to get the shock of their lives, and live together as man and wife.

In the Big Apple things start to unwind when it becomes obvious that Lola isn't exactly the woman that Scott is willing to spend the rest of his life with. Lola soon also realizes that she's a burden on both Scott's work as a writer and his social life.

Partying and attending high school is not exactly the life that Scott, who's very introverted, expected with his wife Lola and he's torn between breaking up and staying with her. Scott fears that a breakup would lead to her killing herself and staying married would have him, as well as Lola, be miserable for the rest of their lives. It's in the end that Lola is the one to end the relationship by leaving Scott a "Dear John" letter on her blackboard, as well as her pet black cat "Mouse" for him to take care of. As she left for London to get back to the life she left when she fell in love with him.

Not as bad or corny as you might at first thought "Lola" treats the relationship between the much older Scott and the teeny bop-per Lola much better and honest than you would have expected from that kind of a movie. The movie does it with both sensitively and care not with sleaze and sensationalism.

The movie also has, besides Charles Bronson and Susan George, an all star cast that you also wouldn't expect from a low-budget and unknown film like it with Honor Blackman and Michael Craig as well as Paul Ford and Key Medford as Lola's and Scott's parents. There's also the very talented but rarely seen in motion pictures Orsen Bean as Scott's best friend and family lawyer Hal and look for a very young Jill Ireland, who was later to become Mrs. Charles Bronson, as an extra at the airport in the movie.