Lolita (1997)

An English professor falls for a minor , and has to face the consequences of his actions.

Director:

Adrian Lyne

Writers:

Vladimir Nabokov (novel), Stephen Schiff (screenplay)

Stars:

Jeremy Irons, Dominique Swain, Melanie Griffith

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Irons	...	Humbert Humbert
Melanie Griffith	...	Charlotte Haze
Frank Langella	...	Clare Quilty
Dominique Swain	...	Dolores 'Lolita' Haze
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Miss Pratt
Keith Reddin	...	Reverend Rigger
Erin J. Dean	...	Mona
Joan Glover	...	Miss LaBone
Pat Pierre Perkins	...	Louise (as Pat P. Perkins)
Ed Grady	...	Dr. Melinik
Michael Goodwin	...	Mr. Beale
Angela Paton	...	Mrs. Holmes
Ben Silverstone	...	Young Humbert Humbert
Emma Griffiths Malin	...	Annabel Lee (as Emma Griffiths-Malin)
Ronald Pickup	...	Young Humbert's Father

Storyline

In early adolescence, Humbert fell hopelessly and tragically in love with a girl his own age, and, as he grew into adulthood, he never lost his obsession with "nymphets," teenagers who walk a fine line between being a girl and a woman. While looking for a place to live after securing a new teaching position, he meets Charlotte Haze (Melanie Griffith), a pretentious and annoying woman who seems desperately lonely and is obviously attracted to Humbert. Humbert pays her little mind until he meets her 13-year-old daughter Lolita (Dominique Swain), the image of the girl that Humbert once loved. Humbert moves into the Haze home as a boarder and eventually marries Charlotte in order to be closer to Lolita. When Charlotte finds out about Humbert's attraction to her daughter, she flees the house in a rage, only to be killed in an auto accident. Without telling Lolita of her mother's fate, Humbert takes her on a cross-country auto trip, where their relationship begins to move beyond the ...

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Plot Keywords:

lolita | older man young girl relationship | 14 year old | promiscuous daughter | underage girl | 

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Taglines:

Forbidden, Provocative, Unforgettable.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for aberrant sexuality, a strong scene of violence, nudity and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Chaplin's relationship with his second wife Lita Grey was reportedly the inspiration of the novel "Lolita" as she was underage when they first started their relationship.

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Goofs

When Humbert sits down to remove Dolores' shoes (in the hotel room) she offers up her right leg in the wide shot. However, when the shot moves in close you see him holding her left foot and proceeds to remove her shoe.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Humbert: [voiceover] She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks, she was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always - Lolita. Light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin. My soul.
[whispered]
Humbert: Lolita.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits are over there is a brief clip where Lolita is shown juggling a red apple.

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Alternate Versions

Two scenes involving nudity from the body double were originally intended to be included as supplemental footage in the UK DVD release but were refused a certificate by the BBFC.

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Connections

Referenced in And Now Ladies & Gentlemen (2002)

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Soundtracks

I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder
Written by Daryl Hutchins
Performed by Eddy Howard

User Reviews

Why Lyne's Lolita is Controversial

When the 1997 version of Lolita was widely censored in the US, many asked why the reaction was so strong to this film. After all, the novel was published in the US in 1958, Kubrick's film version appeared in 1962, and we hear more shocking tales of sexual depravity every day on the daytime talk shows. But after seeing Lyne's brilliant version of Lolita, I can see how he manages to breathe fresh controversy into this familiar story. Lyne's lascivious lens eroticizes Lolita's every movement and pose. The viewer is forced to see her through the eyes of Humbert and to feel his obsession and desire. We are co-conspirators in his crime, and at the end we share his shame. Rather than shocking us (and having us pull away in revulsion), Lyne draws us in and makes us face the Humbert in ourselves. This is an incredibly powerful film.

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lolita

Filming Locations:

New Orleans Athletic Club, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$62,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,492, 26 July 1998

Gross USA:

$1,071,255

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,071,255

Company Credits

Production Co:

Guild, Lolita Productions, Pathe UK

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1