MovieChat Forums > Lolita (1962) Discussion > why did james agree to this movie?

why did james agree to this movie?

posted 10 years ago by Darknessviking
6 replies | jump to latest

i mean,sure "youre an actor",but not everyone think its a good idea to kiss 14yo girls and stuff,
i cant even understand why someone would make a movie like this,
everyone must have felt uncomfortable on set,its like "yeah,this is not right,but...uh its for... you know,art........right?"

boggles my mind :s

its like,some movies shouldnt be made

[–] LukeLovesFilm28 10 years ago

It's a challenging film and subject matter. But, it had to be told.

[–] gorgsharpy 10 years ago

Come on, it's ridiculing HH in a fun way.

Kissing a 14 year old the way JM did is still legal the last time I checked the law.

[–] franzkabuki 10 years ago

A Stanley Kubrick movie based on a Vladimir Nabokov novel... that's f-cking hard...

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] manderstoke 9 years ago

The tired old moralisms must be trotted out, but they are so very boring. As for Mason, his performance in LOLITA was iconic and among the best he ever did, in a career replete with excellent performances. Other "stars" turned down the role, but Mason, not a star but an actor, jumped at the opportunity. It was a brave choice and he perfectly caught the sweet, corrupt voice of Humbert Humbert. I don't think any other actor could have equalled him in this role.

[–] cookiela2001 9 years ago

why did james agree to this movie?

The character is caught up in major, tortured CONFLICT....that's what actors want to play! Plus the film has both tragedy and comedy in it, so he gets to show off versatility.

No matter how you react to the subject matter, it's hard not to find his character's begging at the end somehow heartbreaking. Mason puts so much naked emotion into it...stripped of pride and truly vulnerable

.

[–] manderstoke 8 years ago

Your comments are insightful and an antidote to much of what appears on these posts. I especially noted your observation about Mason putting "so much naked emotion" into Humbert's last encounter with Lolita. As you know, Mason was an actor of nuance and complexity, so this departure from his usual style was endearing.