The movie never specifically answers that question and leaves it very subtle. Most of what we see could be described by a relationship of a father and child. In fact the only line that suggests he did is near the end when he asks her "Does he know about you and me?"
shareYes he did. The book and the remake makes it very clear.
At the time the movie was made, it was considered in very bad taste to show the sexual activity.
You're probably right, but they didn't need to show any sexual activity to make it clear they had a sexual relationship. It could have been made it more clear through the dialogue, but they didn't except that one line.
shareThe censors prevented Kubrick from showing them even kissing, and Kubrick said if he’d known about the restrictions he would never have made the film.
I think the film actually works better without any graphic contact - it would be repulsive to see any sexual activity between Humbert and a minor, which would detract from the focus of the film, which is the madness and heartbreak and manipulation that underpins this doomed relationship.
My vague memory of it alerts me to two scenes one where she’s on about him hurting her (I assume through sexual intercourse) and the other when he’s getting aroused when she’s on his knee.
Neither are remotely father-daughter relationship material!
I believe it's very clear by the end of the film he did. As the other commentor notes, I think not showing anything actually makes the story more powerful. He's such a nutcase by the end you're like oh..... they was boning.
shareAfter the night in the hotel, when they’re in the car and Lolita says ‘we can’t tell mother’ or something to that effect - that’s when I was sure that her ‘game’ the night before was a lot more than a kiss.
shareI always thought it happened right after she told him about the game she played at camp.
shareYes, it's implied here, but was in the book by Nobokov.
shareIn the novel, it is pretty obvious. In the movie, it is implied but never directly shown. I think Kubrick did a darn good job with a delicate subject and what was / wasn’t allowed to be shown on screen at the time.
shareThey certainly do, but the censors at the time were never going to allow Kubrick to make it explicit. Everything had to be inferred, more or less. Mason underplays the perverted aspects of the character, but they are absolutely there, making those "father-daughter" moments uncomfortable.
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