Lolita

Movie review by David Gurney, Common Sense Media
Lolita Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Classic love story not for kids.

NR 1962 137 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 14 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie deals with an older man having a strong desire for a teen girl that leads to an affair. There is a shooting and a woman commits suicide by running in front of a car -- both are implied and off-screen.

Community Reviews

dazzer70
dazzer70 Adult
May 6, 2021
age 18+

An utter waste of perfectly good paper.

1 person found this helpful.
Sofia18
Sofia18 Adult
June 18, 2020
age 15+

Downplays abusive nature of manipulative, pedophilic relationship

I loved the book; this movie is not true to its intentions. Kubrick made his adaptation back when it would have been censored and banned from theaters if it had been as graphic as the book. So he downplayed the sexuality of it, and did not show the extent of hurt and abuse that Lolita was experiencing while in a physically and psychologically abusive relationship with a pedophile and predator. Taking away the depth of the book made it more commercially successful + accessible to slightly younger audiences, but that was a bad idea because younger people watching it do not see how traumatizing and scarring the experience was for Lolita. That may give them the message that what Humbert did was basically okay, when it WAS ABSOLUTELY NOT. This book was just not meant to be a movie, in my opinion. There is really not that much that happens in the book (Kubrick adds to Clare Quilty's role in order to make it feel like there's more of a plot). The reason why it is such a loved book is not because of the plot, but because of the beautiful language and the way that Nabokov (the author) somehow makes you empathize both with the pedophile predator (Humbert) and his victim, Lolita. This adaptation's satirical take just did have the same impact -- I would recommend reading the book instead.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Professor Humbert Humbert (James Mason) seeks a relaxing summer in the resort town of Ramsdale, New Hampshire, where he finds a room to rent in the house of a shrill, middle-aged widow, Charlotte Haze (Shelley Winters). He is immediately infatuated with her daughter, Lolita (Sue Lyon). Charlotte falls for Humbert, and he marries her to stay close to Lolita. When his new wife finds his diary containing his confession of love for Lolita, she commits suicide. Humbert pulls Lolita out of summer camp under the guise that her mother is sick and they need to return home. A long and somewhat tense road trip follows, where Humbert eventually seduces her and reveals the truth about her mother. Lolita, who had been enjoying his attention until this point, realizes the grave nature of her situation, and is forced to remain his concubine -- that is until a mysterious stranger pokes his nose in the affair, threatening to expose their illegal relationship to the world.

Is It Any Good?

Peter Sellers turns in a great performance, as Clare Quilty. He takes on several different personas throughout the film to fool Humbert and gain access to Lolita -- a preview of his multiple roles in Kubrick's next film, Dr. Strangelove.

Translating a controversial novel like LOLITA to the big screen was an incredible feat in 1962. Director Stanley Kubrick, working from author Vladimir Nabokov's own screenplay, was able to convey the forbidden thoughts and actions of Humbert without upsetting censors. While the film isn't remembered as one of Kubrick's best, it's quite engaging and even surprising in its ability to make viewers sympathize with an ill-intentioned character like Humbert.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about representations of teen girl sexuality, from Lolita's sunglasses to Britney Spears' school girl uniform. Why do these images become popular in our culture? Do you think they are ever powerful -- or offensive?

  • In the end, is Lolita portayed as powerful or simply pathetic?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love mature dramas

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