Very funny, dark and desperate

Stanley Kubrick film adaptation from 1960, starring James Mason and Peter Sellers. The marketing campaign and the original theatrical trailer both state it’s a miracle the film got made. After watching Lolita, I can see why. It’s about James Mason’s infatuation and subsequent love affair with his underage step daughter, Lolita, played by newcomer Sue Lyon. Because of the attitudes at the time, and even still today, Mason and Lyon are never shown consummating their love, or even showing any physical affection for each other. Because of this, it’s not entirely clear the nature of their relationship, however, this ambivalence lends itself to the film. This sounds like a dark picture with some quite nasty themes; however, it is more of a comedy, especially the first half. The second, although full of laughs, does get darker and more desperate. The scene that really stayed with me was when James Mason refuses the advances of his landlady, played brilliantly by Shelly Winters; she then drifts into a monologue about loneliness and desperation, which she shouts at the top of her voice. Very powerful and compelling viewing. My only problem with this great film is Peter Sellers, a playwright who is also infatuated with Lolita. Kubrick seems to have given him too much freedom. His performance is way too over the top and would have benefited from Kubrick reining him in.