"Lolita" 100% Kubrick stamp, controversial work that still causes debate

The role of Humbert, who was told "no" by all the famous actors.

Errol Flynn, who was an action star in the 1930s and 1940s, was originally considered for the role of Humbert Humbert. His real-life girlfriend, Beverly Ardlund, was considered for the role of Lolita. She and Flynn are a couple with an age difference of over 30 years. Aren't these two the perfect pair for a movie adaptation of "Lolita"?

However, Errol Flynn suddenly died at the age of 50 due to a heart attack. At the age of 17, Aardland was labeled as a ``femme fatale looking for wealth'' and was criticized so much that she was no longer allowed to appear in movies. By the way, this story has been made into a movie titled ``The Last Scandal: A Hollywood Star's Forbidden Affair'' (13), so if you are interested, please check it out.

Casting for the film was difficult as the lead role was lost due to an unexpected death. I guess so. Even though the original work received literary acclaim, it was too risky to play a middle-aged man who is infatuated with a girl. He made an offer to the big star Cary Grant, but of course the answer was no. French actor Charles Boyer, best known for his role in `` Gaslight '' (1944), was offered the role, but declined after a few weeks without giving any reason. Popular actor David Niven, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for `` The Journey '' (1958), once accepted the role, but declined due to fear of opposition from sponsors. Other famous actors such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivier were all told no.

"Lolita" © 1961 Turner Entertainment Co. All rights reserved.

Meanwhile, James Mason was chosen to play the role of Humbert. He is a famous actor known for `` A Star Is Born '' (54) and `` North by Northwest '' (59). At first he turned down a Broadway job, but in the end he decided to take on the high-risk job. Kubrick commented on him as follows:

``He's handsome, but he's vulnerable, and he's also a romantic. So is Humbert, of course, and he wears the skin of a sophisticated cynic, and underneath his servitude he's deeply romantic and sentimental.'' ( Interview with Stanley Kubrick) (quoted from)

James Mason and Stanley Kubrick did not make a movie together after ``Lolita,'' but they became good friends, and Mason even visited him on the set of `` The Shining '' (1980).

Sue Leung's acting career went downhill