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

Influence on contemporary pop culture

This was the first time Kubrick had complete control over the production. However, as expected, or should I say natural, there were constant conflicts with the staff.

For example, cinematographer Oswald Morris. The master filmmaker has won the British Academy Award for Best Cinematography for three years in a row, but he gets into a big fight with Kubrick during filming. Even though the film had not yet been released, a scene from the film was published in a newspaper without permission, and Kubrick was furious. He vehemently criticized Morris, the film manager, but it was later revealed that this was the work of an assistant in the film processing room. However, Kubrick never apologized, and Morris, furious, vowed never to work with Kubrick again.

Bernard Herrmann , who was supposed to be in charge of the music, ended up leaving the project because he was tired of having to use Bob Harris's ``Lolita Theme.'' The screenplay was written by the original author, Vladimir Nabokov himself, but unfortunately it didn't seem to live up to Kubrick's expectations and was significantly rewritten. However, although Nabokov was disappointed to learn that most of the script he had written had been deleted, he praised the staff and cast, saying that the finished film itself was great. Unlike Nabokov and Kubrick, his response is very mature!

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

The resulting film, ``Lolita,'' became the 12th highest-grossing film released in 1962. It has received high praise to this day, including being selected as one of film researcher Stephen Jay Schneider's book `` 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die ''. The rock band The Police sings, "I feel like the old man in that Nabokov book" in their song " Don't Stand So Close to Me," and Lana Del Rey sings on her album " Born to Die ." The song's influence on pop culture is immeasurable, with Katy Perry's debut album One of the Boys including the track `` Lolita '' as a bonus track, and the cover of Lolita's debut album `` One of the Boys '' referencing ``Lolita.'' do not have.

This film , which was once judged by the Catholic Legion of Decency to be a sin to watch, continues to be a controversial work due to its sensational content. .

Text: Rui Takeshima

A pop culture writer who wants to be kicked by Hit Girl. Host of the web magazine "POP MASTER".

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"Lolita"

Blu-ray 2,619 yen (tax included) / Special edition DVD 1,572 yen (tax included)

Publisher: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Distributor: NBC Universal Entertainment

© 1961 Turner Entertainment Co. All rights reserved.