Lolita in book and film

Extract

[...] This addition intensifies Quilty's persona as the ostentatious and flamboyant instigator he plays in the film while again, adding to the comedy of the film that other characters fail to achieve. Throughout Lolita and Humbert's travels in the book, Humbert becomes increasingly aware that they are being followed. The book never acknowledges that the man following them is in fact Quilty. Even after Lolita is taken from Humbert, the reader is not informed that Quilty is the perpetrator. Not until Humbert finds Lolita pregnant and engaged is he notified of the fact. [...]

[...] She suggests that Humbert allow her to participate in the play, and Humbert, not wishing to arouse suspicion, accepts her offer. The film illustrates this interaction but without the as- a-matter-of-fact Miss Pratt, replacing her with an intrusive, disguised and German accented Quilty. Quilty introduces himself as Doctor Zempf strong resemblance to his later role in Dr. Strangelove), the school psychiatrist, and like the book, persuades Humbert to permit Lolita to act in the play, which we later discover, is directed by Quilty. [...]

[...] This final shot is Kubrick's way of foreshadowing the conflict between the two men, with Lolita and the loss of her innocence in the middle. One scene in which the ‘book Quilty' appears almost as he does in film (though with less identifying recognition) is at the hotel, the Enchanted Hunter where Humbert takes Lolita. The book describes the apprehensive Humbert pacing around the hotel waiting for Lolita to fall asleep as he encounters an unidentified man on the porch who questions him about Lolita: “Where the devil did you get beg your pardon?” said: the weather is getting better.” “Seems “Who's the lassie?” daughter.” lie she's not.” beg your pardon?” said: July was hot. [...]