Lola (1970 film)
Lola (originally released as Twinky and also known as London Affair) is a 1970 romantic comedy drama film directed by Richard Donner and starring Charles Bronson and Susan George.[2]
| Lola | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Official VHS cover | |
| Directed by | Richard Donner |
| Written by | Norman Thaddeus Vane |
| Produced by | Clive Sharp |
| Starring | Charles Bronson Orson Bean Honor Blackman Michael Craig Paul Ford Jack Hawkins Trevor Howard Lionel Jeffries Kay Medford Robert Morley Susan George |
| Cinematography | Walter Lassally |
| Edited by | Norman Wanstall |
| Music by | John Scott |
Production companies | World Film Services San Marco P.S.A. |
| Distributed by | The Rank Organisation (UK) American International Pictures (USA) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Countries | Italy United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
A 38-year-old writer of pornographic novels named Scott (Charles Bronson) meets and falls in love with a sixteen-year-old school girl (Susan George) whilst living in London.
When Scott is refused a permanent visa to remain in Britain, the couple get married in Scotland and move to America where by state law Twinky must go to school. Tensions arise when Twinky wants to engage in teenage pastimes, while Scott struggles to complete his novels in order to earn a living. She runs away and is found by Scott in the cellar. Twinky then leaves for London the next day after writing Scott a tearful farewell letter.
Cast
- Charles Bronson as Scott Wardman
- Susan George as Twinky / Lola / Sybil Londonderry
- Orson Bean as Hal
- Honor Blackman as Mummy
- Michael Craig as Daddy
- Paul Ford as Mr Wardman
- Jack Hawkins as Judge Millington-Draper
- Trevor Howard as Twinky's Grandfather
- Lionel Jeffries as Solicitor
- Kay Medford as Mrs Wardman
- Robert Morley as Judge Roxborough
- Sue Lloyd as Ursula
- Eric Barker as Scottish Clerk
- Erik Chitty as Lawyer's Elderly Client
- Judith Furse as School Mistress
Production
The idea and script for the film was written by Norman Thaddeus Vane,[3] which author Simon Richter believes was the key force behind the film.[4] Vane's script has been suggested to be somewhat autobiographical, as it mirrors the author's own marriage to 16 year-old model Sarah Caldwell, whom he married in the mid-1960s when he was 38.[5]
Music
The title song and two other original numbers are composed and performed by Jim Dale.
Release
Theatrical
The film had its world premiere at the Metropole Victoria in London on 15 January 1970. It opened in London on 15 February 1970.[1]
Critical response
The Contemporary North American Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide state that the film exploited "the sexual freedom of its era", describing Susan George's character as a "naive young nymphet".[6]
References
- "Twinky (advert)". Kine Weekly. 10 January 1970.
- Mark Deming (2014). "Twinky (1969)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- Ottoson, Robert (1985). American International Pictures: A Filmography. Garland. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-8240-8976-4.
- Richter, Simon (21 August 2013). Women, Pleasure, Film: What Lolas Want. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-137-30973-0.
- Weisberg, Sam (18 January 2012). ""Club Life" and the Oeuvre of Norman Thaddeus Vane". Hidden Films. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- Allon, Yoram; Cullen, Del; Patterson, Hannah (2002). Contemporary North American Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide. Wallflower Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-903364-52-9.