CHW: Truffaut’s
film of Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, 1966, makes a pointed and sustained reference
to Lolita as one the books being burnt by the political “firemen”. The film is
also remarkable for featuring Julie Christie in dual roles... it occurred to me
that there might be a chain of
influence back from Ada, via Pierre, to Goethe’s book.
Is there not some nexus here?
JM:
Since I couldn't remember Fahrenheit 451 I watched it again tonight.
Yes,
indeed, there is a sustained reference to Lolita ( cover of the book and one of
its pages while still smouldering slowly away).
Lots
of Faulkner, Dostoievsky, Sartre! The list didn't follow
the order of the "10 Best Books"we recently received. I imagine
"Lolita" must represent the entire works of "Nabokov" ( instead of ADA,
Pale Fire...).
Truffaut's
movie is, by itself, a typical "Fahrenheit 451" situation. Images and
speech, just that. And
numbers.
Reading
must be similar to learning to ride a bike: one cannot unlearn it, although we
may forget the books we've read. I must re-read Ray Bradbury quickly lest I
forget. The movie seemed to be rather silly after all these years,
but it did make an impression on me in the late
sixties.
I
thought it was a movie about "books", but it is mainly about the written word.
There lies the danger and freedom.
Does
anyone remember who said: "images are eminently fascist"?
On
the subject of Buñuel and VN, I confess that I cannot see Nabokov as
a "surrealist", neither any of his written works seems to
fit.