Twinky (1972)

Charles Bronson, one of the greatest action stars of all times, and Richard Donner, one of the greatest action film directors of all times, come together and the result is quirky romantic comedy that really pushes the boundaries into Nabokov's territoy. Charles Bronson stars as American author living in London when barely sixteen year old English school girl falls in love with him. Although she's in legal age, the girl's family and relatives doesn't approve their affair. The writer's friends also aren't very supporting on that matter. That is understandable as the guy could be her father by the age.The film is not 'Lolita' as this time the older man falls under the spell of a young girl. Their relationship is plagued with more downs than ups, when sixteen year old girl fails to comprehend the world of working adults.

Sexy schoolgirl Susan George hops off her bicycle and jumps into bed with muscular Charles Bronson, the older author of the erotic literature she's been reading. And, to quote of his books, "Their bodies fused in a tangle of heat…" Like reading, you have to imagine those scenes, though... Well, the couple have problems. For one thing, she can't cook. But, more importantly, she's sixteen and he's thirty-eight. Since this constitutes statutory rape, they have a problem. Will these crazy London lovebirds work it out? The co-starring couple are a serious mismatch; mostly due to Mr. Bronson's performing style, they are never believable as a couple. Consequently, Ms. George's attempt to throw out a Lauren Bacall line - "If you want me, just whistle" - simply bounces off Bronson; on Humphrey Bogart, it stuck. Otherwise, this isn't one of the worst films ever made. John Scott and Jim Dale give it a breezy "Georgy Girl"-like soundtrack, the supporting cast works, and George looks thoroughly sexy riding her bike in those mini-skirts.**** Twinky (1/6/70) Richard Donner ~ Susan George, Charles Bronson, Orson Bean, Trevor Howard

This is a VERY unusual role for perennial movie tough-guy/vigilante Charles Bronson. He plays an American writer of pornographic novels living in Britain who gets involved with a teenage British girl (Susan George). Her parents are less than thrilled (although personally I'd be too scared to tell Bronson he couldn't date my teenage daughter). But the real trouble comes when he takes her back to America to meet his own judgmental family and where the disparity in their ages starts to take its toll.The American title of this "Lola" may suggest it was inspired by the notorious Vladimir Nabokov novel "Lolita", but the original British title was actually "Twinky", and it was allegedly based on an autobiographical(!) story by screenwriter Norman Thaddeus Vane (who might have been even more sex-crazed than Roman Polanski--at least Polasnski didn't make movies about his affairs with underage girls). The title "Lola" (without the diminutive "ita") is somewhat appropriate though because casting the then 19-year-old Susan George in the role takes away the seriously perverse elements of the story (you'd have to be a sick pervert to NOT be attracted to her). So this becomes more of just an absurd comedy about an older guy trying to carry on an affair with a much younger girl who he is really more of a father figure to.This is probably not a favorite of Bronson fans, but he was such a rigidly typecast actor (kind of like John Wayne) that its nice to see him play a different role (He's miscast, but not nearly as much as Wayne was playing Genghis Khan). Susan George doesn't really have much to do but ride around on a bike in her schoolgirl outfit (but, believe me, that's plenty). Director Richard Donner seems a little embarrassed by this (he took his name off the print I saw), but this is the same guy that made those stupid "Lethal Weapon" movies with that douche-bag Mel Gibson. . . This isn't great, but you just can't go totally wrong with an oddball, off-beat movie like this.

Susan George explodes with great acting and a very sexy performance with Bronson, they make a fantastic couple running around London and New York City, in the late 60's. It is a very sweet love story, and you warm to these two actors, with a few laughs in between. Paul Ford, Trevor Howard and Jack Hawkins give fantastic supporting roles.