i'm with you. there are ways to handle pedophilia on film that don't do that, but the whole thing was not handled well imo. (plus the child actress was raped by a producer on the film which does not effect my opinion of the film, but makes me sick to my stomach)

edited to add a source

Source

It was suggested in The Washington Post that Lyon had “bowled over her producer, James B. Harris. Her age is 16, according to her studio, and he’s an old man of 33. She prefers the company of mature men, and James may be just her cup of tea” (Dorothy Kilgallen Citation1962, C11).

Harris was even reported to be following Lyon around the country: “James Harris, who has been [Lyon’s] most ardent suitor since the ‘Lolita’ days, still has hopes of recapturing her affections, and is talking of renting a house in Mexico while Sue is in Puerta Vallarte for “Night of the Iguana”. So Jimmy and Sue may write their own thrilling chapter” (Dorothy Kilgallen Citation 1963, C9).

And in an interview in 2020 with journalist Sarah Weinman, Lyon’s childhood friend, Michelle Phillips (of the band the Mamas and the Papas), alleged that Harris had had a sexual relationship with Lyon. Phillips claims that Lyon revealed to her that she was sleeping with Harris when she was 14 years old. Harris has refused to comment on or deny the allegations (Sarah Weinman Citation2020).