5 Facts about The Shining
- gbbaileyauthor
- May 16, 2020
- 2 min read
BY G.B. BAILEY
SPOILER ALERT This article discusses the ending of the 1980 film The Shining.
Growing up in the 1980s, Stephen King books were a fixture in my household. Stephen King books made me want to be a writer and his work was a big influence on my novel, Never Wake A Serial Killer. My brothers and I would read the paperbacks and when the novels were made into movies, we would see them, even though we were probably too young.
The film, The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick was released on May 23, 1980. In celebration of it 40th birthday, here are 5 facts I learned about the movie from reading a chapter in Scott Von Doviak’s book about movies based on Stephen King movies (see below for source:
Stanley Kubrick originally wanted Slim Pickens for the role of Dick Hallorann, who was played in the movie by Scatman Carothers. Kubrick had worked with Pickens on Dr. Stranglove, but the actor wanted no part of working with the director after that experience. It was Jack Nicholson who recommended Crothers for the part.
Kubrick pushed Shelly Duvall very hard on the set and behind the scenes as he wanted to drive her to the point of hysteria he hoped to see in her character, Wendy.
The original version of The Shining that premiered in New York and Los Angeles on May 23, 1980 included a five-minute scene in which Stuart Ullman, the hotel manager who interviews and hires Jack, visited Danny and his mother, Wendy, in the hospital after their ordeal. This scene was removed five days later never to be seen again. While the script of the scene may have surfaced, the scene itself was only witnessed by those who saw the movie in its first five days of release.
Danny Young, the child actor who played the role of Danny Torrance, came up with the idea for moving his finger when his imaginary friend, Tony, speaks.
As most Stephen King fans (and those who saw the movie Ready Player One) know, the author did not life Kubrick’s version of his novel. In fact, he was very outspoken in his dislike for it. King wanted to do his own version of the story and Kubrick granted him the rights to do so. However, Kubrick included a gag order that prevented King from criticizing his film. With the rights, King then wrote a screen play for a TV mini-series of The Shining that aired on ABC in 1997.
Source:
Von Doviak, Scott (2014). Stephen King Films FAQ. Milwaukee, WI: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books.
GB Bailey is the author of Never Wake A Serial Killer. For more information, visit: www.gbbaileyauthor.com
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