An expert on The Shiningdebunks one of the biggest myths from the making of the Stanley Kubrick horror classic. Released in 1980, the Stephen King adaptation hasn't just become one of Kubrick's most iconic films, but one of the most iconic horror movies ever made. The Shining, which stars Jack Nicholson and the late Shelley Duvall, has become almost as well-known for what went on behind-the-scenes as what ended up on-screen, with tales of Kubrick's exacting directing style now the stuff of legend.
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com to promote the release of his new two-volume book, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, author Lee Unkrich debunks a popular story about the film. The story claims that Kubrick had Duvall do 148 takes of the scene in which she walks up the stairs swinging a baseball bat as Jack advances toward her. Though the Guinness Book of World Records claims that the scene holds the record for "most retakes for one scene with dialogue," Unkrich claims this isn't actually accurate:
“
It’s just not true.
I have all the receipts.”
For the book, Unkrich not only talked to every living member of the production, but he also collected documents from the set, including script supervisor June Randall's notes, which provide an accurate accounting of exactly how many takes were done for each scene. Those interested in knowing the specifics will have to purchase the book, but Unkrich does reveal that the shot in the movie that took the most takes was actually one toward the beginning, as Stuart Ullman walks Jack and Wendy through the Gold Ballroom:
“For whatever reason, Stanley did a lot of takes of that shot. But even then, the numbers are not even nearly up to what some of the things you see out there [say] online.”
Unkrich directed
Toy Story 3
(2010) and
Coco
(2017) and has worked at Pixar for close to three decades.
What Unkrich's Myth-Busting Means For The Shining's Reputation
The Shelley Duvall/ Stanley Kubrick Dynamic Explained
In the decades since The Shining's release, much has been said and written about various aspects of its production. A 2012 documentary called Room 237further added to the mystery surrounding the Kubrick film. One particular aspect of the making of The Shining that has gained traction is Kubrick's dynamic with Duvall, with the latter claimed to have been mistreated on set to the point that her performance as a horrified, exhausted Wendy is more real than originally imagined, and that she ultimately quit acting because of this experience.
Was The Shining based on a true story? Stephen King stayed at the Stanley Hotel, which inspired the Overlook and the iconic 1977 novel.
The truth, however, seems to be somewhere in the middle. In an interview with ComingSoon.net, Duvall admitted to having a "bad anxiety attack on set" and it's likely that Kubrick did create a toxic working environment for the actor. She also, however, expressed gratitude for having been involved with the film and respect for Kubrick's vision. Duvall didn't leave Hollywood because of The Shining, and such claims speak to just how easy it is for these types of tales to be exaggerated as they're passed down through the years.
A sequel to
The Shining
called
Doctor Sleep
was released in 2019 from director Mike Flanagan.
Our Take On The Shining's Debunked Myth
It Can Be Hard To Tell Fact From Fiction
The mystery surrounding The Shining and Kubrick do make the film more fun, so it's no surprise some of them have gained such traction. Since it's one of the scariest movies ever made, it's chilling to imagine that the horrors extended off-screen. Clearly, however, one would do well to approach claims about The Shining with a healthy degree of skepticism, and Unkrich's book is sure to debunk other claims about the Kubrick horror classic.
Stanley Kubrick's horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
English (US) ·