Making 'The Shining'
- Episode aired Oct 4, 1980
- 35m
A look behind the scenes during the making of The Shining (1980).A look behind the scenes during the making of The Shining (1980).A look behind the scenes during the making of The Shining (1980).
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the behind the scenes "Making of" documentary, it becomes clear that, the hotel interior set design not only uses the available official Sound Stage floor spaces, but also flow out to include the (dressed/disguised) "backstage" Elstree Studio buildings areas, such as studio corridors, dressing rooms, offices, etc. By coincidence, it appears that most of the Elstree Studios' Sound Stages and related studio buildings used for "The Shining" were later demolished in the notorious Brent Walker period, for what would become the site of the Tesco Supermarket, making this behind the scenes film, and "The Shining" itself, unintentional records of the Elstree Studios site prior to the demolition.
- Quotes
Stanley's Mom: And why is the script in multi-coloured pages? Anything?
Stanley Kubrick: Each time we make a new version, at first you get very methodical - each time you make a new version, you put a different colour in. After a while, you're lucky if people get copies of the changes.
Jack Nicholson: It's so that you start with white, then you go to blue, then pink, then green, then yellow.
Stanley's Mom: But I just wondered...
Stanley Kubrick: But what happens is...
Jack Nicholson: It's so that when everybody's got their script out, you can look right over and know if they've got the latest version. But of course...
Stanley Kubrick: ...that never happens.
Jack Nicholson: They never have the latest version.
Stanley's Mom: So, a blue or a yellow... isn't significant?
Stanley Kubrick: No.
Stanley's Mom: It's just colours.
Jack Nicholson: I quit using my script. I just take the ones they type up each day.
Stanley's Mom: Aren't you exaggerating a little bit?
Jack Nicholson, Stanley Kubrick: Nope.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Here's Looking at You, Warner Bros. (1991)
I've yet to see the DVD version so I can't comment on Vivian Kubrick's commentary track (the director's daughter, who was perfectly 'cute as Heywood Floyd's daughter in 2001). But what she presents for us is candid, and usually very insightful. An interview with Nicholson, who's sound-bites are choice, and wise as well when he says, "I want to be out of control as an actor...otherwise it will predictably be MY work, and that's no fun." But there is also a heartfelt interview with Scatman Crothers, who came out of filming in the arduous conditions of Kubrick's perfectionism (there were dozens and dozens of takes that Crothers had to give, according to trivia). There is a not too shabby interview with Danny Lloyd, who played the boy in the film. And Shelly Duvall, who does lay it as straight as possible about what it was like to work with the director; the scene that is captured over Kubrick's shoulder (of an argument between actor and director) is a little uncomfortable, but in the end one can see why Kubrick wanted it the way he did for the finished film.
Usually 'making-of' documentaries are hit or miss, depending on the films of course; one would prefer an audio commentary, or a long interview with the filmmaker about the making of the film. But as the Shining has neither of these - and is the only place to fins unadulterated footage of the iconoclast and his cast at work on screen and off (if you discount the Criterion DVD release of Spartacus and a recent release of Dr. Strangelove) - it's well worth the half hour; the added music by Carlos is a nice touch.
- Quinoa1984
- Aug 24, 2005