Questions
Who directed The Shining and when did it come out?
Stanley Kubrick directed it, and it was released in the US on May 23, 1980. Kubrick also produced the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Diane Johnson.
Is The Shining based on a book?
Yes, it is based on Stephen King’s 1977 novel of the same name.
Did Stephen King like the movie?
Not at first. He disapproved of several casting choices and criticized the film’s deviations from his book, even calling the casting of Wendy "absolutely grotesque." He later produced a more faithful three-part miniseries in 1997.
Was Jack Nicholson always the choice to play Jack Torrance?
Nicholson was Kubrick’s first choice, but Stephen King reportedly preferred Jon Voight, Michael Moriarty, or Martin Sheen for the role.
Is "Here’s Johnny!" in the script?
No, Nicholson improvised it, referencing Ed McMahon’s introduction on The Tonight Show. Kubrick, who lived in England, reportedly nearly rejected the line because he did not recognize it.
Is it true the film set a record for the most takes?
Yes. The Guinness Book of Records credited it with 148 takes for the scene where Danny and Hallorann discuss "shining," though the number has been disputed over the years.
How was Danny Lloyd cast, and did he know he was in a horror film?
Danny Lloyd was selected from about 5,000 boys interviewed across Chicago, Denver, and Cincinnati. Kubrick protected the young actor by letting him believe he was filming a drama rather than a horror movie.
What does REDRUM actually mean?
It is "red rum," which spells MURDER backward when seen in a mirror reflection.
Why does Jack type "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" over and over?
It is a proverb dating to James Howell’s 1659 collection. For international releases, Kubrick actually shot alternate versions with equivalent idioms typed in German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
How did the movie get those smooth flowing camera shots through the hotel?
The Shining was among the first six films to use the Steadicam, and inventor Garrett Brown personally refined his craft on the production, shooting scenes just inches from walls and floors.
Who played the creepy twin girls?
Identical twins Lisa and Louise Burns played the Grady sisters, even though the characters were meant to be different ages.
Did anything go wrong during filming?
A fire in February 1979 damaged the Colorado Lounge set and delayed production. The 13 month shoot ran from May 1978 to April 1979 at EMI Elstree Studios in England.
Was the hotel a real place?
The interiors were built at Elstree Studios, but exterior shots used Oregon’s Timberline Lodge, and the set design was inspired by the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite. Kubrick deliberately designed impossible spaces, like windows in interior hallways, to disorient viewers.
Why did the axe-through-the-door scene use a real door?
Nicholson, a former volunteer firefighter, reportedly tore through the fake prop door too quickly and convincingly, so Kubrick switched to a real door to slow him down.
Is there a sequel to The Shining?
Yes, Doctor Sleep (2019) adapts Stephen King’s 2013 novel and serves as a sequel to both the book and the film. The Shining itself was added to the National Film Registry in 2018.
