Why Stanley Kubrick threw away stacks of horror novels before filming The Shining
In short: After the commercial failure of his period drama Barry Lyndon, Stanley Kubrick sought a project that balanced artistic ambition with mass appeal. He famously had his staff bring him piles of horror books, discarding them after only a few pages until he became deeply engrossed in Stephen King's The Shining.
The 1980 film adaptation of The Shining transformed the 1977 novel into a cornerstone of American horror, though its path to the screen was fraught with tension. Kubrick, seeking a commercially viable hit, meticulously constructed the Overlook Hotel on soundstages at EMI Elstree Studios in England. The set was the largest ever built at the facility, featuring a life-size exterior recreation. Production was delayed by a fire in February 1979, but Kubrick’s commitment to chronological shooting required keeping all sets available for the duration of the project.
The film’s legacy is complex, marked by Stephen King’s initial public criticism regarding its deviations from his source material. King was particularly vocal about his disappointment with Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Jack Torrance, arguing the character appeared insane before even arriving at the hotel. This dissatisfaction eventually spurred a 1997 television miniseries directed by Mick Garris. To secure King’s cooperation for this version, the author had to sign a written agreement to cease his public critiques of the Kubrick film, with the sole exception of his specific grievance regarding Nicholson’s performance.
The franchise has since expanded beyond these two adaptations. The 2019 film Doctor Sleep, a sequel to both King’s novel and Kubrick’s film, explored themes of childhood trauma and addiction. While the franchise has seen various spin-off concepts—including a proposed series titled Overlook and a potential project focusing on Dick Hallorann—these developments have faced significant hurdles. Projects have been abandoned, shifted between streaming services like HBO Max and Netflix, or placed on indefinite hold following disappointing box office returns, illustrating the ongoing struggle to translate the Overlook’s supernatural allure into a consistent cinematic universe.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Shining (franchise)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-the-shining-franchise.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
