The Shining - Jack Nicholson

U.S. 1980

'Stanley Kubrick is said to be an obsessive perfectionist in his field. This film holds the Guinness Book of World Records for requiring Shelley Duvall to do 127 takes for one scene. On another occasion he required Jack Nicholson to do over 100 takes, stating "the longer we do it, the better he gets". The score (changed again by Kubrick) was originally supposed to have been done by John Williams. It was replaced by Kubricks own collection with music by Béla Bartók (from "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta") Hector Berlioz, György Ligeti and Krzysztof Penderecki. This is how Kubrick crafts his films... he must conquer/control the idea/project/novel completely to transmogrify them into his own masterpiece. He has done so again with startling brilliance. Like almost all Kubrick works, this is a film that one appreciates more the more one sees it. It's a shame more horror films are not all this good.'

Excerpt taken from Gary W. Tooze's review found HERE

REGARDING THE EDIT - NOTE: (sent in email by Francois) "To sum it up, Shelley Duvall mentioned the deleted scene in an interview to French movie magazine "Positif" (which had a strong Kubrick coverage due to Kubrick expert Michel Ciment). It took place in a hospital where hotel manager Stuart Ullman visited Wendy and Danny, recovering, a few days after the events. Ullman told Wendy that Jack's body hadn't been found so far. He spoke with her about her plans for the future and showed concern for Danny and her. Then, he moved to Danny and threw a rubber ball at him. The rubber ball bounced exactly like the one Danny had found earlier in the lobby, suggesting that Ullman had been an accomplice with all the things evil from the very beginning. Cut to the final scene in the hall with the picture.

Duvall spoke of it as an "Hitchcockian ending", which was no surprise given Kubrick's love for Hitchcock. She had a clear recollection of the whole scene as it was a tracking shot requiring dozens of takes before getting one with the very same bounces.

Peter didn't mention in his recollection the bouncing ball. Maybe this part of the shot was already cut in the theatrical version, maybe it wasn't very effective to the audiences, which would explain why Kubrick removed it. In the event, he made way for one of the most powerful edits in all his work, going in a few shots from Jack's frozen body to the group photograph of 1921." (Thanks Francois!)

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: May 23rd, 1980

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Incidental Reading on Stanley Kubrick (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Kubrick: Inside A Film Artist's Maze by Thomas Allen Nelson	Stanley Kubrick, Director: A Visual Analysis by Alexander Walker	Stanley Kubrick: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series) by Stanley Kubrick, Gene D. Phillips	The Stanley Kubrick Archives by Alison Castle	Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures by Christiane Kubrick	Narrative And Stylistic Patterns In The Films Of Stanley Kubrick by Luis Garcia Mainar	Stanley Kubrick Companion by James Howard

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

Warner Re-mastered - Region 2/4 - PAL vs. Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner - Re-mastered - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the PAL Screen Caps!

Warner - R2/4- PAL TOP LEFT vs. Warner - R1 - NTSC - TOP RIGHT

Warner - Re-mastered - R1 - NTSC - BOTTOM LEFT vs. Warner (2-disc SE) R1 - NTSC - BOTTOM RIGHT

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Warner

Region 2/4 - PAL

Warner

Region 1 - NTSC


	Warner Home Video Director's Series: Stanley Kubrick Collection (Special Editions of 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Eyes Wide Shut, The Shining and Full Metal Jacket Deluxe Edition, along with the full-length documentary, A Life in Pictures) Warner Home Video
Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner (2-disc Special Edition) Region 1 - NTSC

Distribution	Warner Region 2/4 - PAL	Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner (2-disc SE) Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:54:43 (4% PAL speedup + CUT)	2:23:40	2:23:35	2:23:35
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Original camera negative Average Bitrate: 6.58 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Original camera negative Average Bitrate: 5.44 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Original camera negative Average Bitrate: 6.3 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.85 NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Warner R2/4
Bitrate: Warner R1 -old
Bitrate: Warner re-mastered
Bitrate: Warner (2-disc SE)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Italian (Dolby Digital 5.1)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), DUBs: French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles	Removable English, French, Spanish, German, Romanian, Bulgarian, Italian	English, French and none	English, Spanish, French and none	English, Spanish, French and none

Features

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Color,
• 4:3 trailer - 1:33
• "Making of" documentary by Vivian Kubrick 33:00 4:3 + optional commentary by Viv Kubrick
• Original camera negative format

DVD Release Date: June, 2001
Snap Case

Chapters 35

Release Information:
Studio: Warner/Ua Studios

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Color
• 4:3 trailer - 1:37
• "Making of" documentary by Vivian Kubrick 34:57 4:3
• Original camera negative format

DVD Release Date: June 29th, 1999
Snap Case

Chapters 40

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Color,
• 4:3 trailer - 1:33
• "Making of" documentary by Vivian Kubrick 34:57 4:3 + optional commentary by Viv Kubrick
• Original camera negative format

DVD Release Date: June 12th, 2001
Snap Case

Chapters 40

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Aspect Ratio - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Garrett Brown and John Baxter

• Theatrical trailers

Disc 2

• View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining (30:12)

• The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (17:15)

• The Making of The Shining with optional commentary by Vivian Kubrick (34:58)

• Wendy Carlos, composer (7:30)

DVD Release Date: October 23rd, 2007
Keep Case

Chapters 40

Comments:

ADDITION: 2-disc Special Edition - Region 1- NTSC: COMMENTS COMING SOON!

The package consists of 2-discs (one dual-layered, a second supplementary disc is single-layered) coded for region 1- in the NTSC standard. The feature is progressive, anamorphic while the second disc is interlaced (some 16x9).

The new 2-disc Special Edition by Warner offers the film in an anamorphic screen ratio that will not be without a little controversy. The film showed theatrically in the US at 1.85:1 and 1.66 in Europe. Many will prefer this 1.78 widescreen ratio and some will not - it is no doubt a different film with this alternation from past DVD releases. Varying degrees of information in the frame is at times lost or gained dependant on the shot.

We have always noticed here at DVDBeaver that sharpness favors full-frame transfers - and for this I don't know why. But the new 2-disc is not far behind in detail (from the latest remastered) and color-wise it is a shade darker. The new widescreen release has less artifacts. It is very clean - and looks acceptable.

Audio is offered in three 5.1 flavors (English, DUBs in French and Spanish) - Warner continue to not give the option for original 2.0 stereo. The dialogue is supported with optional English, French and Spanish subtitles. I didn't notice improvement in the audio although I seem to recall it being stated somewhere that there would be.

Supplements are fabulous in their relevance and not so heavy we must tiresomely wade through them. The commentary by Steadicam operator Garrett Brown and historian John Baxter is wonderful - superior to the 2001: A Space Odyssey commentary in that it has a lot of technical information both about the production, Kubrick's methodology and details of the narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed it - strongly recommended! Completing the extras on disc 1 is a theatrical trailer.

Disc 2 offers 4 featurettes (3 of which are new) - the first; View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining is half an hour and has input from many (see images below) including prominent directors, crew members and even Jack. The Visions of Stanley Kubrick is a little over 15 minutes long and is another keen piece exploring Kubrick's ideas behind the film(s) that he crafted. Next we have The Making of The Shining ( as see on the old remastered editions) BUT it has an optional commentary by Vivian Kubrick (34:58) which is enlightening to some degree although her comments reflect it as an homage with her memories of her father. Finally we have Wendy Carlos, composer at a little over 7 minutes and although she discusses the music for The Shining she tends to impart more in formation on the music in A Clockwork Orange (but that is fine). She talks about Stanley Kubrick with keen interpretational interest of the man and her fondness for him.

You can't beat this for value and I am also keen on reviewing the hi-def editions - The Shining [HD DVD] and The Shining [Blu-ray], but this SD package is fantastic and get a full recommendation from DVDBeaver.

***

NOTE sent in email: 'Regarding the 146 minute cut of The Shining:
I remember seeing the film 4 times in the theater upon initial release in 1980. I saw it twice on opening weekend. There was a scene that weekend which never showed up again upon further viewing.
The first time I saw the film, there was a scene after the image of Jack Torrance frozen in the hedge maze and before the final shot closing in on the portrait with Jack Torrance at the party in the 1920’s.
This scene was of Wendy and Danny in a hospital bed in Colorado. Mr. Ullman was there visiting them and saying how sorry he was that this whole series of events occurred. I remember Mr. Ullman standing next to a curtain, and I was somewhat expecting a “shock” ending with Jack coming through the curtain. Of course this never happened. After this short, scene, then the final shot of the film occurred. I do not remember any other further dialogue.
It would be interesting if we could somehow see this scene again. I remember it somewhat clearly.
I thought you might find that little bit of information and memory somewhat useful and interesting.' (Thanks Peter!)

On the other three editions: Okay. My research tells me that there are at least 4 versions of this film.

• The original theatrical release version at 146 minutes.

• U.S. theatrical release and R1 DVD - 144 minutes.

• International theatrical release - 119 minutes (After the film's US release garnered mixed reviews and disappointing box-office, Kubrick cut a further 25 minutes from the film. With a few exceptions - a National Film Theatre screening, an ITV showing in the early 1990s - all non-American versions of the film will conform to this cut).

• International PAL video version (including R2/R4 DVD) - 114 mins.

These cut versions were personally edited and approved by Stanley Kubrick himself - indeed, he apparently favors the shorter cut now AFTER critics reviews. Personally, I don't like adjusting your 'art' to appeal to critical comments and am glad the longer one is still available on Region 1 DVD. The 146-minute version seems to have vanished for good. I believe it had an alternate ending.

The quality of the video goes in this order. R1-remastered is the best, R2/4 next, R1-old version is the worst. I don't think I need to go into detail as it is documented quite adequately on Michaels website HERE. I agree reviewer Paul Cordingley's comments in his conclusion - "In overview, the R1 (re-mastered) presents the film in a manner which I find more satisfying in all ways – visually, sonically and story-wise." and about the longer version ..."the film feels more rounded and complete."

In detail, the old R1 appears washed out. In comparison the Region 1 re-mastered version is far superior in every category. What I am most interested in is the subtle differences such as the cropping. In certain scenes it appears the older version was cropped, but if you look closely it is apparent in all three versions. Also, I wonder WHY the title font in Vivian Kubrick's short featurette was changed when it was made so many years ago? It seems crazy to me. Nice addition in the new version ( both R1 and R2/4) is the commentary on the short which is not there on the older version. The re-mastered version is brighter, sharper clearer with occasional reddish skin tones. Buy the Region 1 re-mastered and watch the long version, less altered by critical judgment.

- Gary W. Tooze

NOTE: The new versions should have included the original sound (2.0 mono) as an option as we are essentially not hearing it the way Mr. Kubrick intended.

Kubrick on DVD (NTSC) - CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information


Stanley Kubrick Boxset	Eyes Wide Shut	Full Metal Jacket	The Shining	Barry Lyndon	A Clockwork Orange	2001: A Space Odyssey


Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worry and Love the Bomb	Lolita	Spartacus	Paths of Glory	The Killing	Killer's Kiss

DVD Menus

(Warner - R2/4- PAL LEFT vs. Warner - R1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner - Re-mastered - R1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Menus 2-disc Special Edition

Disc 2 - 2-disc Special Edition

Screen Captures

(Warner - R1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Warner - Re-mastered and 2-disc SE - R1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Titles for Vivian Kubrick's 'Making of' Featurette