Lee Unkrich Details Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining Research, Debunks Myths

As a devoted cinephile with a penchant for all things Kubrickian, I find myself utterly captivated by the release of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining – A Visual Journey. Having spent countless hours delving into the intricacies of this cinematic masterpiece, I can wholeheartedly affirm that this book serves as a fitting tribute to one of the most enigmatic filmmakers of our time.

Lee Unkrich’s fascination with “The Shining” started soon after he watched it at the age of 12. Over the years, this fascination grew and developed into a lifelong interest, leading him to establish the website theoverlookhotel.com. This passion eventually resulted in the publication of his two-volume book, “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining“. Recently, Taschen has made available the Popular Edition of this text, following the rapid sale of the Collector’s Edition in 2023. Interestingly, Unkrich’s quest for more knowledge about the film’s production was intensified by another book published by…Taschen: “The Kubrick Archives“, a hardcover book that was first released almost twenty years ago.

In the interview we had, Unkrich expressed that it provided him with a peek into something more intriguing. It was both exciting and infuriating for him, as he wondered, ‘Wow, if there’s this much, how much more is there to discover? And what else is hidden?’

The insights surfaced during Lee Unkrich’s press engagements for Toy Story 3, when he was in London. Following the demise of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick in 1999, his estate passed on career-related documents to the London College of Communication, culminating in the establishment of the Stanley Kubrick Archive in 2007. During a two-day exploration of Kubrick’s original materials, Unkrich unearthed some enlightening findings, such as script pages for scenes that didn’t make it into the movie, providing him with answers.

Reflecting on that, I thought, ‘What good is all this if I don’t act upon it?’ With my background in the film industry, I felt I had an opportunity to potentially introduce a book that would extensively depict the production of the movie.

To accomplish this, Unkrich undertook an enormous undertaking, conducting interviews with everyone who had set foot on the set of Kubrick’s film “The Shining.” (A comprehensive list of these individuals, along with the specific times, is provided in the book.) Recognizing that he needed assistance to complete this task, Unkrich joined forces with Jonathan W. Rinzler, a figure renowned for his “Making of” books which have offered behind-the-scenes insights into productions like the original three “Star Wars” movies, “Planet of the Apes,” and others.

The book authored by Unkrich and Rinzler is split into two parts. The first part, over 800 pages, is titled “The Making of,” providing an extensive account of the production process. The second part serves as a scrapbook filled with numerous behind-the-scenes photos, starting from pre-production and arranged in the same sequence as the movie itself. To add depth to this work, the second volume mimics and replicates the actual scrapbook that was initially intended to play a significant role in Stanley Kubrick’s film, The Shining. Although Kubrick decided to remove it from the final cut wherever possible, it still maintains a prominent position during the scene where Wendy interrupts Jack while he is writing.

As I delved deeper into understanding the production process of ‘The Shining’ and more details about the movie Stanley Kubrick produced, comparing what he initially filmed to the final cut… Now, my perspective on watching this film has been significantly altered because I know which scenes were omitted. I’m also aware of where they were intended to be placed.” Unkrich explained. “Now, whenever I watch it, there’s a lingering sense in the back of my mind about the missing pieces that add to the story.

Instead of just replicating the original content, Unkrich delved deeper by incorporating real-life elements like newspaper cuttings and photographs to truly embody the essence of the book, drawing inspiration from materials discovered within Kubrick’s Archive.

The book additionally draws attention to certain inaccuracies surrounding the production of “The Shining” that have grown substantially, almost transforming into accepted truths, such as an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. This record is still listed on the Guinness website, where it states that the scene featuring Jack and Wendy on the stairs holds the record for “Most repeated takes for a single dialogue-heavy scene,” with an estimated 148 takes having been performed.

“It’s just not true,” Unkrich said. “I have all the receipts.”

One of the many items belonging to Unkrich related to the production of The Shining includes detailed notes taken by script supervisor June Randall, which specify the exact number of takes for each shot in the film. Interestingly, the shot in The Shining that required the most takes was the lengthy tracking shot at the beginning of the movie, where Stuart Ullman guides Jack and Wendy through The Gold Ballroom during their first tour of the Overlook.

Stanley filmed multiple attempts of that shot for some unknown reason, as Unkrich points out. However, the actual number of takes is still far from the figures often claimed in online posts.

While certain aspects of “The Shining” remain enigmatic, the distinctive carpet patterns featured in the Overlook Hotel’s hallway and Room 237 have sparked intrigue among fans. However, when Unkrich researched for the book, he discovered scant information regarding the reasoning behind either design’s creation. The art director of “The Shining,” Les Tomkins, emerged as the primary source of information, but it seemed that the goal was to make them as unattractive as feasible.

“They had this idea that American hotel carpets were ugly,” Unkrich said.

He went on to say, “However, there’s more to the tale. While we can’t delve into Stanley’s thoughts, consider this: Two of the carpet designs he selected appear quite labyrinthine, don’t they? This suggests a deliberate choice. As for the colors, I believe they aimed for boldness, even gaudiness. And if you look at the carpet in Room 237, it’s hard to miss its explicit sexual undertones. Whether this pattern was pre-existing or not, it’s clear that Stanley appreciated it and knew it would be fitting.

As a movie enthusiast, I can relate to this anecdote about the legendary “dog costume” from a film I admire. Costume designer Milena Canonero shared with Unkrich that she had no personal recollections associated with it. However, she was convinced that she hadn’t created the costume herself – her belief was that it was merely rented by the production from a local costume shop.

From my perspective as a movie aficionado, for me, not having all the answers to certain questions or the intricacies that remain mysterious about “The Shining” doesn’t serve as a list of facts I must uncover to fully embrace my admiration for the film. Instead, these unknown elements add to its enigma and deepen my appreciation for Stanley Kubrick’s masterful storytelling.

Despite immersing myself deeply in understanding everything about this project over an extended period, there remain unanswered questions for me, which I find intriguing. There’s a certain allure in not fully revealing every aspect of it, leaving some mysteries unsolved. – Unkrich

A project that devotees of Shining undoubtedly recognize is Rodney Ascher’s Room 237. In this 2012 documentary/film analysis, several enthusiasts share their interpretations of Kubrick’s film, suggesting various meanings behind the movie such as: the assimilation of Native Americans by white settlers, the Holocaust, or the idea that The Shining is Kubrick admitting to his role in a conspiracy to fake the moon landing. You might observe in Unkrich and Rinzler’s work that their text frequently refers back to these ideas and perspectives from Room 237, some subtly hinted at and others explicitly stated as a response.

Unkrich acknowledged that he’s familiar with various conspiracy theories and unusual tales related to the movie production. He knows which stories are factual, which are entirely unfounded, and which ones have a hint of truth that has been distorted over time. While writing, he made it clear to Jonathan that he wanted to set the record straight without coming off as confrontational. So, there are instances where we subtly reference online rumors or allow the Kubrick family to comment on theories.

The publication of this new version of “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining” seems to mark an ending for Unkrich, symbolically speaking. Despite fulfilling his long-standing fascination with the film, there’s a particular apprehension about the unknown that he expressed concerning the future.

Unkrich expressed a wish that no one would surprise him with something upsetting, which he might regret for the rest of his life. He added that the enthusiast in him yearns for more, longing for someone to share an extra scene – perhaps the hospital epilogue – that miraculously managed to escape destruction.

You can delve deeper into the events depicted in that particular scene, as well as other intriguing aspects, by reading “Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining” – a book now offered by TASCHEN.

2024-12-13 01:40

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