Stanley Kubrick's the Shining: Studies in the Horror Film

by Danel Olson (Editor), John Baxter, Justin Bozung (Contributor)

Edited by Danel Olson (The Exorcist: Studies in the Horror Film), with nineteen new interviews by Justin Bozung and recent Paris/London conversations with co-screenwriter Diane Johnson and the legendary Shining Twins by Catriona McAvoy, this study is the first featuring recent reminiscences with cast & crew of The Shining and original interdisciplinary essays by top critics. This landmark edition also includes rare and unpublished photographs, archival material, seminal reprints, and galleries of artwork & posters inspired by the Kubrick film, all on heavy acid-free paper in two full-color, brilliantly-designed Smyth-sewn paperback.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

752 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2015

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's anything remotely considered to be 'the last word' on Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of THE SHINING, it's likely to be contained between the covers of this brick-like collection of essays and interviews pertaining to the film. If anyone considers themselves to be a hardcore fan of the movie, they NEED this. The essays cover various critical analyses of themes and symbols in the film (the documentary ROOM 237 is referenced quite a bit), to a history of how Kubrick came to make the film and of the production. The interviews with cast and crew include archival interviews with Kubrick, Scatman Crothers & John Alcott, to new interviews with Nicholson, Duvall, Lisa & Louise Burns (The Grady Twins); and co-writer Diane Johnson, Steadicam creator Garrett Brown and other crew members. Perhaps the most important interview is Johnson's, who talks about her collaboration with Kubrick in some detail.

Most films aren't worth this exhaustive level of detail, but THE SHINING certainly is.

[Elysia Fionn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first third of this book was a bit navel-gazey... a lot of references to that idiotic docuMENTALry "Room 237".

The last 2/3 of the book was the stuff I really go for... interviews with people who were actually in the film or worked on the crew. You can't get more real than that... awesome stuff!

Loved the behind the scenes photos, too - wish there were more of them and fewer "fan interpretive movie posters"... I suppose it's fairly interesting, but it's kind of like fan fiction in art form.

My favorite part of all were the stories about the actual filming - the techniques, the cameras, how the sets were built and managed... in another life, I'd like to give that career a go. I see props as my strong point.

This book was totally worth the $200 price tag, because it's basically a treasure trove of information on a chunk of time and magic that will never come again. I also got some awesome info about podcasts and online stuff regarding "The Shining" that I wouldn't have otherwise known about.

[Rick Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing in-depth look into the making of this haunting piece of cinema. Before CGI, the work that went into this is jaw dropping. No matter where you stand on Kubrick, there is no doubting that he left his mark on popular culture with his take on King's book.
Essays and photos that give you a peak into the creation of this tale of horror.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This by far the best full color, glossy, photo-filled 600 page book about every aspect of The Shining that I have ever read. Poor Shelley Duvall!

[Gianfranco Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤

[Peter Melancon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm finished at the end I was more like when is it going to end. However over all it's informative on how Kubrick welded such a masterpiece of cinema.