Spoilers!!! The Shining

[Cremildo]

Found this on Tumblr. Thought it might be interesting to share - an Oscar FYC ad from 1980:

[dgoswald]

YouTube

[VictoryAtNight]

I’m glad that we have this thread. I was embarrassed to ask about the ending where Jack was in the picture that was located in the hotel lobby. I had my own theory on it, but it probably wouldn’t have made any sense. I’ve never read the book, either.

Very good horror movie.

[Magic Dusty]

Hey, everybody, why are there theories about what happened when IMDB reveals that Stanley Kubrick himself tells us exactly what is up with Jack in the photograph at the end?:

In a film with so much irreconcilable ambiguity, this one shot has generated more puzzlement than the entire rest of the movie, yet it is one part of the film on which Stanley Kubrick has been extremely clear about his intentions. As he told Michel Ciment, "The ballroom photograph at the end suggests the reincarnation of Jack." (Quoted here.) So, Jack is reincarnated.

I must thank Beta Man for that. But, seriously, Stanley doesn't leave ambiguity here. I used to think it was Jack getting trapped in the hotel, too, and personally I like that better, but no, he used to be the caretaker at the hotel in the 1920's and he got reincarnated to be there again. In 1980, I guess.

[Zivouhr]

Here's a question I never found the answer to yet about 1980 Shining:

When Danny and Wendy his mom, are sitting in the main lobby watching TV in front of the windows as the blizzard storm is outside, there is a movie in black and white on the TV.

In the TV movie on the TV, the kid sounds like the older brother from Leave it to Beaver, and he talks about a donut after the lady asks him as she just got them fresh or something.

Anyone know what movie that is in the Shining on the TV screen?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Here's a question I never found the answer to yet about 1980 Shining:

When Danny and Wendy his mom, are sitting in the main lobby watching TV in front of the windows as the blizzard storm is outside, there is a movie in black and white on the TV.

In the TV movie on the TV, the kid sounds like the older brother from Leave it to Beaver, and he talks about a donut after the lady asks him as she just got them fresh or something.

Anyone know what movie that is in the Shining on the TV screen?

Might be Summer of ‘42.

[moreorless]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I just finished watching The Shining on Blu-Ray, it is my third viewing overall.

Can someone please explain to me what Jack Torrance had going on? Why did they say he had been there forever? Why did he say he fealt like he had been to the hotel before? Why did the bartender know him? Why did Grady say he had always been the caretaker? Why was his picture in the photos?

I have tried piecing it together and just can't.

Your not going to find a definitive answer but my take would be....

Besides the obvious plot of a wife and son having to face a violent abusive husband the film points towards Jack carrying the legacy of violent American colonialism as indeed does US society as a whole.

You see it in the hotel being built on an Indian burial ground with lots of reference to native Americans in the design with the blood coming out of the lift. I would say jack in the photo at the end and his shifts into 1921 before that represent that kind of era, the peak of the robber baron era with the elite gathered at the hotel. When Grady says Jack has been the caretaker I would argue he in part means he's been the caretaker of that violent legacy.

Much of the Room 237 style analysis for me is questionable not just because it often reflects the obsessions of those coming up with the theories but because they tend to view the film only as a series of literal messages not as a piece of figurative art were building a general theme is more important than specifics.

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Might be Summer of ‘42.

Cool, thank you.

[Show spoiler]I'll try to find and watch the full movie soon to see why they may have included it in The Shining.

Summer of '42 (1971) Official Trailer - Jennifer O'Neal, Gary Grimes Movie HD - YouTube

EDIT: The significance of 42 in The Shining:

[Show spoiler]

42 42 42 42 42 42 (in the shining, a movie by stanley kubrick) - YouTube

[Zivouhr]

It's winter so The Shining's winter theme and atmospheric music are fun to watch during this time of year when there is snow outdoors.

For those who really enjoy the scenery of the opening of The Shining, youtube has a lot of videos showing the scenic drive road as follows:
Going-to-the-Sun Road Glacier National Park, Montana (helicopter view from the opening credits scene)

Here's one example of many (Mute the audio for silence to hear soundtrack):

[Show spoiler]

Going-to-the-Sun Road Fall Colors Scenic Drive Glacier National Park 4K - YouTube

Main Title (The Shining) - YouTube

Then combine that with this soundtrack opening theme.

[JoMaSanRa]

INDEX OF TITLES

"The Shining" (1980)

[L.J.]

Understand right Kubrick meant time had no meaning in the Overlook.

[Zivouhr]

Watching Doctor Sleep, that was very different, but a really good follow up to The Shining as it shows Danny Torrance fully grown up, dealing with his Shining ability all those years later, and the demons that still haunted him. Then also trying to help the girl. Was her name Magic? No, I think it's Abra. Like Abra Cadabra. Something Magicians say when they do a trick with a wand.

Mr. Halloran was in Doctor Sleep briefly, but that was good they showed a continuation in that way.

Will Stephen King ever make a 3rd story? I think Dr. Sleep concludes the story nicely, but there is plenty of room for further nightmares.