Director Stanley Kubrick’s classic The Shining, an adaption of the Stephen King novel, will be screening at the George Eastman House’s Dryden Theater in Rochester, NY on October 22 and 23rd. While the film has been screened numerous times over the years, this will mark the first time since its initial release in 1980 that a short coda will be seen by the public.
Director Stanley Kubrick was known to be obsessive about the editing of films, right up to their release. And sometimes even after they have been released. He famously trimmed about 19 minutes out of 2001: A Space Odyssey after its premier. For The Shining, Kubrick cut the coda off the film just a few days after its release. Since film release patterns were different back then, The Shining was only screening in a handful number of theaters prior to expanding, so only a small number of audiences ever got to see the scene.
The coda comprises of two scenes and takes place a few days later. The first shows some police officers outside the Overbrook, looking for Jack’s (Jack Nicholson) frozen body. The second is set in a hospital and it features the Overlook Hotel’s manager Ullman (Barry Nelson) telling Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and Danny (Danny Lloyd) that the police were unable to find Jack’s body and that whatever they experienced at the hotel, it had nothing to do with the supernatural. Ullman also gives Danny a tennis ball, presumably the one that he chased into room 237.
It is unknown if this footage will turn up on a subsequent home video release of The Shining. Kubrick was careful never to release unused footage of his films for DVD and his widow Christiane Harlan, who currently controls the late director’s estate, has been diligent about upholding his wishes in that regard. Kubrick’s daughter from a previous marriage, Vivian, has intimated that such material could appear as suplimentals on future blu-ray releases once she assumes control.
Via Bleeding Cool.
