The Shining was forced upon Stanley Kubrick by circumstances. Warner Brothers had lost too much money underwriting his previous film, Barry Lyndon. Based on a nineteenth-century comedy by William Thackeray, it was perceived as highbrow and general audiences kept away. Kubrick needed a movie with popular appeal. Having browsed through several novels sent by the film company, he was taken with a ghost story by the young writer Stephen King. Kubrick had avoided horror films to date, refusing offers of The Exorcist and its sequel. This time he was attracted to the plot construction, so he took on The Shining.…
Subscribe to get access to all online articles
Already a member?
Sign in to read this article
Digital Subscription
$98 / YR
Get the latest ideas from Australia’s most insightful writers.
- Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
Printed & Digital Subscription
$118 / YR
For avid readers of leading ideas
from Australia’s brightest.
- Printed & Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.