Making 'The Shining' (1980)

What an incredibly insightful and interesting behind-the-scenes look at the film making process. The best way I could describe this film, is exactly how it describes itself. Imagine Stanley Kubrick's daughter capturing footage on the set of "The Shining", and you'll probably have an idea of this short documentary.She follows the actors, the crew, director, and even some visitors that come in between shots and are flustered to meet "Jack Nicholson" and "Stanley Kubrick". I put their name in quotes because, like those visitors, many people are quick to put Jack, and even more so, Stanley Kubrick on a pedestal. This is probably deserved, but what makes this documentary so great, is that, perhaps due to Vivian's closeness to the set, the feel remains intimate without being reverent. There's an easiness and honesty to it.You can kind of tell she's her father's daughter, because the shots on set are handled so languidly. One of the best parts of the movie is just watching as the camera smoothly just follows an actor through elaborately constructed halls passing by various crew members, or just watches Stanley Kubrick, a figure some people hold as a sort of enigma, nonchalantly talking while all these other things are happening in the background.As clichéd as it sounds, the first thing you learn in screen writing is to "show more than tell". I think it's ironic that some people are disappointed that the film does just that. We see Stanley Kubrick working, but we never see him sitting down explaining his decisions. Which is kind of just right.Also, an electronically remixed classical track that didn't make it into "The Shining" closes out this film, and I think it's just the perfect touch.*I titled this Vivian Kubrick's Masterpiece, not only because it's perfect in its own way, but also because it's her ONLY film to date. She made this when she was 17, and it already has the marks of a skillful director and cinematographer. Most feedback on this documentary cites that it's about a great film maker, what they sadly usually don't say is that it's also BY one. I really hope she finds her way back into making movies.

"The Shining" is clearly a film that grows on you the more you see it. And it's probably one of my favorite films not just because it has the best actor of all time the legendary Jack, also because of the way Kubrick shot it with haunting visuals and excellent camera work. So it's probably a given if you own a DVD or video copy you've seen the short documentary done by Stanley's daughter Vivian called simply "Making "The Shining". From the start it's interesting for it's memorable scenes and famous quotes like seeing Jack from the beginning order rice and noodles, and it was neat seeing Nicholson brush his teeth before filming scenes. As expected Jack always shows off in front of the camera letting the viewers know that he likes to be out of control as an actor as not being the norm is fun. Plus his very memorable quote of stating that in the average year a celebrity meets more people than the average person does in a lifetime. And too you get to see the master himself hard at work gearing up and getting himself fired up to do the famous ax scene by showing us he uses Boris Karloff as an inspiration by checking off his lines before doing a scene just like Karloff did.Also memorable is the short interviews of Scatman Crothers and Danny Lloyd, especially an emotional one of Scatman crying thanking god that he got to work with such beautiful people. And Danny Lloyd who would later disappear from the movie world laughing about his good time being so young wondering what his parents will do with all of his money! And it was revealing and also interesting showing Shelley Duvall coping with the stress of the role as at one point she even passes out on set. It was clear Stanley pushed her to the fullest, in which she would later thank him for.As we see Kubrick who gives such rare glimpses it was so clear he was such a perfectionist as it was shown during this doc he was such a master artist of the camera. From the memorable angles and fabulous shots shown of him running with the hand-held camera during filming. Overall consider this short doc a good mini meal that you must digest along with the main course as it has some unforgettable scenes and interviews with memorable quotes that will stick with you forever and it will make you respect the film even more.

Stanley Kubrick, usually known as a nearly dictatorial perfectionist, comes across as pretty low-key in his daughter Vivian's documentary "Making 'The Shining'". Focusing on the production of Kubrick's movie version of Stephen King's novel, this isn't much different from the average documentary (although it was the first time that I had ever heard Kubrick speak).Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd all get instructed by the famous director, while Leon Vitali (Lord Bullingdon in "Barry Lyndon") assists in the production. Meanwhile, James Mason and Kubrick's mother visit the set. It looked like quite an experience. Probably the most fascinating scene in the documentary is when they sweep the blood. Not a great piece of work, but OK.

This is probably the most fun little behind-the-scenes glimpse i've ever been given. I think its exactly BECAUSE its so rough, exactly because it consists of Kubrick's daughter being let loose with a camcorder on his film set for The Shining (1980) that its so compelling. As Vivian herself says on a commentary she recorded for the recent DVD re-release of The Shining, its because she was so young and everyone took her for a kid messing around that they ended up being so honest with her and allowing her to take such liberties as walking in on them in their bedrooms or asking to-the-point questions about the way they've been treated on the production (Shelley Duvall in particular, who Kubrick virtually tormented in order to create the perfect feeling for her part).Most precious of all, obviously, are the glimpses of Kubrick behind the scenes. On the ground with a camera underneath Jack getting the perfect posture and feeling for the famous scene where he's locked in the kitchen and banging on the door. His directorial rage at Shelley Duvall when she missed her queue and spoiled the perfect set-up of the snow-machine and other elements Kubrick had arranged for the shot. First thing in the morning, looking slovenly (like all great artists - caring nothing for how he looked and everything for how his film would look), greeting Jack and staring right into the camera looking less-than-impressed.As impossible as it is to choose one Kubrick production over another, The Shining is particularly great. And this little documentary, the only special feature you'll ever find on a Kubrick DVD, becomes all the more valuable for the scarcity of behind-the-scenes glimpses of Kubrick at work. Enjoy!