Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Its eerie atmosphere, haunting performances, and unforgettable imagery have left an indelible mark on the psyche of moviegoers for decades. However, what many may not know is that the film originally had a different ending, one that was cut just days after its initial release. Let’s delve into the mystery of the deleted ending of “The Shining.”
The Original Ending
After the harrowing chase through the snow-covered hedge maze, where Jack Torrance meets his icy demise, the original cut of the film transitioned to a scene set in a hospital. Here, the hotel manager, Stuart Ullman, visits a recovering Wendy and her son Danny. Ullman informs Wendy that no evidence of the supernatural events she described was found by the authorities. As a gesture of goodwill, he gives Danny a yellow tennis ball – the same ball that eerily rolled towards him in one of the hotel’s hallways.
This scene was intended to sow doubt in the minds of the audience. Was everything that transpired in the Overlook Hotel a figment of Wendy’s imagination? Or was there a more sinister cover-up at play?
Why Was It Cut?
The reasons behind the deletion of this ending are a matter of speculation. Some believe that Kubrick, ever the perfectionist, felt the scene was superfluous and detracted from the film’s chilling ambiguity. Others argue that test audiences found the hospital scene confusing and unsatisfying, prompting the director to remove it.
Kubrick himself, in a rare statement about the change, mentioned that he believed the scene was “not dramatically necessary.” By ending the film with the haunting image of the old photograph showing Jack Torrance at the 1921 Overlook Hotel ball, Kubrick left audiences with more questions than answers, amplifying the film’s eerie mystique.
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