Stanley Kubrik Archives
I have no idea what to expect from the visit, but having Stanley Kubrick’s archives available is very exciting. I have been exploring the theme of the uncanny and hauntology over the past few months, and Kubrick’s name continually emerges. Specifically, The Shining.
I am familiar with the film and have watched it a few times. I also know Stephen King's writing. There is considerable online chatter and mythologising about how The Shining came to be.
Apparently, King and his young wife were travelling through Colorado at the end of the holidays. They stayed in The Stanley Hotel and were very much alone there. It's said that King had nightmares and spent time wandering the corridors. He is said to have witnessed some supernatural occurrences while staying there, which inspired The Shining. Although it is not documented that this actually happened and can’t be fact-checked as such, King indeed began writing The Shining after his visit.
Perhaps there is some truth behind the hearsay.
However, what interests me is how Kubrick designed the Overlook Hotel in the film. Was he sympathetic to the energies of the hotel, and will I find any reference to King’s experiences in his notes? I know that Kubrick’s handling of the film disenchanted King, and having just read the book, I can see why, as it’s a very different approach to the book. The book provides a much greater depth to the main characters, which is understandable, given that they are such different formats.
I have emailed my catalogue references ahead of my visit.
I’m going to concentrate on the location and pre-production files as well as ask to see Kubrick’s annotated notes on the script.
I have identified the following items from the online database.
Annotated text from Stephen King's novel 'The Shining'
Location Research. ( I am aware that Box 2 is unavailable.)
Location information