Watch Making 'The Shining' For Free

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

"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.

What is it that makes this an excellent behind-the-scenes doc? Well for starters it gives us a glimpse of how Jack Nicholson, one of the greatest actors of the last few decades, works on his films. We see his apartment in which he has temporarily set up shop while the filming takes place and see that it is just as messy as anyone else's. We also get to see Scatman Crothers, a highly underrated character actor who never got the recognition he deserved weeping tears of joy for, in his words, "Being able to work with such beautiful people" (although it could very well have been a cry for help given his age and Kubrick's demand for perfectionism). We witness Danny Lloyd being perfectly candid and honest about his experiences now that he has starred in a major motion picture. We see Shelly Duvall having a near breakdown on set due to stress and illness, yet at the end turning on her heal and admitting that she has no regrets and learned more than she ever had up to this point.But the main event of this documentary and the one that truly sets it apart from all others are the glimpses we catch of the master himself. Stanley Kubrick was a consummate filmmaker, an artist of legendary proportions and above all, an enigma. No one ever really knew Stanley, not even those close to him and we as a viewing audience can only guess just what went on in that labyrinthine mind of his as he poured his heart and soul into each movie he made. Well thanks to his very own daughter, we received the opportunity to watch the legend at work. We see him telling Danny to look scared, telling Jack to look down while he speaks, and telling Shelly off for ruining his shot when he had it just the way he wanted it. We even see him come up with one of the most famous shots in the film mere seconds before he decides to use it. He only yells if the situation truly necessitates it and otherwise speaks with a slow and almost subservient voice. It's one thing to see a picture of Kubrick but another thing entirely to see him up and about giving orders to his cast and crew. True to style, he is the only principle on the set to not give a sit-down interview and actually explain himself but that doesn't even matter, because what we see of him is more than enough to whet our appetites. We see him at work, in his element, doing what he was always meant to do. What more could you ask for?

In maybe one of a few rare glimpses on screen (or even off), Stanley Kubrick is on film, behind the scenes, making a movie. It is one of the shames of cinema that there isn't more footage of him, or even in this half hour documentary he isn't interviewed. But his presence is fascinating all the same, and when he is shown directing he is what has been perceived as for decades- creative, different, controlling, authoritative, and somehow generous as a director. There's one scene that's rather interesting where Kubrick's mother is sitting with his son and Jack Nicholson having a small conversation; it's admitted that there isn't a finished script, that new pages come every day for the actors. The interaction between the people in this scene, and others, makes this worthwhile. I've yet to see the DVD version so I can't comment on Vivian Kubrick's commentary track (the director's daughter, who was perfectly 'cute as Heywood Floyd's daughter in 2001). But what she presents for us is candid, and usually very insightful. An interview with Nicholson, who's sound-bites are choice, and wise as well when he says, "I want to be out of control as an actor...otherwise it will predictably be MY work, and that's no fun." But there is also a heartfelt interview with Scatman Crothers, who came out of filming in the arduous conditions of Kubrick's perfectionism (there were dozens and dozens of takes that Crothers had to give, according to trivia). There is a not too shabby interview with Danny Lloyd, who played the boy in the film. And Shelly Duvall, who does lay it as straight as possible about what it was like to work with the director; the scene that is captured over Kubrick's shoulder (of an argument between actor and director) is a little uncomfortable, but in the end one can see why Kubrick wanted it the way he did for the finished film. Usually 'making-of' documentaries are hit or miss, depending on the films of course; one would prefer an audio commentary, or a long interview with the filmmaker about the making of the film. But as the Shining has neither of these - and is the only place to fins unadulterated footage of the iconoclast and his cast at work on screen and off (if you discount the Criterion DVD release of Spartacus and a recent release of Dr. Strangelove) - it's well worth the half hour; the added music by Carlos is a nice touch.

Stanley Kubrick has been unjustly compared to Howard Hughes in regards to his public appearances. You never saw him on TV talk shows, or make guest cameos in friends' movies. This was the first time I got to see Kubrick actually move around and talk. Wow! Here's one of the most legendary filmmakers since Hitchcock, a super intellect who knew the puzzle behind 2001, loved chess and military history, and he has such a drab American voice. No Hitchcock drawl, DeMille comanding bellow, or Scorcese jitter-talk, just a flat, almost personality free "Uh.... Shelley, that was unconvincing. It was fake... let's do it again." You don't learn anything new about Kubrick's life, his shooting style, directorial style. His talented daughter has made an excellent little companion piece to dad's horror classic.