The Shining TV Spot vs Final (US) Release

Just a comparison I did.

[Vaporvice]

@0:27 That extended shot of Jack laughing may not have ended up in the finished film, but YOU KNOW the execs at WB kept that image of Jacks' cryptic smile in mind when they were prepping for Batman and who would play Joker.

God, it's both terrifying and hilarious at the same time (out of context, as it's probably really a blooper). I want it in gif form lol.

[wrnewcott]

I was lucky enough to see a press preview of The Shining at the old MGM Studios, and for that screening they used the open Academy ratio you see in the trailer. I think it was much better that way; you get more of a sense of claustrophobia.

[jonnydavies]

When i was 9 or 10, this trailer would come on UK TV screens and I would absolutely shit myself, but at the same time, unable to not watch it! This set up my lifelong love of The Shining. When I saw these trailers again, I was amazed at the alternate takes used (ie. the leering face after killing Halloran, the bashing thru the second door panel and the alt face of Jack at the door). And it all came back to me! Best film ever!

[KevinBjorke]

I remember noticing that missing axe shot on opening night! Front row in LA’s Westwood district with my moviemaking pals…. We’d watched the commercial multiple times by then, heh

[icebearisicebear]

i like that slightly goofier version of jack smiling through the broken door

[owen]

It was originally just going to be Jack laughing at the door. But Nicholson convinced Kubrick to let him say here's Johnny, a reference to Johnny Carson. Kubrick was from Europe so he didn't get the American reference. But Nicholson begged and Kubrick let him say it

[ChucksCherubs]

I prefer the shot of Shelley Duval walking up the stairs from the TV spot! Her shadow looks like Nosferatu. 😱1:15

[Tiberius_Productions]

The face Jack makes after killing Halloran/Scatman looks soooo much better in the TV spot! I also really like the TV spot version of a Shelly/Wendy going up the stairs with the shadow looking like Nosferatu a lot better than the final cut too! So much so I’m curious why Stanley Kubrick went with other takes? I’m guessing maybe the rest of the scene wasn’t as good with that take. Like the Shelley staircase scene might have had that one shot look good but the rest of the sequence may not have been, hence why he went with the other take. But I don’t know and he’d never tell us even if we asked him lol.

[connortrietsch]

Perfect example of how not to give away every detail of the film in the trailer. Thank you Kubrick❤️

[ronrod]

Very strange that they used alternative takes for the TV spot, but interesting.

[zaszlovjanos]

Kubrick was crazyer, that Jack Torrance and it's awesome!

[Stigmatix]

Always use deleted scenes in a trailer!

[owen]

I'm wondering if they cut out the rest of the door scene because it was either too long or Shelley's screaming was getting a little extra

[Barddragonemegencyaccount]

Remember there was no iphone, no YouTube, and even no tik tok too in the 80s.

[eduardo_corrochio]

Are these slight visual differences supposed to impress or fascinate us? I was hoping for something worthwhile.

[gkroll]

Kubrick had some fucking nerve calling it a masterpiece of modern horror since most of the references have nothing to do with the film just Kubrick making films for himself