Shelley Duvall’s Candid Reflection on the Challenging Journey of Shooting The Shining

Shelley Duvall, known for her iconic performance in The Shining, recently opened up about the arduous experience she faced during filming.

In an extensive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 71-year-old actress delved into her time working on the 1980 horror masterpiece, which spanned a staggering 56 weeks of filming and set a Guinness World Record for “most retakes for one scene with dialogue.”

Recalling her initial encounter with director Stanley Kubrick, Duvall revealed that he offered her the role without meeting her or having a script, simply stating that she excelled at crying.

While she fondly remembered a pleasant dinner with Kubrick and his daughter before production commenced, once filming kicked off, it was all business.

Describing Kubrick's meticulous approach, Duvall disclosed, “[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take.

Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard.”

She emphasized the challenge of delivering a full performance from the first rehearsal, labeling it as demanding.

To mentally prepare herself for emotionally taxing scenes, Duvall shared that she would immerse herself in sad music or reflect on personal sorrow.

However, the toll on her psyche became evident as she confessed, “Your body rebels…

I don't want to cry every day.”

Despite the intense emotional strain, Duvall recounted pushing through scheduled crying scenes, even when her instinct was to resist.

Her co-star Jack Nicholson marveled at her resilience, acknowledging, “I don't know how you do it.”

Addressing speculations about Kubrick's behavior towards her, Duvall acknowledged his occasional harshness but also noted his warm and friendly demeanor.

Anjelica Huston, who was dating Nicholson at the time, expressed concerns about Duvall's well-being, perceiving a lack of empathy from the male leads.

Reflecting on her absence from watching the film for an extended period, Duvall revisited the impactful baseball-bat scene, reminiscing about the grueling three-week shoot.

She praised Nicholson's chilling portrayal, empathizing with the character's plight and recognizing the widespread reality of such harrowing situations.