Shelley Duvall’s Traumatic Experience Filming “The Shining” and Devastation After Razzie Award

Shelley Duvall, known for her role as Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's horror film “The Shining,” recently revealed the harrowing experience she endured during the making of the movie.

Despite her dedication and emotional sacrifice, the film received negative reviews and even earned nominations for the Razzie Awards for Worst Director and Worst Actress.

This lack of recognition left Duvall devastated, considering the grueling hours she spent crying on set and the trauma inflicted upon her by Kubrick.

Working with Stanley Kubrick proved to be a mentally torturous experience for Shelley Duvall.

The filming of “The Shining” took nearly a year, during which Duvall was subjected to isolating treatment that took a toll on her mental and physical well-being.

She shed real tears of horror and exhaustion, enduring the demanding expectations placed upon her by the award-winning director.

One particularly challenging aspect of the filming process was Duvall's requirement to cry incessantly.

This deeply scarred her, leading to panic attacks on set.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she recounted the immense suffering she endured: “He doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take.

Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard…After a while, your body rebels.

It says: ‘Stop doing this to me.

I don't want to cry every day.'”

One scene in particular, where Duvall's character has a nervous breakdown and threatens Jack Nicholson's character with a baseball bat, pushed her to the brink.

Kubrick insisted on 127 takes for that single scene, causing real tears to flow from Duvall's eyes.

This extreme dedication to her craft, coupled with the emotional and physical sacrifices she made, made the Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress all the more disheartening.

“The Shining” was met with mixed reactions upon its release, receiving little critical acclaim.

The Razzie Awards, a newly established recognition for the worst in film, nominated both Kubrick and Duvall.

Unfortunately, the reviews focused primarily on Kubrick's involvement, overshadowing Duvall's contribution.

Maureen Murphy, the founder of the Razzie Awards, expressed regret over nominating Duvall for Worst Actress.

In an interview with Vulture, Murphy acknowledged the trauma Duvall experienced at the hands of Kubrick and admitted she would take back the nomination if given the chance.

This recognition highlights the unjust treatment Duvall endured and celebrates her resilience in the face of adversity.

Despite the negative reception at the time, “The Shining” has gained a cult following and can now be streamed on HBO Max.