The primary deleted scene from Stanley Kubrick's iconic film The Shining features the hotel manager, Stuart Ullman, visiting Wendy and Danny Torrance in the hospital after their harrowing escape from the Overlook Hotel.
Details of the Deleted Scene
This particular sequence, which was excised by director Stanley Kubrick shortly after the film's initial release, provided a different sense of closure compared to the ambiguous ending that audiences are now familiar with.
Key elements of the scene include:
- Location: The scene takes place in a hospital, where Wendy and Danny are recovering after the terrifying events at the Overlook.
- Characters Present: Stuart Ullman, the sophisticated manager of the Overlook Hotel, visits Wendy and her son, Danny.
- Dialogue and Revelation: During his visit, Ullman informs Wendy and Danny that the police thoroughly investigated the Overlook Hotel following the incident. He states that the authorities found nothing suspicious whatsoever, implying that no evidence of the supernatural horror they experienced was discovered.
- Outcome and Advice: Ullman also reassures them that they are safe and encourages them to recuperate and move on by urging them to recover in Los Angeles.
Why It Was Deleted
The deletion of this scene significantly altered the film's ending, making it more enigmatic and unsettling. Kubrick reportedly removed it because he felt it gave too much resolution and lessened the chilling ambiguity that defined the movie's supernatural elements. By ending the film abruptly after Jack freezes in the maze and Wendy and Danny escape, the final cut leaves audiences questioning the true nature of the events at the Overlook and the ultimate fate of Jack Torrance beyond his physical demise. The scene's removal enhanced the lasting psychological impact and the open-ended interpretation of the film's themes of madness and the supernatural.
