The late Hollywood legend Stanley Kubrick is often known for his classic works and his perfectionism in the entertainment industry. Offering audiences with iconic works like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, Kubrick left behind a massive unfillable hole in Hollywood.
However, while the director is appreciated for his perfectionism, determination, and passion, there are a few stars who experienced a difficult time with Stanley Kubrick. One such collaborator was Shelley Duvall who called out the filmmaker’s ruthless side that she witnessed while filming The Shining, opposite Jack Nicholson.
Shelley Duvall Faced Creative Differences With Stanley Kubrick
Famed for his classic movies, unique filmmaking, and perfectionism, the late legend Stanley Kubrick left an unfillable hole in the entertainment industry following his demise. Offering timeless classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick was a highly sought-after filmmaker in Hollywood. Collaborating with A-listers, the director even had the power to launch people’s careers in the industry.
While Stanley Kubrick was appreciated by many for his determination and power, he was also called out for his ruthless ways of filmmaking by a handful of actors. One of those few collaborators of Kubrick was Shelley Duvall, who worked with the director in The Shining and called him out for his barbaric ways. Playing the role of Wendy Torrance opposite Jack Nicholson, Duvall revealed the issues she faced.
“Stanley really gets a bad reputation sometimes but he was a perfectionist. We had our moments when we laughed and joked around on set, but then there were times that we just exploded at each other. I’m a very stubborn person and don’t like being bossed around and told what to do. Stanley pushed and pushed to get the performance out of me that he wanted.” Shelley Duvall told Coming Soon.
Sharing the creative differences she faced with Stanley Kubrick while filming The Shining, Shelley Duvall revealed the director’s brutish ways.
Shelley Duvall Called Out Stanley Kubrick’s Ruthless Filmmaking
Further, discussing how the script for The Shining wasn’t quite self-explanatory on her part, Shelley Duvall admitted playing the character in a way that felt right to her. However, later Duvall claimed that Stanley Kubrick interfered with her performance and asked her to be a tough, strong, independent woman, instead of a battered but loving housewife.
“The script wasn’t really specific enough for me to understand what my character was going through mentally, I played it out as a battered but loving housewife who supports her husband through all the sh*t in their marriage. Stanley wanted a tough, strong, independent woman, I disagreed with that decision, but the way all my scenes worked out you see all those emotions in my character.”
Revealing the issues she faced while filming the thriller alongside Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall noted that it was a “hell of a shoot”. However, despite having a tiring experience working with Stanley Kubrick, Duvall noted that she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Although she wouldn’t want to go through it again, Duvall admitted that the experience taught her a lot.
“For a person so charming and lovable, he can do some pretty cruel things when you’re filming… It was a very difficult role. It was a long shoot, and I had to cry and hyperventilate and carry a little boy for most of the time we shot. And that was about a little over a year. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Why? Because of Stanley. It was such a fascinating experience. It was such intense work that I think it makes you smarter… But I wouldn’t want to go through it again.”
Sharing her honest opinion on her experience, Shelley Duvall threw light on Stanley Kubrick’s lesser-known ways of filmmaking. Eventually, she admitted that although the experience was quite brutal and she wouldn’t want to go through it again, Duvall claimed that she wouldn’t trade it either.
