2001: The Shining / Analyses of Kubrick's Films

[mata]

Originally Posted by love_is

It's possible.. though I have a feeling the overarching theme we're supposed to be seeing here is much simpler, as size_of_light suggested.

There's definitely something weird going on in the lower left hand corner.



With so many things pointing at that girl, you've got to wonder what it is she's looking at. Whatever it is in the white-gloved lady's hand looks like a shrunken head. And those hands.. the one grabbing hers and the one on the guy's shoulder.. they don't seem to be attached to anybody. Is this a reference to the "hidden hand", another masonic theme, or something else?

Someone has fallen over, in the space between the white-gloved lady and the woman who is looking down. She is steadying his forearm - from below - as he gets his bearings. Either the dude walking off has just pushed him over, or he is walking off to get out of the way. Could someone have just been shot or knifed??!!! Face in the mirror looks like someone puckering their whole face in pain, we're able to see half of it, and the angle of it is consistent with where the man on the ground's face would be. What a wicked find you've made here love_is, might be the most interesting corner of the photograph alright!

[mata]

Originally Posted by love_is

It's possible.. though I have a feeling the overarching theme we're supposed to be seeing here is much simpler, as size_of_light suggested.

There's definitely something weird going on in the lower left hand corner.



With so many things pointing at that girl, you've got to wonder what it is she's looking at. Whatever it is in the white-gloved lady's hand looks like a shrunken head. And those hands.. the one grabbing hers and the one on the guy's shoulder.. they don't seem to be attached to anybody. Is this a reference to the "hidden hand", another masonic theme, or something else?

Looks like Kubrick warped out the ringed little finger of the fallen guy's Left Hand, so that at a glance it would seem to follow what would have been the line of the lady's hand. Only clue is the mirror, and the fact that the hand has the Thumb to indicate it's someone's left hand. We can already see the lady's own Left hand, down to her side... Ergo, there's a dude on the floor!

p.s. The hand on the Shoulder is a Left hand also. Looks to be holding a small cigar between index and middle finger... What is 'The Hidden Hand' in Freemasonry? You're right that it doesn't seem to be attached to anyone at all.

[mata]

Dick Hallorann.jpg

To be honest, the face in the mirror reminds me of Dick Hallorann.

The Shining - Hallorann explains what the Shine is - YouTube

The Shining - Hallorann explains what the Shine is - YouTube

[mata]

Halloran's Ring.jpg

Halloran's Ring. But his is worn on the Ring finger. In Gold Room photo, the Hand of the fallen dude has what looks like a longer Little Finger than Ring finger. Plus the extra curvature distortion I mentioned earlier. Maybe Kubrick swapped the fingers around? Why? To draw our attention to the Ring itself perhaps? As a way to identify the Ring as the Clue? Below is a clip with Hallorann showing the fridge. Whoever uploaded the clip has cottoned on to some thing that "sticks out like a sore thumb" in the scene. I think it's showing something about Hallorann that relates to the Ring Finger swapping.

No exit from the Overlook - YouTube

No exit from the Overlook - YouTube

Swapping from one side to the other, just like his Ring Finger swaps over places with his Little Finger in the Photo!

[mata]

Well, I guess it's only right that if Jack Torrence is in the Gold Room Party Photo, Dick Hallorann should be too. Could "Hallo!" - "ran" be something to do with an aggressor knifing him and doing a runner? Perhaps from between the two men behind him? Or could the guy in front actually have something to do with it?

Was Dick Hallorann the "official" sacrifice of the evening? If so he'd have been done away with fairly 'matter-of-factly', which fits with the face of the guy walking away.

The Memorial Photo would've been the moment to do it - so that everyone present could "partake" in the act.

[dude111]

I still have to ask WHY IS THIS PIC SHOWN??

If none of them WERE IN THIS MOVIE,whats the meaning? (I truly am confuzzled )

[mata]

Originally Posted by love_is

It's possible.. though I have a feeling the overarching theme we're supposed to be seeing here is much simpler, as size_of_light suggested.

There's definitely something weird going on in the lower left hand corner.



With so many things pointing at that girl, you've got to wonder what it is she's looking at. Whatever it is in the white-gloved lady's hand looks like a shrunken head. And those hands.. the one grabbing hers and the one on the guy's shoulder.. they don't seem to be attached to anybody. Is this a reference to the "hidden hand", another masonic theme, or something else?

Do you reckon the hand on the shoulder could be holding a Scalpel?

Can just make out the difference between what looks like the blade and the body of the implement proper.

Dr Steam, what do you reckon after looking into Jack The Ripper? Could that be a scalpel?

[mata]

Scalpel.jpg

Looks like if held at rest a scalpel would end up between the index and middle fingers, like the object in the Hand on The Shoulder.

Dimensions look about right, taking foreshortening into account - in relation to the position of the camera.

What if the scalpel was only used to initially 'stun' and immobilise Hallorann? Perhaps a vertical incision in the Hamstring? Or an incision behind his right knee?

Obviously there hasn't been a move made on the Carotid or everyone would be drenched in blood. Not right blade for a depth strike.

Scalpel not a 'stabbing' instrument, so I can only assume that Hallorann was finished off properly later, perhaps somehow by the whole 'congregation'?

[mata]

I reckon for sure that's Dick Hallorann, on the ground, he's been injured in some way shape or form. Kubrick used the swapping of the fridge doors (in the scene where Hallorann shows Danny & his Mum around) - to act as confirmation of ID for the hand and face in the mirror. Thank goodness you discovered that frame-up, love_is... What do you make of what I'm proposing? As far as what this means for the story, I really don't know. But maybe you guys who are more intimately familiar with the film can work that part out? size_of_light: would it be able to link up to what you have discovered about Hallorann being the center of the Film in the overlays you're working on?


p.s. Just to take it back to the Money. After tobbacco and the slaughter of the original People with Germ Warfare and Gunpowder, the Land had been acquired (by blood) - and the next cash crop was cotton. They made $ on that because of zero labour costs. The Slaves were sacrificed for the 'ascension' of the U.S. An 'independence' built on the blood of Native American Indians and West African Slaves. Unfortunately that's still a Blind Spot in the World's perception of The American Dream. Why wouldn't Kubrick want to make it a secret central theme? It's really the 'biggest theme' of the 'U.S.A.'. That: everyone can be 'horrified' by blood pouring out of an elevator shaft - but they can't equate that same sense of horror with the reality that a much vaster amount of real blood was slashed out of the veins of The Indians and Africans in order for all those white pickett fences to have been erected over the North American Continent. It's a curious state of affairs. . . .

From the 16th to the 19th centuries, an estimated 12 million Africans were shipped as slaves to the Americas.(see Slavery in the Americas). Of these, an estimated 645,000 were brought to what is now the United States. By the 1860 United States Census, the slave population in the United States had grown to four million. [that population growth was due mostly to 'forced husbandry']

[mata]

Danny's First Vision - YouTube

Danny's First Vision - YouTube

"That blood by the way is called 'Kensington Gore'. It's the actual motion-picture blood that they sell in small quantities for wounds. Stanley insisted on having two or three thousand gallons of 'Kensington Gore', which was very expensive stuff - but it behaves like blood" - Garrett Brown, Steadicam Operator.

[love_is]

Whoa.. That's Hallorann alright!

So, "whoever loses has to clean America".. Is Jack the one who lost? He certainly didn't complete his task. If that's the case does "clean America" mean kill the black guy?

[mata]

Hmm... dunno.. Maybe Torrence somehow died on that night in 1921 as well? Maybe it's about them both 'going down'?... slavery not a workable model? master and slave on same plane, both restricted but in different ways?

[mata]

Originally Posted by 1977

"None shall pass by me except he slay me, and this is his curse, that, having slain me, he must take my office and become the maker of Illusions, the great deceiver, the setter of snares; he who baffleth even them that have understanding."

??

[mata]

Outside Party.jpg

Grady and Torrence in the Gold Room 'Men's room':

G: Did you know Mr Torrence, that your son is attempting to bring an outside party into this situation. Did you know that?

T: No.

G: He is, Mr Torrence.

T: Who?

G: A Nigger.

T: A Nigger?

G: A Nigger Cook.

T: How?

G: Your son has a very great talent. I don't think you are aware how great it is. But he is attempting to use that very talent - against your will.

T: He is a very willful boy.

G: Indeed he is, Mr Torrence, a very willful boy. A rather naughty boy - if I may be so bold, sir.

T: It's his Mother. She interferes.

G: Perhaps they need a good 'talking to'? If you don't mind my saying so?

The Shining Bathroom Scene - YouTube

The Shining Bathroom Scene - YouTube

This conversation between Grady and Torrence is now loaded with a whole new layer of meaning that is really quite chilling.


p.s. the Hand on the Shoulder probably belongs to the dude that's smiling, directly behind Hallorann. He's either Left-handed, or has switched the scalpel to his Left hand after utilising it. Reckon the guy walking away would've been the one to give the 'Nod' though. The Chap with the Party Trick blowy thing (whatever that's called) probably 'announcing' beginning of sacrifice process? The lady looking down isn't looking like she's going to help Hallorann, per say. At first I thought his forearm may have been partially rested on hers. The more I look though, the more it seems he's hoping for help, but isn't going to receive any, poor fellow.

[mata]

Originally Posted by 1977

??

[mata]

??

[mata]

G: Your son has a very great talent. I don't think you are aware how great it is. But he is attempting to use that very talent - against your will.

Could there be an inference here that Danny's "Tony Voice" is actually Jack Torrence - knowingly exerting the influence of his own 'will' - over his son?

If Tony lives in Danny's stomach, I really don't like to think where that idea goes. Nuff said.

Having said that, if Danny is his Father's slave (in effect) perhaps the curse is broken because Danny has not killed his Father but has instead Lost him -

Left him to his own multidimensional madness in the Maze?

Danny won't be subject to the same curse himself because he found a way to exit the 'situation' whilst keeping his own integrity intact (thou shalt not kill).

Maybe the story of the Party, what goes on there, Somerton etc is just Kubrick's commentary on how screwed a culture can get when it has no respect for Life?

I dunno, now I just wanna watch the whole film again.

[feralgoose]

"You are the man to take the Anthill"




"We just might do it" (Mireau punches his fist into his hand)





cut to the Anthill this is about the best view we get apart from through the binoculars later. is the window representing our monolith? if so this would be the earliest case so far, possibly before SK 'rotated' it 90 degrees

[mata]

Originally Posted by size_of_light

I don't think it's hugely important in the big scheme of things (or maybe it is), but since the maze was mentioned above, I thought I'd add that there's a hidden face within Jack's vision of it, because I haven't seen that pointed out elsewhere:

Yeh i now reckon this is really important. Jack's vision, Overlooking the Maze.

I was just gawking at it & thought, you know, if it was a real maze, you'd need an army of people to keep that thing in trim. And they'd have to be at it 24/7.

It's as if all the Party-goers (including Hallorann & Torrence) are the knowing 'workers', 'Caretakers' of the whole construct.

They are all mutually consenting to being trapped in the interdimensional Maze of the Hotel & it's past events.

Here we are overlooking a highly manicured, obsessively maintained, "reality construct",

- which is actively maintained by the 'group-consensus' of all the 'players' contributing to it.

The Maze is analogous to the Party, the party that is always going on. . . . .

Danny and his Mother have unwittingly placed themselves in the Mouth of The Beast.

But their naivety is ultimately their Salvation, because they are able to respond to events with full depth of feeling - in recognition of the horror for what it is,

(however freaky that might be) rather than being lulled into 'the loop'. . . [didn't someone on here already express that?]

And Boy, did Kubrick do a job on Shelley Duvall in the "freak-out & feel it" department in order to push that point!?...?

I think Kubrick is presenting us with the notion that Horror is a diversion from the even more horrific core-reality of the group who are 'Acting Out'.

That 'they' are in fact more trapped - by their own complicit apathy - than we could ever be by their Acts or 'diversions'.

As long as we remain open to feeling and intuition, we'll see their Maze for what it is. See the Party for what it is.

We might even arrive at the question of what the Elite have really done to achieve what they seem to 'have' from the outside?

Cue Hallorann as a reminder of what their wallets are really stuffed with.

[sugarray]

Would love to find this documentary http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085910/