"Shining's Iconic Final Shot Photo Found After 45 Years"

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of "The Shining" is renowned for its haunting imagery, with one of the most iconic scenes being the final shot—a chilling photograph from the 1921 Fourth of July ball at the Overlook Hotel, featuring Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) prominently, despite him not being born at the time. This image was created by superimposing Nicholson onto a real historical photograph, which had faded into obscurity until recently. Now, 45 years after the film's release, the original 1921 photograph has been rediscovered.

Alasdair Spark, a retired academic from the University of Winchester, shared the fascinating journey of locating the original image on Getty's Instagram. He detailed how facial recognition software identified the unknown man in the photo as Santos Casani, a London ballroom dancer. Spark revealed that the photograph was one of three taken by the Topical Press Agency at a St. Valentine's Day Ball on February 14, 1921, at the Empress Rooms in the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington. The post also showcased a new scan from the original glass-plate negative and supporting handwritten documents.

Spark, along with New York Times staffer Arick Toller and dedicated Redditors, embarked on an extensive search for the image. Despite numerous failed attempts and dead ends, their persistence paid off. Spark noted that on-set photographer Murray Close, who captured the image of Nicholson that was superimposed over Casani, had mentioned the photo came from the BBC Hulton Library. Knowing that Hulton acquired Topical Press in 1958 and that Getty later took over in 1991, Spark and his team scoured Getty's vast collection. They ultimately discovered that the image was licensed to Hawk Films, Kubrick's production company, on October 10, 1978, for use in "The Shining."

Spark concluded by clarifying the photo's date, confirming Kubrick's assertion that it was from 1921, not 1923 as previously suggested by Joan Smith. The photo depicts a group of ordinary Londoners enjoying a Monday evening, debunking various theories about the presence of celebrities or other notable figures. The only alteration was the addition of Jack Nicholson.

This revelation is a heartwarming find for fans of "The Shining," a film adapted from Stephen King's 1977 novel. The novel has been brought to screen twice: Kubrick's iconic film and Mick Garris' 1997 miniseries, which stayed closer to the book.

[ttpp]