The secret behind Jack Nicholson’s chilling performance in The Shining!

Known for his incisive social commentary and intricate narratives, Stanley Kubrick is considered to be one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of Hollywood. However, he also has a reputation for tormenting the cast of his movies in various ways. The Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson also reportedly had a similar experience when Kubrick made him eat cheese sandwiches while filming the 1980 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, The Shining.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining

Stanley Kubrick’s Unusual Method to Push Jack Nicholson’s Limits

Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick is often criticized for his pursuit of perfection, and he wanted to do the same with Jack Nicholson’s character in the 1980 horror film The Shining. Nicholson played the role of Jack Torrence, a recovering alcoholic and writer who takes a winter caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel.

A still from The Shining

Despite his Oscar-winning performance in the 1976 psychological drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Kubrick wanted to extract an even better performance from the actor. To do this, he chose an unusual method. The filmmaker reportedly organized the catering to serve nothing but cheese sandwiches to Nicholson constantly for two weeks.

And The Departed actor hated Cheese Sandwiches. Kubrick believed that eating something he did not like would enhance Jack Nicholson’s on-screen intensity. And it seemed to work as Nicholson gave an unforgettable performance as the disturbed and bloodthirsty Jack Torrance in the movie.

Shelley Duval as Wendy Torrance

The Eyes Wide Shut director also extended his extreme methods to Shelley Duval, who played the role of Wendy Torrance. Kubrick reportedly isolated her from the rest of the cast and crew, intending to maintain a heightened emotional state. However, one of the cast members still got on the sensitive side of the filmmaker.

Stanley Kubrick Was Reportedly Sensitive Towards Danny Lloyd

The former child star Danny Lloyd played Jack Torrance’s son Danny Torrance, a character with psychic abilities in the horror film. Despite his intense nature towards the rest of the cast, Stanley Kubrick was remarkably sensitive and protective towards Danny Lloyd.

Danny Lloyd in The Shining

Aware of the potential impact such a weighty project could have on a five-year-old child, he never disclosed the true nature of his role in the movie. In an interview with The Guardian, Llyod shared that he had no idea The Shining was a horror film at the time.

Talking about the filmmaker, he said, “Stanley was great,” before further explaining, “I remember him playing ball with me, playing catch, stuff like that.” He also described the filmmaker as a “big guy with a beard,” emphasizing that he never felt scared or intimated by him.

The Shining is available on Prime Video.