The Shining

“Horse and Train” (1954) by Alex Colville

WyshBlog2022-07-09T00:55:06+00:00March 29th, 2014|Tags: film, Stanley Kubrick, The Shining|

As Wendy guides the pediatrician into her living room at the beginning of The Shining, they pass a painting of a horse galloping along train tracks towards an oncoming train. The painting is titled “Horse and Train” (1954) by Canadian artist Alex Colville.

A common interpretation of the painting is that it is intended to invoke feelings of helplessness and tension, and that the anxiety is heightened because we are not shown the outcome. It can only be assumed that the results will be disastrous if the subjects continue on their current course.

The choice of this image is certainly in alignment with the anxiety and tension Kubrick has already begun to invoke as the Torrance family prepares to move up to the Overlook Hotel for the winter.

Colville died in 2013 at the age of 92. After »

“Crushed, underneath an overturned Semi”

Among the topics of discussion are the many liberties, large and small, that Kubrick took with the original novel. Mr. King, who declined to comment for this article, has never concealed his dislike for the film and the way the director changed and discarded scenes, themes and details. In the book Jack’s Volkswagen is red; in the film it’s yellow. No big thing, until one discovers that King’s red VW actually did make it into the film, crushed underneath an overturned semi.

“Horse and Train” (1954) by Alex Colville

As Wendy guides the pediatrician into her living room at the beginning of The Shining, they pass a painting of a horse galloping along train tracks towards an oncoming train. The painting is titled “Horse and Train” (1954) by Canadian artist Alex Colville.

A common interpretation of the painting is that it is intended to invoke feelings of helplessness and tension, and that the anxiety is heightened because we are not shown the outcome. It can only be assumed that the results will be disastrous if the subjects continue on their current course.

The choice of this image is certainly in alignment with the anxiety and tension Kubrick has already begun to invoke as the Torrance family prepares to move up to the Overlook Hotel for the winter.

Colville died in 2013 at the age of 92. After »

“Crushed, underneath an overturned Semi”

I will now try to use the phrase, “crushed, underneath an overturned semi” as much as possible.