MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > The UK version vs. the US version

The UK version vs. the US version

posted 4 years ago by MovieChatUser497 (18943)
3 replies | jump to latest

I can't decide which version I like better. The UK version omits the scene where the doctor examines Danny and it results in one of the greatest scene transitions I have ever seen, it goes straight from Danny's vision of the blood coming out of the elevator to the family driving up to the Overlook. It also removes alot of Wendy's insufferable dialogue and some scenes that just serve no purpose and slow the film down unnecessarily (such as Danny asking if he can go get his firetruck or Danny and Wendy watching Roadrunner).

On the other hand some of the edits in the UK version are very choppy, example: Halloran just appears out of nowhere and has no introduction at all and if you haven't seen the US version this could be a bit confusing. I also loved the transition from Dick sitting in his hotel room to the 8AM title card to Dick on the plane and that is chopped up in the UK version. Also before Wendy discovers the "All work and no play" writing that Jack wrote there is zero buildup to it as that was edited out in the UK version. The UK version also omits the dialogue about Jack's "deja vu" which is actually important because it makes the ending more logical.

[–] BlissNEsb (108) 4 years ago

I wouldn't say Halloran appears out of nowhere in the Theatrical version. I recall the scene where he's lying on his bed in a trance feeling Danny's fear, before it transitions to Jack Nicholson entering room 237. After Jack's encounter with the old woman in the tub, we then see Holloran trying to phone the Overlook.

I agree with you though. There's good elements in both versions which one has that the other doesn't have and vice versa. The jump cut from Danny's vision in the bathroom of the blood pouring from the elevator - to the mountains - is indeed powerful and one of my all time favorite film edits. Personally, I would have placed the scene with the child psychologist before the transition to Wendy's phone call with Jack telling her that he got the job.

It's a unique thing for a Kubrick film as he was so meticulous about perfecting a final cut. I don't think any of his other films have alternative cuts? At least not as drastic. However, his producer and brother-in-law Jan Harlan has mentioned that The Shining was considered by Kubrick to be his "least personal production" and purely an entertainment piece. So I guess making two cuts wasn't as big of a deal to him.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

Naw in the UK version Halloran appears out of nowhere. There's a scene where Ullman is showing them around and then there's a transition to another scene and the next thing we know Wendy is walking through the kitchen with Halloran, the scene where Ullman introduced Halloran is missing. Unless you saw the US version which does include a scene where Ullman introduces Halloran this scene makes no sense at all.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 4 years ago

And yes I do love the transition from the bloody elevator to them driving up to the hotel. The scene with the doctor really kills the mood and upsets the pacing. I am so on the fence because there are things that the UK version does so much better and there are things that the UK version does so much worse. In some cases the US version slows down the pacing and in other cases the UK version removes some of the necessary buildup.