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

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of "The Shining" is renowned for its haunting final scene, which features a chilling photograph from the Overlook Hotel's 1921 Fourth of July ball. This iconic image, showcasing Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) front and center, has captivated audiences for decades. Initially, the original photograph used in the film had faded into obscurity, but now, 45 years after the movie's release, it has been rediscovered.

Alasdair Spark, a retired academic from the University of Winchester, shared the journey of uncovering the original 1921 Fourth of July ball photograph on Getty's Instagram. He explained that facial recognition software had previously identified the unknown man in the photo as Santos Casani, a London ballroom dancer. 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. Spark's post included a new scan from the image's original glass-plate negative, along with supporting handwritten documents.

The search for the image was a collaborative effort involving Spark, New York Times staffer Arick Toller, and dedicated Redditors. Spark described the process as a "wild goose chase," with numerous dead ends and fears that the photo might be lost forever. However, a crucial lead came from on-set photographer Murray Close, who had taken the image of Nicholson that was superimposed over Casani for the film. Close mentioned that the original picture was sourced from the BBC Hulton Library. Knowing that Hulton had acquired Topical Press in 1958 and that Getty took over in 1991, Spark decided to search through Getty's vast collection of images. This led to the discovery that the image was licensed to Hawk Films, Kubrick's production company, on October 10, 1978, for use in "The Shining."

Spark clarified that the photo, contrary to some speculations, did not feature celebrities like the Trix Sisters or any bankers, financiers, or presidents. It simply depicted a group of ordinary Londoners enjoying a Monday evening, as described by the Overlook Hotel's manager in the film as "all the best people."

This revelation is sure to delight fans of "The Shining." Stephen King's novel, released in 1977, has been adapted into two notable versions: Kubrick's iconic film and Mick Garris' 1997 miniseries, which stayed closer to the book.