<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $44.4 million (North America) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Shining is a 1980 horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick and co-written with novelist Diane Johnson . The film is based on Stephen King's 1977 novel The Shining . </P> <P> The Shining is about Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, who accepts a position as the off - season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies . Wintering over with Jack is his wife Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) and young son Danny Torrance (Danny Lloyd), who possesses "the shining", an array of psychic abilities that allow Danny to see the hotel's horrific past . The hotel's current cook, Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers), also has this ability and is able to telepathically communicate with Danny . The hotel had a previous winter caretaker who went crazy and killed his wife, two daughters and then himself . After a winter storm leaves the Torrances snowbound, Jack's sanity deteriorates due to the influence of the supernatural forces that inhabit the hotel, placing his wife and son in danger . Supporting roles are provided by Barry Nelson, Philip Stone, Joe Turkel, Anne Jackson, and Tony Burton . </P> <P> Production took place almost exclusively at EMI Elstree Studios with sets strongly based on real locations . Kubrick often worked with a small crew which allowed him to do many takes, sometimes to the exhaustion of the actors and staff . The new Steadicam was used in several scenes giving it an innovative and immersive look and feel . Because of inconsistencies, ambiguities, symbolism, and differences from the book, there has been much speculation into the meanings and actions in the movie . </P>

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